In the television shows Borgia and The Borgias, history is fictionalized for entertainment purposes. While some of what is said in the shows is true, much of the information is not factual. Additionally, there are differences between their shows in their representation of the Borgia family, especially Cesare. Finally, since these shows differ in their place of origin, the shows themselves are very different from one another. While Cesare Borgia was a real person, he was not exactly like his character was displayed as in these two television shows. The Borgias were not good people, but many of the negative beliefs about the Borgias came about after the death of Pope Alexander VI. Since the Borgia family was an outsider in Rome, as they were Spanish, many of the other cardinals did not like them. After Alexander’s death, rumors began to circulate about the Borgia family. Many of these rumors …show more content…
Many people, such as Girolamo Priuli, began to believe that Alexander had made a deal with the devil. This supposed deal with the devil encouraged Protestant attacks on the papacy, therefore creating more rumors about the Borgia family. In The Borgias, Cesare appears to have an incestuous relationship with his sister, Lucrezia. However, this relationship was more likely a tale reinforced during the Protestant attacks on the papacy, after being made up during della Rovere’s attacks on Alexander. Finally, the relationship between Niccolo Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia hurt both of their reputations. Machiavelli admired Cesare for his actions as “a secular prince, a political genius, and a fiend on the battlefield.” Since neither man was well liked at the time, this relationship hurt both men. This relationship helped develop the unfavorable view of the Borgias during the 1500s, when Machiavelli published his work The
The story A Television Drama, by Jane Rule is an exciting story about an unusual event, which the main character, Carolee Mitchell, experiences the end of. The story is about her quiet street becoming unusually busy with police officers, and how the man who is being chased by these officers ends up being outside her front door. Through the point of view of the story, the characterization and character change of Carolee Mitchell, and the setting of the story, A Television Drama is an exciting read. The story conveys how important it is to be aware of ones surroundings, and what is happening around oneself through these elements.
Different Strokes a comedy sitcom, first aired in 1978, and lasted until 1986. This sitcom consisted of a widowed Manhattan millionaire, Phillip Drummond , who adopted two orphaned brothers. Arnold who was 8 years old and Willis who was 12. The boys' mother was Drummonds housekeeper who became very ill, so Drummond made a promise to her that he would take care of her two sons after she passed away. Drummond treated the two boys like his own. He also lived with his daughter, Kimberly, who was 13 years old, and his current housekeeper. This sitcom showed typical life lessons in growing up, and social problems that were occurring during that time. Some of the aspects of this show were both positive and negative.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007) women’s labor force participation raised from 33.9% in 1950 to 57.5% in 1990. The TV shows Married with Children and Roseanne are similar and different in the way they portray that statistic through their gender roles. Married with Children shows the more traditional type of gender roles, while Roseanne shows gender roles that were not as common in past decades. Both shows exemplify gender roles that were common and rare compared to decades prior. The TV shows, Married with Children and Roseanne are similar and different because of the gender roles each television show displays.
Machiavelli’s views were drastically different from other humanists at his time. He strongly promoted a secular society and felt morality was not necessary but stood in the way of a successfully governed state. He stated that people generally tended to work for their own best interests and gave little thought to the well being of the state. He distrusted citizens saying, “In time of adversity, when a state is in need of its citizens, there are few to be found.” In his writings in The Prince, he constantly questioned the citizens’ loyalty and warned for the leaders to be wary in trusting citizens. His radical and distrusting thoughts on human nature were derived out of concern for Italy’s then unstable government. Machiavelli also had a s...
"The Church was in poor shape as well. The popes resided at Avignon, not at Rome, to the scandal of many.
Even these accusations are not definite, as opposed to those against the Borgias, who are said to have certainly done many of the accused. Furthermore, the alleged bribes and corruption should not mean that the Medicis cannot be considered the heroes of the Renaissance. This is because, “almost every single European Renaissance family paid bribes and backstabbed in order to rise to power.” From this, it is clear that the Medicis were just as- if not less- corrupt than many other families in Renaissance Europe, and should thus not be considered villains.
