Machiavellis Reputation in the Modern World Essays -- Biography Biogr

Machiavelli's Reputation in the Modern World Niccolà ² Machiavelli was known during much his life as a part of the republican government in Florence until 1512. At that time, the Medici family took over the city and ruled under a more monarchical system. From that point until his death in 1527, Machiavelli was always just on the outside of Florentine politics. He would occasionally get work from the Medici but his tasks were never as important as they had been under the republican government of the past. As he was trying to find his way back into a major role in Florentine government, Machiavelli wrote The Prince, a manual of sorts that explained how a monarch should rule his state and why. While Machiavelli had been a strong proponent of republican ideals in the past, in The Prince, his ideas are far from adhering to republicanism. The book seems to promote the ideal monarch as a cold, heartless person whose only goal in life should be to retain power, regardless of who or what he destroys. This includes killing enemie s of the state, personal enemies of the Prince, and even, in some cases, friends or family. While The Prince was not the first book of this kind, it was the first to suggest a government that rules with no regard for religion or morality. Machiavelli did not particularly pay heed to religious law in the way he lived his life, but he also did not particularly care for the Catholic Church of the time because of the lack of morality demonstrated by the Pope's and other supposedly "religious men's" actions at the time. There are other works that Machiavelli wrote both before and after The Prince that survive today, as well as letters he wrote to his friends that demonstrate a different set of ideals than th... ...: 1940-1960." The Journal of Modern History 33.2 (June 1961): 113-136. Howe, Daniel Walker. "European Sources of Political Ideas in Jeffersonian America." Reviews in American History 10.4 (December 1982): 28-44. Kocis, Robert A. Machiavelli Redeemed. Bethlehem: Lehigh UP, 1998. Machiavelli, Niccolà ². Machiavelli and His Friends: Their Personal Correspondence. Trans. James B. Atkinson & David Sices. DeKalb, Illinois: Northern Illinois UP, 1996. Machiavelli, Niccolà ². The Discourses from The Portable Machiavelli. Ed. & Trans. Peter Bondanella & Mark Musa. New York: Penguin, 1979. Machiavelli, Niccolà ². The Prince from The Portable Machiavelli. Ed. & Trans. Peter Bondanella & Mark Musa. New York: Penguin, 1979. Peterson, Paul E. "The President's Dominance in Foreign Policy Making." Political Science Quarterly 109.2 (Summer, 1994): 215-234.

The Souls of Black Folk Critical Analysis

Critical Analysis Madonna R. Stengel Spalding University In the selections, Forethought, Chapter I and Chapter V from W. E. B. De Bois’ The Souls of Black Folk, the author is attempting to explain the inner struggle playing out in the subconscious of African-American’s minds following the era of reconstruction, as well as offer his common sense solutions to this matter. He refers to this battle of dueling realities within the mind as double consciousness, using â€Å"the veil† as a metaphor to illustrate the isolation and sometimes the protection felt when living within the veil.He attempted to help African-Americans, as well as whites find peace with each other and within their souls, by being true to themselves, instead of accepting the ascribed identities or being the offenders who ascribe those identities. This theme of autonomy and injustice is obviously a common thread of many African American authors, although De Bois takes the concepts a bit further by an alyzing ascribed vs. avowed identity and the reality of human limitations.The message, especially in Chapter V is a forward thinking, broad view that involves setting ethical priorities, educating people appropriately, while not allowing imposed limitations regarding race, gender or socio-economics to hold some back nor the stumbling block of human limitations hold other back. Therein lies the difference between De Bois and some other authors, who endeavor to empower by offering only grandiose ideals without common sense solutions. W. E. B De Bois was very concerned with this dual consciousness theory and image of the â€Å"veil† as an approach to bringing broad understanding to the African-American experience.He believed that it was important for African-Americans to recognize this phenomenon, but equally important was the education and recognition of those who imposed the â€Å"veil. † De Bois is implying, not so subtly, with the veil analogy that it’s a tool to separate and diminish whoever is wearing it and if there is no ability to look figuratively into the eyes, one can’t know the soul, and if one can’t know the soul, one does not have to recognize the humanity. Therefore, injustices and sub-human treatment is much easier to carry out and defend.Also, as educator De Bois was concerned with access to an equitable and appropriate education for all, even if that meant â€Å"teaching the worker to work. † He realized that the key to empowerment was education. He also realized that it was not only the African- Americans population that was in need of an education. He held strong to the belief that it was imperative to train blacks and whites with respect to one another’s culture, in an effort to bring peace and understanding between the races. He also realized that some people, regardless of their race, social status or gender were more inclined to be scholarly than others.He writes, â€Å"Neither or both: te ach the worker to work and the thinker to think; †¦And the final product of our training must be neither a psychologist nor a brickmason, but a man. And to make men, we must have ideals, broad, pure and inspiring ends of living—–not sordid money-getting, not apple of gold. † The worker must work for the glory of his handiwork, not simply for pay; the thinker must think for truth, not fame. So, the message is be true to oneself, and the rest will follow. Works Cited Du Bois, W. E. B. (1969) The souls of black folk: Essays and sketches. New York: Fawcett World Library.

