Literary Journal: Metaphor for Machiavelli's The Prince

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Word - Definition
Quote
Piece, Author
Analysis

Metaphor—The use to describe somebody or something of a word or phrase that is not meant literally but by means of a vivid comparison expresses something about him, her, or it.

“…fortune is a woman, and if you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill-use her; and it is seen that she allows herself to be mastered by the adventurous rather than by those who go to work more coldly. She is, therefore, always, woman-like, a lover of young men, because they are less cautious, more violent, and with more audacity command her.”
(The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli)

Machiavelli’s comparison of fortune to be like a woman perfectly describes his opinion of the separation of politics and ethics. Machiavelli believes that punishment should be used when necessary to maintain peace, and that it evident in his metaphor by saying that it is beneficial to use violence against women to make them obey you and have a successful marriage with successful offspring. This attitude validates the phrase “the ends justifies the means” because it doesn’t matter what you do as long as the end result is what you wanted it to be. Since one-half of everything is attributed to choice and the other half is attributed to fortune, it is therefore beneficial to have fortune under your control in case it tries to go against you. Through violent imagery, Machiavelli not only illustrates his sexism but also shows his determination to get back into politics after Lorenzo de Medici ousted him from power. Machiavelli figuratively uses violence to make himself appear to be a more serious and competent leader. Machiavelli’s syntax, his use of semicolons, and his use of commas, is used to make him appear more sophisticated and thus have a more presentable argument. Machiavelli argues that he is best suited to govern Florence because he has a youthful vitality that fortune favors.