Agathocles of Syracuse was considered to be an individual engaged in a life of crime, although not one devoid of mental and physical virtù (Machiavelli, 2000: 45). Nevertheless, his most remarkable success was the assassination of the senators and wealthy people of Syracuse, an action that could be considered to be based on bloodlust rather than responding to rational calculations (Machiavelli, 2000: 48). At the same time, Machiavelli seems to be very clear about the differences that resulted in the case of Cesare Borgia, who arranged the killing of Oliverotto of Fermo, who had disrupted the social order through a series of assassinations. The actions of Cesare Borgia have been premeditated in the same way as those undertaken by Oliverotto and Agathocles (Machiavelli, 2000: 51). However, in this particular case the ulterior motives differ considerably from the other two, as they obeyed to a rational and moral logic that was conducive to pursuit of virtù (Vivanti, 2013:
After five hundred years, Niccolo Machiavelli the man has ceased to exist. In his place is merely an entity, one that is human, but also something that is far above one. The debate over his political ideologies and theories has elevated him to a mythical status summed up in one word: Machiavelli. His family name has evolved into an adjective in the English language in its various forms. Writers and pundit’s bandy about this new adjective in such ways as, “He is a Machiavelli,” “They are Machiavelli’s,” “This is suitable for a Machiavelli.” These phrases are almost always the words of a person that understands more about Niccolo’s reputation than the man himself. Forgotten is that Machiavelli is not an adequate example of the ruler he is credited with describing; a more accurate statement would be to call someone a “Borgia” or a “Valentino.” Most of the time they are grossly mistaken in their references. All these words accomplish is to add to the legend, and the misinterpretation, of the true nature of Niccolo Machiavelli.
On the other hand, some people may say that Machiavelli's ideas were for people in the past time and cannot be used in todays society.According to text 2 one of Machiavelli's quotes came up about being feared more than loved and the response to that was " A leader must build his relationship with the people upon mutual respect, more than any other thing. It is not fear or
Born in 1469 to an economically limited family under the parents of Bernardo di Niccolò di Buoninsegna and Bartolomea de’Nelli, Niccolò de Bernardo Machiavelli was exposed to numerous books covering law and Classical texts in his youth, which he consequently learned to reject even before entering in Florentine politics.2 A self-taught intellectual like his father Bernardo, Machiavelli began studies in Latin at age seven. Although he was well-learned in the language by his young adulthood, he quickly refused to write his treatises ...
Cesare Borgia, also called Duke Valentino, was named Duke of Romagna by his father, Pope Alexander VI. Borgia came into power through the arms and fortune of others, and according to Machiavelli, that is not a good sign because those rulers tend to not last very long. But Borgia showed tremendous efforts to make sure he would stay in power by strengthening his foundations, even when his father was no longer the Pope. He was able to conquer th...
Machiavelli?s model for his ideal prince was Cesare Borgia, also known as Duke Valentino and son of Pope Alexander VI. He believed Cesare Borgia possessed all the qualities of a prince destined to rule and maintain power in his state. He believed that politics has a morality of its own. There is no regard of justness or unjustness, of cruelty or mercy, of approval or humiliation, which should interfere with the decision of defending the state and preserving its freedom. Therefore, the ruler/prince's single responsibilit...
Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron is a series of tales written during the Late Middle Ages that is meant to entertain the reader. While the entertainment value of Boccaccio’s work in undeniable, the Decameron also provides the reader with information about society at the time, and Boccaccio’s own worldview. One of the most prevalent themes throughout the Decameron is the portrayal of clergymen and members of religious communities as negative influences on those around them, constantly behaving in a manner unfit for those who are supposed to be moral and spiritual exemplars. Throughout the tales told by the lieta brigada, many priests, and friars are portrayed as being extremely lustful and greedy, frequently indulging in sex (often with the wives of other men), and living lives more befitting of a minor lord than a monk. Those clergymen who are not portrayed as out rightly immoral are usually stupid, and are unable to stop others from acting immorally because of their ignorance. Despite this, a few of the clergymen in the story are shown as ultimately having good intentions, or improving in morality through the actions of another. To understand all of these criticisms of the clergy, we must look at them through a historical lens, and observe the behavior of members of the Church in the Late Middle Ages. Finally, these analyses of the Decameron’s portrayal of clergymen may give us insight into Boccaccio’s own faith, and allow us to understand the motives of the author. In this essay, I will analyze the portrayal of clergymen and members of religious communities in Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron. I will focus on the licentiousness, greed, and stupidity of these members of the Church, while also evaluating the few portrayals of good me...
She examines 6 popes between 1470-1530 who she claims lead in a way similar to politicians. They lost touch with the common people both emotionally and intellectually. A little known cleric led the revolution challenging papacy that culminated in the reformation of the church. In that context, Barbara outlines that the popes were venal, immoral, and their power politics was calamitous. The faithful were distressed by their leadership, which ignored all the protests and the signs that a revolt was coming. In the end, the papal constituency lost almost half of its followers to Protestants. Barbara says that these people were driven by the greed and the urge to create a family empire that would outlive them. This chapter sums up the essence of folly in these major failures, lack of a fixed policy, over extravagance, and the illusion that their rule was
When Savonarola was executed, Niccolo entered the Florentine government as a secretary. Niccolo's position soon rose and he became engaged in diplomatic missions, it was here he met powerful people like the Pope and the King of France (Mattinngly). One of Niccolo's visions was to see Florentine and Italy unite and with the help of Cesar Borgia that goal could be met. Borgia had the qualities as portrayed in The Prince which caught the eye of Niccole (Guiseppe). Niccole did not fully like Borgia, but his qualities Niccolo could not resist.