Essay about Mark Twains War Prayer Rhetorical Analysis

During the early 1900’s, Americans were caught up in the idea of imperialism, or extending their influence to other countries using military force. Mark Twain’s essay, The War Prayer, was written during this time, but argued against the popular philosophy of imperialism. Twain’s essay was too controversial and Harper’s Bazaar believed it was not suited for the public to read, so it went unpublished until after his death and after the idea of imperialism had lost its fervor. Twain’s essay discusses imperialism and its consequences. Twain uses two very different characters, a priest and a stranger, to contrast pro-imperialism and anti-imperialism. Ultimately, Twain’s essay reveals to readers that praying for success in war is also†¦show more content†¦Twain describes the time of war as â€Å"a glad and gracious time,† and the victorious soldiers as â€Å"bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory!â⠂¬  His positive description of imperialism represents the common belief that war is a glorious event and a source of pride for the victors. Twain also describes those against the war, but in a negative light: â€Å"the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning...† Twain’s description of anti-imperialists and the treatment they received from others shows how unpopular and seemingly insane their ideas were. Though Twain himself was an anti-imperialist, he describes them in a negative way to gain readers. Most Americans in the early 1900’s were imperialists, and through a positive and prideful description of imperialism at the beginning of his essay, Twain is able to draw in many readers he would have offended if he wrote only of the horrors of imperialism. Twain’s word choice drew in more readers, causing many to now question imperialism. Twa in’s word choice describing both pro- and anti-imperialists widens his audience, and his thoughts on the effects of imperialism are seen by more readers. His word choice effectively spreads his message. The final sentence of Twain’s essay is a powerful and effective way to end The War Prayer. At the end of the essay, the stranger is described as â€Å"a lunatic, becauseShow MoreRelatedThe Rhetorical Analysis Of Mark Twains War Prayer772 Words   |  4 PagesThe Filipino-American war is one of the significant wars, because it was a continuation of the Filipino struggle for independence that took several years. Not all Americans supported these wars; Mark Twain, an American author, expressed his disappointment of the church through his prayer. Mark Twains war prayer was a response to the Spanish American war; he presented his viewpoint on the military, and the war itself. In the first part of his prayer, he praises the soldiers and prays for victoryRead MoreLiterary Criticism : The Free Encyclopedia 7351 Words   |  30 Pages(1855)[22] Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens (1861) Sentimental Education, by Gustave Flaubert (1869) The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi (1883) The Story of an African Farm, by Olive Schreiner (1883) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain (1884) Pharaoh, by BolesÅ‚aw Prus (1895) What Maisie Knew, by Henry James (1897)[23] 20th century[edit] The Confusions of Young Tà ¶rless, by Robert Musil (1906) Martin Eden, by Jack London (1909)[24] The Book of Khalid, by Ameen Rihani (1911)[25]Read MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 PagesReasons ................................................................................................ 236 Deceiving with Loaded Language ................................................................................................... 238 Using Rhetorical Devices .................................................................................................................. 240 Review of Major Points .............................................................................................