Literature and Rule: Analyzing Education in a Political and Social Context Lucy Yang 12th Grade

Throughout Machiavelli’s The Prince and Christine’s Book of the City of Ladies, the narrators consistently integrate the theme of education through literature into their ideal social philosophy. From a political standpoint, Machiavelli’s guide reflects the necessity of a ruler who strives to learn practical military strategies, as well as to analyze past historical events and the rulers who led them. Christine presents a social outlook on the role of reading in feminism and the construction of the City of Ladies- education allows women to freely pursue their academic interests despite societal norms. Literature also holds the potential to grow in virtue. Nonetheless, both narrators argue that there are limits to the effective use of knowledge. In The Prince and The Book of the City of Ladies, the narrators portray the close study of literature as the key to a successful rule if used wisely as a supplement to a ruler’s independent judgement.

In Machiavelli’s The Prince, the narrator emphasizes the study of both historical leaders and war strategies as essential components to effective rule. From Philopoemen to Oliverotto da Fermo, the narrator consistently depicts educated leaders as the most successful ones throughout history....