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View Full Version : The Prince Vs. Inferno

LinkTheGameFreak
11-30-2005, 11:53 PM
First, I added the poll because I thought it would be cool to see how the 2 works stand up against each other, and which is better enjoyed

Second, I need help writing a paper comparing Machiavelli's The Prince with Dante's Inferno

themes to compare:
• church/religion
• murder/killing
• the role of leaders

I already have an idea of what to write about, mainly on how Machiavelli advocates using any means necessary to gain power and respect (the ends justify the means), while Dante shows that doing such things results in an unfavorable end.

My problem is finding specific examples for the role of leaders.

For church and religion, Dante mentions several church leaders in Hell, and Machiavelli writes about how church and state should interact.

Well, that's all I can think of right now, thanks in advance :)

- adrian
GenocideAlive
12-01-2005, 11:34 AM
I didn't participate in the poll. The Prince and Inferno are two particularly divergent works. They both contain religious themes, but in far different contexts; I don't really see them as anything directly comparable.
Kingscrab
12-01-2005, 12:27 PM
It's been a long time since i've read either, but if i had to choose, i'd say The Inferno, simply because i remember it to be more entertaining of a read. The subject matter is more entertaining anyhow...

I mean, come on, it's a play by play documentary about Hell! :devil:
LinkTheGameFreak
12-01-2005, 1:34 PM
I didn't participate in the poll. The Prince and Inferno are two particularly divergent works. They both contain religious themes, but in far different contexts; I don't really see them as anything directly comparable.

thank you for your reply, I have the same problem, I can't really compare them too closely because they are so different, with the only real connecting theme as religion, and possibly some insight on where leaders end up...

there's nothing else I can really think of
GenocideAlive
12-01-2005, 2:27 PM
Well if we're just going with naked preference, I liked the Inferno far better. Simply because politics bores me to tears.
LinkTheGameFreak
12-01-2005, 3:38 PM
Well if we're just going with naked preference, I liked the Inferno far better. Simply because politics bores me to tears.

well it's not just naked preference (although I wish it were) but comparison of the 2 works (which is beyond me how anyone can compare these 2 pieces) :(
Prozerran
12-01-2005, 10:13 PM
Wow. I'm surprised that you're actually getting to study these works (I assume) in a high school English class. Very nice. Good luck. I know that Dante's Inferno is a work that has inspired a couple of great Orchestral works from the 70s and 80s. Best of luck in your assignment.
LinkTheGameFreak
12-02-2005, 1:06 AM
Wow. I'm surprised that you're actually getting to study these works (I assume) in a high school English class. Very nice. Good luck. I know that Dante's Inferno is a work that has inspired a couple of great Orchestral works from the 70s and 80s. Best of luck in your assignment.

actually I'm a first year college student and it's for my world cultures class :)
Kingscrab
12-02-2005, 8:57 AM
Wow. I'm surprised that you're actually getting to study these works (I assume) in a high school English class. Very nice. I know i asked you this in another thread but, where did you go to high school, dude? Your admins need to be slapped. Both of these books were standard issue "spoon-feeding" when i went to high school. (Of course, one had to actually choose to take the elective Humanities course to be "fed")
LinkTheGameFreak
12-02-2005, 1:39 PM
I know i asked you this in another thread but, where did you go to high school, dude? Your admins need to be slapped. Both of these books were standard issue "spoon-feeding" when i went to high school. (Of course, one had to actually choose to take the elective Humanities course to be "fed")

I did have to read Inferno in high school, but The Prince is new to me and I really love it, Machiavelli offers such great advice for leaders such as:

• Waging war
• Being a diplomat
• Leaders don't rule by human laws
• The end justifies the means
• TV/VCR repair
• or get your degree :)
GenocideAlive
12-02-2005, 1:40 PM
...Yeah, I read a whole crapload of "summer reading" books that amounted to like 20-30 books in two years. Faulkner, Emerson, Thoreau, etc. etc. some were shit, but some were good, like Inferno.
LinkTheGameFreak
12-02-2005, 1:47 PM
I hate the Inferno. It has its moments, but for me it is difficult to follow. :(
Kingscrab
12-02-2005, 1:53 PM
I hate the Inferno. It has its moments, but for me it is difficult to follow. :( It is kind of a pain in the ass to read i guess...

At the time, I was flying across country to visit relatives so i had about 5 hours free. In my notebook, I sketched out a map of hell and all of it's jolly circles, famous imprisoned souls, punishments, etc. That helped a bit.

Hell can be fun with Dante!
LinkTheGameFreak
12-02-2005, 1:59 PM
It is kind of a pain in the ass to read i guess...

At the time, I was flying across country to visit relatives so i had about 5 hours free. In my notebook, I sketched out a map of hell and all of it's jolly circles, famous imprisoned souls, punishments, etc. That helped a bit.

Hell can be fun with Dante!

rofl, how come I didn't think of that?!