Machiavelli: Laws Follow Good Military, Virtues, Fortune & Prowess - Essay Sample

Introduction

Machiavelli believes that proper laws follow good military. Thus the prince should have an understanding of how to conduct ruling. He defines virtue as necessary qualities that are supported and praised by others like loyalty, compassion, and generosity. He states that the prince must almost appear virtuous and avoid vices like dishonest and cruelty to benefit the state. He also uses fortune and prowess to show ways the prince should come to power. Prowess entails to people's talents while luck implies luck or chance. Fortune determines human affairs. Therefore to remain in power, the prince must not hate people but act in a way that the people fear them they serve (Machiavelli, 2019). Sir Gawain is a loyal, optimistic and eager who intends to undertake any challenge or problem to protect Arthur as well as to keep the reputation of Camelot. Green Knight is seen as a noble, mischievous and generous because he hosts Gawain for some days before the New Year. However, Green Knight portrays magnitude and fertility of nature which is contrary to the accepted social norms. Green Knight mocks Arthur's reputation in court as he opposed artificial constructions of community pretensions and values. Sir Gawain demonstrates loyalty and chivalry where he even faces the test of Lady Bertilak one of the castles of Green Knight. The essay, however, tends to explore the issue of Power and Interests in Prince in Connection to Conflict between Green Knight and Sir Gawain.

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Power and interest have been an issue of debate in Prince as well as Sir Knight and Dawain which arouses either internal or external conflicts. Individuals who become princes by favor or luck find it easier to acquire states though it's difficult to sustain them since they lack leadership qualities and at the same time not used to being in command. For instance, Francesco Sforza through his strength became the prince and kept the state while Cesare Borgia became the prince through his father influence but failed to maintain the state. Alexander VI has the intention to make the son tremendous but lacked the troop. Also, Machiavelli where he welcomes the French into Italy with the aim of exchange for the soldier to subdue or conquer the Romagna region (Machiavelli, 2019). A man cannot be termed as a hero not unless he overcomes temptation and opposition. In some instances, the temptation may come as a result of another character.

Consequently, the conflict is termed as a malignant character with bad or wicked intentions to commit acts characterized by evil. In some cases, the main character may become the hero through overcoming forces within him or her. For instance, the conflict which arises between Sir Gawain and Green Knight makes them struggle towards winning to be termed as the hero.

Power and interests make rulers involve various temptations, and confusion which results in conflicts. The internal conflict comes in when Gawain realizes that he should respect the courtly love while the code of hour according to Knight need him to accept or receive a girdle from the lady (Greenblatt & Christ,2012). Gawain denies the gift of the ring the lady gives him as a sign of remembrance as well as green girdle which she proclaims that it will offer him protection. Machiavelli decides to mind citizens to obtain principalities by fortune. These princes encounter many problems to preserve power they acquired with no effort. A prince of the current country that relies on fortune lack chance to survive without any traditions and loyal arm. He argues that it is hard to maintain power unlike processing it (Chapter 18). For instance, the Italy rulers lost their state by ignoring military and political principles. Thus fortune may control human affair allowing the prince to act freely.

Gawain is in a state of internal battle where he has a girdle form wife of Bertilak and at the same time like to hunt fox and fear for his life as well as finding a safe place to avoid death from the axe that belongs to Green Knight. Bertilak faces a problematic moment in hunting when the fox incorporates various tactics unlike the other animals because it realizes that it is the most target. Also, Green Knight's wife wants Gawain not to disappoint or deny her favor of ring for remembrance since he has better romantic reputation although Bertilak is aware of all these incidences. The princes find it hard to control the state after acquiring it. Therefore to lead the nation, the prince should have qualities that include religious, merciful and truthful although he may act differently (Chapter 18). Prince should be wise advisors and neglect flatters, build the reputation, be stingy rather than generous.

Moreover, conflicts arise between Green Knight and Sir Gawain where nature represents lawless order and chaotic which confronts the civilization of Camelot directly. The rider and green horse that invade Arthur's halls represent iconic of natural disturbances. It is shown as indifferent, rough and constant threatening to courtly and man life. For example, Green Knight disrupts order and significant events as the same time Gawain is supposed to fight natural lust of the wife of Bertilak and the vow he broke when he kept the green girdle valuing survival rather than virtue (p. 869). Besides, Machiavelli concerns about cruelty and mercy where he bases his argument on things that will benefit people although application of cruelty by prince may bring the issues of violence and lawlessness which might harm individuals (Chapter 26). According to him, wrongdoers should be punished to avoid the harm of the innocent people in the future through criminal actions. Also, Machiavelli questions Florentine government because of failure to intervene the time civil war started in Pistoia where many individuals died in the fighting.

The power and interests lead to conflict between Gawain codes of honor as Green Knight needed him to respect and keep his words and all instinct of natural survival. The Green Knight game rulers which Gawain had agreed indicated that Gawain should submit and blow from his axe a day and a year. The failure of Knight to die according to the expectations showed a conflict for Gawain. For instance, Gawain chops off the head of Green Knight although he picks it and chatters out of the horse castle (P.864). Therefore Gawain faces external conflict from the Green Knight contest and the struggle he gets to find Green Chapel particularly on harsh weather where he encounters wild animals. Machiavelli struggles to find a solution why some people succeed and others fail regardless of being employed in the same techniques (Chapter 25). For instance, the prince is performing in one day and get ruined in the next regardless of change of nature. People handle circumstances differently because some will succeed while others fail to emulate move and lead well.

Conclusion

Interests and power bring conflicting issues between Green Knight and Sir Gawain as well as in Machiavellian incidence which illustrates both internal and external conflicts. For instance, Gawain is in a state of confusion whether to accept the gift from the lady which could disappoint King Arthur. Also, Gawain faces an internal conflict where he had to accept the Green Knight challenges. At the same time to agree to take the trial would violate the chivalric code of conduct (p. 878-890). The incidents combine the two different answers since one could make another one happen. For example, when Gawain receives a gift from the lady and fails to disclose to Green Knight, he would have broken the chivalric code which was a significant issue (p. 68). Machiavelli wonders how Prince could obtain power with no effort but fail to lead. Machiavelli questions his advice and observation whether it will direct towards accomplishing the goals of the prince and the state to bring leaders who will unite and deliver Italy from barbarians (Chapter 26). Since Italy is supposed to be a prosperous and peaceful state with a prince who will work for stability and security.

References

Greenblatt, S., & Christ, C. T. (Eds.). (2012). The Norton anthology of English literature (Vol. 1). WW Norton & Company.

Machiavelli, N. (2019). Book Summary. Retrieved from https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/the-prince/book-summary