What was Machiavelli’s view of the psychology of people?

August 22, 2018 Educator

A RAISIN IN THE SUN

I chose Ralph for who should be chief from Jack, Ralph, Simon and Piggy. I need more info on why…

One of the main reasons that Jack should not be chief is pointed out by Golding when Jack arrives with his choir. His meanness is not unnoticed by the rest of the boys. This is the reason why they…

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HEALTH

Can I get sick from rubbing a dirty tissue in my eyes?

You might not get a general infection, but eye infections are commonly gotten from foreign bodies touching the eyes. While tears and mucous membranes keep the eyes safe from most germs, they are…

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SCIENCE

What is the difference between precision and accuracy when using glass pipettes and micro-pipettes?

Glass pipettes will have the precision printed on the pipette, usually near the top. For example, a 10ml pipette may have a printed precision of ±± 0.02ml. This means that if you use the pipette…

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MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

What are five important objects in Jean George’s My Side of the Mountain?

Interesting question! In the book My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, several objects are greatly advantageous for Sam Gribley. Although many of the objects are beneficial, it is…

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THE CANTERBURY TALES

In The Canterbury Tales, what use does Chaucer make of the device of pilgrimage?

Journeys are an important part of many literary works. The journey is a plot device that makes it possible for Chaucer to have all his characters together long enough to tell their stories. It…

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ROMEO AND JULIET

What ideas in Romeo and Juliet support the theme of death caused by human action (besides…

You have identified the first two deaths that would jump into my head. The connection between human actions and those deaths is fairly straightforward. For other deaths connected to human…

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THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

What is the irony in the name Fortunato?

Giving this character the name Fortunato was intended to indicate that he was both fortunate and unfortunate. He was fortunate because he was born into a wealthy family and had an easy life with…

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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Who are the characters that wake up in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and what are…

The characters who fall asleep in the forest in A Midsummer Night’s Dream are as follows: Hermia, Helena, Demetrius, Lysander, and Nick Bottom. The young lovers are discovered by the wedding party…

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THE KITE RUNNER

In the novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, what are some main themes that the author…

Throughout the novel The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini explores several themes which include relationships among family members, redemption, and violence. The dynamics among family members are…

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

What is your impression of the twins in the story “The Canterville Ghost?”

In “The Canterville Ghost,” the twins are the youngest children of Mr and Mrs Otis. Nicknamed ‘The Stars and the Stripes,’ they quickly become the nemesis of Sir Simon, the Canterville ghost,…

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HISTORY

Christopher Columbus is still credited with discovering North America and he is celebrated with a…

Let me provide an argument for each side here and let you decide which argument makes more sense to you. On the one hand, we can clearly say that the Native Americans should get the credit for…

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LAW AND POLITICS

What is the person called who amends the United States Constitution?

Constitutional amendments cannot be made by a single person. It is actually very difficult to amend the Constitution, which was the intent of the members of the Constitutional Convention in 1788….

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THE JUNGLE BOOK

In The Jungle Book, why is the jackal considered one of the lowest animals in the jungle?

The jackal, Tabaqui, is a character who causes a great deal of mischief in The Jungle Book. The wolves, Baloo, and Bagheera hate Tabaqui, and their reasons are given when he first appears in the…

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THE MINISTER’S BLACK VEIL

In “The Minister’s Black Veil: A Parable”, the minister’s last words include these passages:… 1 image

The black veil the minister wears becomes a mystery since the first day he stands in his church and preaches about secret sin to his congregation. The veil is a symbol of the sins he hides from…

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OF MICE AND MEN

What is the difference between George and Lennie’s dream, compared to Curley’s wife’s dream?

In Of Mice and Men, there really is no difference between George and Lennie’s dream and Curley’s wife’s dream: both are ideas that keep these characters going, but have no realistic chance at…

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THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, it is difficult to find textual evidence on the friendship…

In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Bruno and Shmuel are two unlikely friends. They are separated by a fence and Bruno’s father has told Bruno that “those” people are “not people at all” (chapter…

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HISTORY

How has the work that African-Americans do changed from the 1920s to the present?

There is a difference regarding the work of African-Americans in the 1920s and their work today. The main difference is in the opportunities they have today compared to the opportunities they had…

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MACBETH

To what extent is Macbeth considered a tragic hero in the play Macbeth?

If we follow Aristotle’s definition of the tragic hero, Macbeth fits the definition on several levels. First, Macbeth is a noble, and he is respected by others. Next, he suffers hamartia when he is…

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MACBETH

I’m just wondering, but what are Macbeth’s relationships in the play?1 image

Macbeth has several relationships of various sorts, but he puts an end to almost all of them by the end of this tragedy. First, he is friends with Banquo; he and Banquo are generals who fight…

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THE TEMPEST

In The Tempest, what is the relationship between Caliban and Prospero?

Although Prospero has traditionally been seen as a European who tried to help the “monster” Caliban become more civilized, in recent decades their relationship has been understood as that of the…

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THE KUGELMASS EPISODE

What is Kugelmass’s attitude toward (a) women (b) analysis and (c) Persky?

Kugelmass’s attitude toward women is very negative. He views them only as objects to meet his desires. While considering and later having an affair, Kugelmass never considers his wife’s…

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THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER

What are some metaphysical themes in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?”

Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with deep questions of life and existence. Although the overt theme of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is that a person should love all the…

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ANTHEM

Based on how she uses “we,” what does Ayn Rand want you to understand about this society?

When Ayn Rand uses “we” in Anthem, she is talking about the collective “we” where the group is more important than the individual in society. Individual rights have been stripped away…

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

In what passages from the first part of To Kill a Mockingbird does Atticus show courage?

