Write an essay (5 paragraph) in which you analyze the excerpt from Niccolo Machiavelli’s book, The Prince, that appears in Barnet book. Machiavelli’s thesis is this: “…a man who wishes to make a vocation of being good at all times will come to ruin among so many who are not good. Hence it is necessary for a prince [political leader] who wishes to maintain his position to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge or not to use it according to necessity” (670). Machiavelli seems to be arguing here that “the ends justify the means.”
Based on Machiavelli’s arguments, former President Richard M. Nixon (as portrayed in director Oliver Stone’s film Nixon) represent a Machiavellian “Prince”. In Oliver Stone’s film, President Richard M. Nixon, as portrayed in the film, a Machiavellian politician. You are arguing against Machiavelli, you need to use 3 examples of Nixon’s failures from film “Nixon” (first paragraph: Watergate scandal; second paragraph: bombing of Cambodia; third paragraph: lie to his wife) to support your argument.
first body paragraph, you need to argue aginst -“Hence it is necessary for a prince [political leader] wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity ( Machiavelli 644). And use example of Watergate scandal from film “Nixon”.
second body paragraph, argue aginst -“Therefore a prince [political leader], so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty. . .” (Machiavelli 646). use example of bombing of Cambodia from film “Nixon”.
third body paragraph argue against -“Therefore a wise lord [political leader] cannot, nor ought he to, keep faith when such observance may be turned against him, and when the reasons that caused him to pledge it exist no longer” (Machiavelli 648). use example of “lie to his wife” from film “Nixon”.