preview

How Does Machiavelli Use Persuasive Rhetoric

Better Essays

IB HL English Written Assignment How does Machiavelli use persuasive rhetoric to advise the Medici on their rule through the use of the mapmaker, the skillful archer, and the river analogies? Machiavelli writes a guidebook to the Medici and is just asking them of one thing: to follow his advice as he is worthy enough due to his numerous years of studying rule. He uses numerous literary devices to persuade the Medici but one that really stands out is analogies.The analogies in the book serve as a way to reveal a familiar situation to persuade the medici to take Machiavelli’s advice to help the Medici refine their craft. Because of the persuasive style of the text, Machiavelli is not an evil character but rather is boldly attempting to aid the Medici in ruling over Italy so they can be united in contrast to being split apart, and he does this through the analogies of the mapmaker, the skillful archer, and the river. The analogy of the mapmaker occurs in the dedication to Lorenzo Medici. The dedication as a whole uses persuasive rhetoric such as “and although I deem this work unworthy of Your Highness’s acceptance, yet my confidence in your humanity assures me that you will receive it with favor,” shows that Machiavelli is trying to persuade the Lorenzo to read rest of the book by showing that Lorenzo Medici is more important than and more valuable than him. He is trying to convey to Lorenzo that he is so much greater than him that the work is almost unworthy of his precious

Get Access