It is through a comparative study of Machiavelli’s sixteenth century political treatise The Prince and William Shakespeare’s 1599 dramatic tragedy Julius Caesar that readers’ perceptions of shared intertextual perspectives about power and corruption are enhanced. By analysing both texts together we are able to observe how the representation of these concerns is shaped by their respective contexts which can lead to a heightened understanding of the values and significance of each.
Sixteenth century Renaissance ideals and fears about political instability link Machiavelli’s Florentine world and Shakespeare’s Tudor context. Both composers lived in times of political turbulence and used their respective texts to raise questions about matters of…show more content… Similarly Shakespeare positions the reader to accept his conservative ideology which valued social stability and the Divine Right of Kings. His play reflects the contextual concerns associated with the demise of Elizabeth’s reign. The play’s depiction of the shift from republican to imperial Rome during the Triumvirate years preceding Caesar’s defeat of Pompey, echoed how Queen Elizabeth had consolidated her power during he r forty year reign, at the expense of the aristocracy and The House of Commons. Whilst the early stages of her reign was marked by the ‘golden eye’ period, characterised by expansion and the growth of literacy, in the late 1590’s when Julius Caesar was written, her power was threatened by aging and the absence of an heir. This is similar to Julius Caesar and is implied that without a clear line of inheritance political chaos could follow her death. Critic John Bell notes Shakespeare’s plays…show more content… Whilst he obviously acknowledged the shrewd, cunning behaviour of some personalities, such as those represented through his characterisation of Mark Antony and Cassius to achieve their political goals, he ultimately privileged Judeo Christian values of ‘nobility in public duty’ as the qualities most desirable in an effective leader. Shakespeare positions us to see that Mark Antony who has the qualities of ‘virtu’ in order to ‘….. quote from Machiavelli’ and who succeeds in fulfilling his political agenda due to his skill at reading the mood of the people and his ability to grasp an opportunity for power by placing himself as the final speaker at Caesar’s funeral . He astutely keeps his own counsel whilst harbouring duplicitous intentions at Caesar’s funeral in order to vindicate the honour of his friend. None of the other patricians suspect his dishonest intentions and by positioning himself as the final speaker he ultimately succeeds at manipulating the people effectively. Antony’s skill at using rhetoric and his passionate, persuasive appeal incites the mob into a passionate frenzy which ultimately results in the break out of civil war. Shakespeare juxtaposes Antony’s political prowess with Brutus’ political ineptitude. Whilst misguided idealism enables Brutus to justify murder he ultimately lacked virtu a