In reading Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, I couldn’t help but wonder if this text served as the basis for Thomas Carlyle’s “Great Man Theory.” In the opening paragraph, the idea of the great man is introduced. Machiavelli states, “I have been unable to find among my possessions anything which I hold so dear or esteem so highly as that knowledge of the deeds of great men,” (101.) Two pages later, Machiavelli again mentions the idea of the great man, advising that “a prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent,” (103).
Machiavelli was born almost three hundred years before Carlyle, and the concept of looking at the leadership of “great men” remained prevalent over that span of time. To put into perspective, the United States isn’t even three hundred years old. I think it is really interesting that with one hundred forty years since Carlyle’s death, we are still analyzing this theory. In the podcast we listened to about “The Great Man Theory,” the hosts talked about how history is regarded as progress. However, after realizing how long this theory has been in place, I am scared that we have made little progress.
I think you made an interesting connection between Machiavelli and Carlyle. Machiavelli very much is focused on the great man as he is analyzing “the prince” in all aspects. But I wonder how he analyzes history as a whole, rather than just the crown. And in which aspects he would agree with Carlyle.
I honestly didn’t even notice the similarities between this reading and “The Great Man Theory,” but now that you pointed it out, I see it happening everywhere. However, I think that Machiavelli’s perspective focuses more on fear, “For a prince must have two kinds of fear: one internal as regards his subjects, one external as regards foreign power” (124). It is really interesting to see how Machiavelli’s point of view compares and contrasts to the Great Man Theory.
Your post made me think of the progress we have made when it pertains to the Great Man Theory. And as we talked in class, do you believe that there is still resistance like there was when women couldn’t vote, when it comes to letting women hold a position of power like the presidency?
You made an interesting connection to the Great Man Theory that i personally did not think of while reading. I think it is important for you to point this out because I now see some of the connections you made.
I too almost instantaneously thought of the Great Man Theory and I think that is a very important thing to consider when reading The Prince. However, I think if Carlyle and Machiavelli were to list qualities of a great leader side by side, there would be many differences. This is not to say there are not significant similarities, but it is certainly something to note.
I really enjoyed the parallel you drew between Machiavelli’s writings and the Great Man Theory. It is interesting how these themes have been present long before Carlyle’s theory and while times have changed, many of the same themes still stick around today, hundreds of years later.