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#2820-

Brianna Robinson

November 29,2013
#2820Wortd Literature Paper
Word Counf 1552

How the Theme of Fortune in a Successful Prince Determines the Prosperity of the People tn The
Prince

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Robinson
#2820how
Fortune,
and
In his novel, The Prilrce, Niccol6 Machiavelli analyzes the theme of

this concept impacts not only princes, but also human affairs. Based on Machiavelli's
classification of princedoms, Fortune plays a key role in the success of one's power as a
monarch. He establishes how luck affects a prince's reign; however he does not address the

impact of a prince's princedom on his subjects. Upon further investigation with respect to the
common people, Machiavelli's understanding ofFortune and the consequences of the prince's
actions when facing such circumstances, including those of natural cituses and of one's character,

ultimately define the success of the common people and who best serves under this principle.
Machiavelli uses Fortune todefine its abstract and definite meaning. In the beginning

of

The Prince, the idea of Fortune is brought up to explicate the various kinds of princedoms that

ideally exist in monarchies. According to Machiavelli, he finds that the luck of the prince causes

"no hindrancd' in his rule, except for the "lack of knowledge" and "powet''that is unequivocal
in comparison to the effort taken to become king (Machiavelli 15). Wthout exceptional aptitude
skills, the prince is limited by the extent to which he can successfully guide and rule his subjects.
This restriction is based on his social rank prior to ruling. In most circumstances, a prince

of

Good Fortune rises to power in event of closely tied relations that result in "wholly dependent"
bonds with the aid of others who ultimately have control over the Prince (15). Although this

prince faces little obstacles in acquiring his position, his fortune is limited when he must actually
reign. A prince's struggle to lay down a proper initiative foundation for his kingdom results in the
incompetence of his power in regards to better the lives of the people.

When observing the nature of princes, there is an apparent difference that ultimately
affects the extent to which a prince can rule for the people: social class. One's social class is a

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Robinson
#2820broad spectrum that determines whether the person is wealthy or poor, has more influential
pov/er over large audience versus authority within family ties, and how these aspects reflect in
one's character. For a proletariat who acquires his princedom, this prince faces many troubles
regardless of how fortunate he has been in gaining such power.

Alower class ruler struggles

learn how to "command" his subjects because he has had no prior experience with this skill (66).
Accustomed to taking orders and obeying to those above him, this dubious ruler cannot
adequately take action, like a well-rounded prince should, and make decisions for his people.

Lack of authority forces the prince to rely and entrust in others who may or not be earnest and
loyal to hinr, therefore jeopardizingthe stability and security ofthe prince's position and ofthe
kingdom. The fate ofthis type of prince is temporary rule, unless he can quickly adapt and gain
the skills needed to hold power. Vulnerable to a comrpt army and or those who aided in his

curent standing, the prince most likely faces the possibility ofbeing overthrown promptly.
Although his charisma may be appealing and alluring to commoners because he had started off
as one

ofthe people, the foreign nature of living in a "private station" that forms the character of

a prince leaves

him incapable of ruling under times of distress because the prince is unable to

demonstrate his authority over those who find themselves equal to him (15).

Unlike the originally underprivileged prince, a prince from

higher social hierarchy faces

different problems after obtaining the throne. Even though this type of prince possesses the
proper talent to be a rightful heir to the title, his dependency on others and lack of common
ground with his subjects may lead to his failure. Aprince from this background only has the issue

of maintaining himself in spite of the luck of his "mere fortune", rather than the other obstacles
that the previously mentioned (15).

If a prince is not cautious of his own actions, a prince gaining

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Robinson
#2820remarkable power can be blinded by his own greatness, leaving his wrongs "forgotten" and
masked by the immense control that he can now use (20). His ignorance to other affairs
cause people to lose sympathy

will

for him. As a result, he has a more diffrcult task of keeping his

position while maintaining his command over his subjects. Besides these components

contributing to the duration of a successful rule, outside forces also have a major impact on a
princedom for the people.

