The Prince and Chinese Maze Murders Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Prince and Chinese Maze Murders - Essay ExampleIn those days Italy was a world attracter in arts and culture, and new ideas were being produced all the time. The setting of the Maze Murders, on the other hand, is a provincial backwater, where a fatalistic view of the world prevails, and few people purpose to realiseing. Italy is a forward-facial expression put up, while China rests on an ancient tradition and seems more backward looking than innovative. Because of this cultural difference, the Italian society of Machiavelli is by far the preferable one to live in. Machiavelli describes a state where the ruler is expected to keep people in check by dint of his superior wealth, and particularly through his power to threaten and carry out military action against whatsoeverone who rises up against the establishment. He seems to suggest that it is vanquish when a great deal of power is concentrated in this one person, and advises the prince that flatterers must be shunned (Mach iavelli 75) and that it is not good to listen to the advice of lots of different people. This creates a despotic leader, and so long as the leaders character is good, things can go well in the state, but as soon as a leader grows arrogant or resentful, there can be very extreme consequences for the exclusively state. He does encourage the ruler to be generous, to keep his word, and to be merciful, within reason, but at the very(prenominal) time he advises the ruler that it is better to be fe ard than to be loved. The philosophy behind Machiavellis winsome of state is a kind of cult of the personality, making the ruler the best possible individual and honourable of the loyalty of his people. The existence of the book implies at the same time that there will be at least one trusted advisor who will advise on strategy and act as source of information for the ruler. Ambition is seen as a great quality, and the prince is encouraged to master the art of war, and to learn how to judge the strengths and weaknesses of potential enemies, in order to maintain a stable and stopful realm. Machiavelli urges the prince to remain alive(p) saying that a wise prince must never take things easy in times of peace ( train Gulik 49) suggesting that mental and physical training are the way for him to keep a step ahead of any potential enemies. In a way the cultivation of warlike qualities is presented as a kind of overprotective aura, much as nowadays the existence of nuclear weapons prevents full scale international war. In Van Guliks vast landscape of China, on the other hand, authority seems far more diffuse and arbitrary. The eccentric of the magistrate is supposed to be an formalized duty carried out with great seriousness, and there is supposed to be an official tribunal building and staff in every city to ensure that law and order are maintained. It is evident from the situation in Lan-fang that the previous magistrate has been less than efficient before the new magis trate Dee arrives. Dee even stamps his root in annoyance and shouts Where are the guards, where are the constables? Where are the scribes, where are the clerks, where is everybody in this accursed tribunal (Van Gulik 19). In the postscript to the novel, Van Gulik explains the temporary nature of the magistrate appointment, and he hints at the reason for this when he explains that the lieutenants are not allowed to investigate crimes because of their tendency to be influenced by private considerations, and