Analyzing Dante and Machiavelli´s Characteristics of a...

Dante and Machiavelli were both writers who felt that society and leaders were greatly mislead in their approach of operating the state. Yet even they had very contrasting beliefs in their view of what was ideal for a society to function properly. Machiavelli judges religious or political leaders is based there’s ability to maintain order and unity, regardless of whether one or not need these leaders put there morality and ethics aside for this greater benefit of one’s state. This differs greatly from Dante because his evaluation of the leaders of his time is based solely on how true they stay to moral and ethical virtues. He judges the political. Their ideas of human excellence are revealed through these judgments are very different.†¦show more content†¦He raves about the prestige Ferdinand has acquired in Chapter twenty one of the prince, â€Å"Nothing makes a prince so esteemed as when he personally accomplishes things rare and exemplary. In our times we h ave Ferdinand of Aragon, the present king of Spain. He may also be called a new prince, because from being a weak king he has become through the fame and glory he has achieved, the first king among Christians, and if you consider his actions you will find them great and some even extraordinary.†(Quote from the prince page 94) Even though Machiavelli realizes that it is wrong to use religion to attain power he still commends Ferdinand for doing so because appearing to be religious can give one a very noble perception. Machiavelli believes it is more important create a public image of being trustworthy and sincere than trying to live by those principles in reality. This is because in reality it is very difficult to get a head and stand by moral principles at the same time. He states clearly while explaining why he applauds Ferdinand for his actions, â€Å"When it happens that someone does something extraordinary, whether for good or for ill, in civil life, the prince should ch oose a method of rewarding or punishing that will be much talked about. And above all, a prince must strive in his every action to give the impression of himself as a great man and one of exceptional intelligence.†(a quote from Machiavelli the prince page 95) Another example of Machiavelli