Analysis of Machiavelli and Othello in "The Prince"

Uploaded by loslobos on Jun 11, 2006

In Machiavelli’s “The Prince” readers are provided with powerful insights to becoming a successful
ruler. Niccolo breaks down into steps what a ruler must take into account in order to control the
masses. The character of iago in Shakespeare’s “Othello” seems to have studied and acted
through Machiavelli’s teachings. Throughout the entire play his intentions towards empowerment
are shown. Lago would have prevailed to be a top student in Machiavelli’s class with all his cunning
and deception. For the paper, I will dig into Machiavelli’s teachings a little deeper to the real
motives behind the man with power.

0, sir, content you.

I follow him to serve my turn upon him.

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed (Shakespeare 5). lago is telling
it how it is. There are those inclined to be leaders and those destined to be followers. it is lead to
an individual’s personal will to decide on what end he or she shall stand. It is such a hypocrisy how
Lago is given the name “honest” throughout the play just as many rulers have been given that false
name. From the very beginning of “Othello”, readers can see the “fox” in Lago His character is
greedy and his will to his goal is strong. He is strictly doing things for himself. lago represents a
particular vision of Machiavellian ideology stemming from a self-interested quest for power and
gain which

directly ignores the limits of social acceptance and traditional bonds. The only time he does honor
such bonds in when it is benefiting his tactics for deception. An example of this is how he
convinces Roderigo to kill Cassia for the love of Desdemona

Machiavelli gives us the Lion and the fox to relate on the issue of maintaining power. These two
animals are the two ways of fighting and combat. A balance must be reached between the two for
success. The lion and the fox are related with regards to the attributes a prince must have to
remain an effective ruler. The fox has the cunning while the lion maintains the strength. The
strength of the lion is there to guard off enemies and the fox is the manipulator. I believe they are
both mental aspects of our minds. These two thought processes enable anyone to achieve what it
is they want. It all depends on how bad we want something and what we are willing to do for it. The
emphasis on the strength of an individual’s will to accomplish what he desires adds a third force to
the two usually claimed to affect the outcome of events.

Lago has small but strong motivation for his plans against Othello and Cassia. His cruelty is harsh
with his deception of the honest people. This is an example of how Lago is willing to do whatever it
takes to satisfy his own will. Machiavelli states that men are so simple and yield so much to the
present necessities that he who hath a mind to deceive shall always find another that will be
deceived. In harsh terms, Brabantio and Roderigo are the perfect suckers for iago's plan. lago
manipulates the honesty of these two men to his advantage. I have no great devotion to the deed,
And yet he hath given me satisfying reason. ‘Tis a man gone. Forth my sword! He dies
(Shakespeare 108)! Readers can see that Lago abuses the gullible aspect of Roderigo even up to
the point of murdering another human being. The prince in “Othello” is clearly Lago.

According to Machiavelli, morality, honesty, and fidelity are in fact related to the success of a ruler
in that the ruler must know how to utilize these qualities and talents to his advantage. In this alone
we can see a direct link to the relationship between citizens and politicians. The masses are given
words of morality and justice in order to keep a sense of belief in our superiors but are kept blind to
the reality that lies beneath. Rulers set up beliefs as a smoke screen for people to be kept in
darkness. The ignorance in the honest is abused to the ruler’s advantage. The honest cannot know
what is happening behind the scenes or else a revolution can take place. Two brief but yet in depth
examples are slave owners and the police system. Slaves were told that their purpose was to be
slaves and serve the white man. This is what was systematically set up and blacks were supposed
to believe this. Stereotypes are slapped down to keep the ignorant stable under their ruler’s
position. Police have the words courtesy, professionalism, and respect on the side door of their
vehicle. This slogan is being sold for the public’s eye to buy. The larger force of people is kept
controlled by believing this idea but the reality is different. There is not really an absolute standard
to which a monarch can be held, as the ability to lead would be undermined if he had to be held to
a standard by which his subjects may not be. In the face of the public the ruler must seem to have
all these virtues and from time to time must use them in order to restore faith in him. The police
must catch a couple of bad guys right after they are caught beating an innocent victim. The
balance must be maintained. Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus (Shakespeare
25). It is a mere illusion all the fancy talk of morals and values. For Lago there is no standard of
virtue that determines the value of one life. Nietzsche seems also share a similar belief system to
this way of thinking.