In comparisorq Machiavelli's other rendition of Fortune is in respect to spontaneous or

unpredictable disasters that occur. In The Prince, Machiavelli focuses on the circumstances

of

natural disasters or instances of the power of God and Mother Nature. Due to the fact that such
events are "determined by chance", there is no forewarning

ofthe occasion (66). Unpredictable

and dangerous, the wrath of fortune inflicts fear among the people; a powerful tool used to gain

control of the public. When analyzingthe power of

Prince over his people and the fortune

of

chance, Fortune is evidently the stronger of the two, even though chance does little to capture the

attention and authority over the people. Fortune must only wreak chaos and destruction on
anything that crosses its path in order to assert complete supremacy. Machiavelli is able to
connect these two classifications of Fortune as a result of one determining the fate of the other.

With this understanding of the text, Machiavelli analyzes the power of nature and how this
element influences the prosperity of the people's lives under the aforementioned prince.

Machiavelli utilizes the strength of external factors, such as natural disasters, to determine
the final element that influences the characteristics needed to be a prosperous ruler. The Prince
discusses how Mother Nature and God have "control of the other half'regarding Fortune's affect

on a princedom and how the reaction to these inevitable events decides the fate of a kingdom

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Robinson
#2820forces
it
(66). Due to the fact that nature can shift and move landscapes into any conformation,
people to work around its powers because there is no manner in which one can control a natural
disaster. The spontaneity of its arrival and force is unruly. According to Machiavelli's awareness

of such cases, he claims that one who "rests wholly on Fortune" is doomed against the forces of
nature (67). Without taking "precautions" such ag "artificial channels", a "barrief' or

"embankment", or adapting to the scenario as it occurs, a prince has no chance to protect or

prevent more damage from destroying his kingdom and people (66). Atthough creating forces to
stop the course of Fortune cannot

fully hold back its powerful devastatiorl acclimating to the

circumstance as it presents itself may be more effective. To do sq one must think ofFortune as a
human. The princes, like all men, are typically stubborn and stuck in their ways, whereas Fortune
is like a "woman" who changes constantly; men must continuously change to balance this shift

in behavior (68). Not only must the prince be assertive with "greater audacity'', he must also
keep her "beaten and roughly handled" to demonstrate his dominance (68). To declare his

authoritarian reticence, the prince must act young, because men during this age are less careful
and weak to stand up to a lvoman and have

little care or concern of a woman's emotions. These

impulsive conducts, along with sensible measures, are the tools needed for a princedom to be
saved from Fortune's wrath.

When applying this knowledge of the text, one can conclude that the person who will rule
most appropriately for the people is an ecclesiastical prince. Machiavelli's novel, The Prince,

chnacteizes an ecclesiastical ruler as the best fit because he can best withstand issues tlnt a
princedom would face. He is fortunate to be figure that is "supported by God" so that his subjects

will willingly praise

and obey him due to his religious affrliation with God (29). Inspired by God,

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Robinson
#2820the ecclesiastical prince has no struggle in gaining the respect he needs to assert his authority
over the people. In regards for the people, their best chances in trusting a prince would be an
ecclesiastical one because a princedom would be "sesure and happy'' under the unity of the
Church that brings everyone together on a common ground (28). Even in times of chaos in result

to natural disasters, one can explain the situation as a sign from God demonstrating his power or
anger towards a matter. Regardless of the scenario, an ecclesiastical prince has no hindrance that

would restrain him from governing his people so that everyone is content and at ease.

In respect to Machiavelli's interpretation of Forhrng he ultimately uses this concept to

determine the final aspects that a prince must acquire to obtain his princedom. Niccol6

Machiavelli's boolg The Prince,justifies the characteristics that best lead to the success of a ruler
which parallels with the benefit of his subjects as long as the ruler is principled and in favor

of

his subjects and the prosperity of his princedom.

Word Count:1552
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Robinson
#2820Works Cited
ldachiavelli, Niccold, andN. IL Thompson. The Prirce. NewYork: DoverPublications, 1992.
Print.

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