In the first part of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, chapters 1 through 11, one way in which Atticus displays courage is by bravely accepting the fact he needs to defend Tom Robinson.In Chapter…

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OF MICE AND MEN

In Of Mice and Men, examine the significance of Steinbeck’s phrase, “George’s voice was taking on…

The significance of George’s “confessional tone” reflects depth in George and Slim. When George speaks to Slim, it is the first time in the novella that he has had a chance to openly talk to…

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THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

In O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi,” do you think Della and Jim made such sacrifices…

No, Jim and Della were more than confident in how much they loved each other. There is no evidence in the story that they were insecure or uncertain about what they felt. They loved one another so…

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OF MICE AND MEN

In Of Mice and Men, what are the different feelings that George has for Lennie? What quotes and…

George’s feelings for Lennie are similar to a parent’s experience with a child. At different moments, different feelings emerge, yet all of them are bound by care. The array of feelings that George…

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ONCE UPON A TIME

Throughout the fairy tale contained in Once Upon A Time, various objects and events (and even…

The “bedtime story” contained in Once Upon A Time by Nadine Gordimer reveals the inner conflict of a misguided family which believes it is doing the best it can to protect itself. The reader feels…

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LITERATURE

Please help me write a summary of the poem “Futility.”

Firstly, one should understand that this is one of Owen’s numerous anti-war poems. This poem, however, differs somewhat from the others because the imagery used here is much more gentle than the…

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HISTORY

Why does the political system in our country seem so dysfunctional ? I think it because of…

A major factor in the dysfunction in our political system is the effects of gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is a process where the political parties create districts that are safe for a given…

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL

How is redemption explored in A Christmas Carol?

Ebenezer Scrooge experiences redemption near the end of A Christmas Carol. First, Scrooge visits his past and sees where his choices have led him. Then he sees life in the present and the impact…

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OF MICE AND MEN

What are George’s reactions and thoughts following the meeting with the violent Curley?

Following their first meeting, it is clear that George holds intense reactions and thoughts about Curley. An element of confrontation defines how both George and Curley view one another. When…

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OF MICE AND MEN

How is Curley’s wife responsible for her own death?

The chapter in which Curley’s wife is killed by Lennie contains most of the information needed to explain why the girl is responsible for her own death. In the first place, she reveals why she has…

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HISTORY

What is a Whig?

A Whig is either a member of the 19th century American political party, or a a member of a British political party that originated in the 17th century. In the United States, the Whigs were active…

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THE TYGER

What is the central idea of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger”?

“The Tyger” was one of the poems contained in William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience, published in 1794. In this poem, Blake is trying to understand the nature of the Creator by…

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HENRY V

In Henry V is war seen as a just way of settling disputes or a demonstration of human violence?

One of the brilliant things about Shakespeare’s plays, and one of the reasons they still continue to be performed century after century, is the fact that Shakespeare is not a moralist. His plays…

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SCIENCE

What is the energy stored in an elastic band or string known as?

In order to define the type of energy stored in an elastic band or spring, one must further explore the larger concept of potential energy. Potential energy is any stored energy that has the…

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DULCE ET DECORUM EST

Critically analyze “Dulce Et Decorum Est” by Robert Owen.

Robert Owen’s poem “Dulce Et Decorum Est” is an influential and moving poem about the horrors of World War I, known at the time of the writing as the Great War. The poem marked a departure from…

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SNOW CRASH

How could I analyze the character Y.T. from Snow Crash?

Y.T. is a great character. Her name, or her initials if you prefer, stand for Yours Truly. She is one of the main female protagonists of the story, and the reader is told that she is fifteen years…

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THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND

How did Holmes catch Dr. Roylott in “The Adventure of the Speckled Band”?

Holmes caught Dr. Grimesby Roylott in the act of attempting to murder his niece Helen Stoner by using a deadly poisonous snake he had obtained from India. Holmes had instructed Helen not to sleep…

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FREAK THE MIGHTY

Where do Max and his father stay on Christmas Eve?

Max has an eventful night on Christmas Eve. He spends the first part of the evening having one of the best times he can remember, exchanging gifts with his grandparents, Gwen, and Freak. The author…

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OLD MAN AT THE BRIDGE

Who was talking to the old man?

The narrator of this brief story does not identify himself, but there are indications that he is one of the many foreigners who volunteered to help the Republican (Loyalist) cause during the…

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MACBETH

Why should Shakespeare’s Macbeth have involved the witches?

Without the Witches, Shakespeare’s Macbeth would have been a very different story. The Witches are important for many reasons, but let’s take a look at two very good reasons why they were…

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THINGS FALL APART

Explain the treatment of the osu community in Things Fall Apart.

The osu were considered to be unclean and needed to be put out from the community or there was a fear that the gods would be unhappy. Their existence was “dedicated” to a god and as such they had…

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IN THE COUNTRY OF LAST THINGS

I am writing a paper on Paul Auster and how he recycles and repeats himself. What literary…

Your question is very interesting because repetition in literature is really more of a literary technique instead of a literary theory. It is also interesting that you combine two fields, literary…

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LORD OF THE FLIES

What is the major problem with the society in the setting of Lord of the Flies?

Identifying a single major problem with the “society” that exists in Lord of the Flies is tough. I could probably list quite a few problems with the society, but I’ll try to pin it on one. I…

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THE PRINCE

What was Machiavelli’s view of the psychology of the people on which he bases his instructions to…

Niccolò Machiavelli’s work, The Prince, appears on the surface to follow the common genre of the “mirror for princes”, a type of medieval and Renaissance genre of non-fiction that set out the…

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THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

Why is The Hound of the Baskervilles a mystery?

Mystery literature involves a puzzling crime of some sort. This crime is often a murder or theft. What elevates such crimes to the realm of mystery is that they are seemingly impossible, or at…