To be direct and honest is not safe (Shakespeare 71). Honesty is a vice for a true ruler according
to lago and Machiavelli. The only time it can be used is when it accords to the advantage of the
ruler. The truth must be abandoned along with pre existing traditions for a leader to advance. Being
honest and true leaves an opening for other manipulators. Rulers to keep masses in a bubble of
false belief maneuver the truth. Diabolically evil and politicians go hand in hand. There is not much
difference between the two. The only time a ruler can be taken off of the throne is when the truth is
exposed to the public and then a change may occur. Fidel Castro is a perfect representation of
“The Prince.” He keeps the whole island blank as to what is going on in the outside world. He feeds
the people what he wants them to believe so that he may remain in power. This is a purely evil
deed when it comes to making other lives suffer. Can such a man be considered religious?

Fortune and chance appear to be Machiavelli’s god. A wise Prince cannot keep his faith when
circumstances prove to turn to his disadvantage. The belief system is only set up to the individual’s
personal advantage. How can a politician use the word god with the knowledge he possesses of
the truth? God is mentioned only for the sake of the people. Hopes and dreams are toyed with for
the ruler’s power. Society is prone to these beliefs for centuries and will continue to be deceived by
a fox for a politician. Fortune, the goddess more or less of luck, who spins the wheel of fortune.
Those on top will eventually find that she has turned the table on them and recognize here to seize
an opportunity when presented to him. Providence is God working through a price to divinely
enable greatness in a ruler and lastly, individual will. These are the three

components of human nature. The predominant factor believed by Machiavelli is free will. So it
basically stands that there is belief when the table is turned for the ruler.

Machiavelli is a merchant of illusions. lago sold everyone the illusion of honesty. His name was
“Honest lago” where he lied throughout the entire play. The cruelty of lago is witnessed from
beginning to end. The results were tragic for his evil intentions. Machiavelli believes that cruelty, at
times, is a necessary tool for a price to maintain his leadership. It must be thrown down to show
authority. However, a ruler must not reveal his ability to be cruel at all times. A balance between
pity and a strong head must be achieved. It serves as a push a pull system. Feed the public some
good while you are truly doing something evil behind their backs. Like, buy your girlfriend some
flowers tonight because last night you didn’t show up because you were cheating on her. Spank
your dog for not listening but then throw him a biscuit. We can bomb lands overseas but it’s okay
because we send them food right before we do it. A ruler must avoid hatred but must never be
thought of as weak. Fear must be an element at all times.
A prince therefore must take the surest courses he can to maintain his life and state. The means
shall always be thought honorable and commended by everyone. Along with following this rule a
reputation is built that the ruler must not allow falling. A man’s life can be reflected by his
reputation. The importance of reputation can make or break a man’s position and pride.
Reputation, reputation, reputation! 0, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of
myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Lago, my reputation (Shakespeare 50). Othello
clearly gives readers the sense of importance that reputation carries. Once a ruler or enterprise
loses its reputation, a major loss of respect goes down with it. A Prince must maintain a good
reputation throughout his state at all times.

A ruler must be headstrong and a mastermind with words that appeal to people. He has to be able
to balance the thoughts of others to agree with his personal intentions. Always looking one way
while actually being another. It as if the ruler has to portray a mirage that people cannot break. Pity
cannot be a major issue for a ruler because kindness is taken for weakness. Cruelty must be
enforced to reassure a firm position. Rulers at all time hold the ball in their court with an advantage
to win. Absolute truth can never be revealed to the public eye or else the ruler will fall. It has been
the story of mankind repeated over and over. The strong being controlled by the weak. The public
must achieve knowledge and learn to unify to gain actual power. The masses must learn to not
believe everything they read, see, or hear. The media plays a major role in the deception of our
lives in favor of politicians. The lies spread out and are eaten by those gullible enough to believe
them. It is evil, but it is the way it is.