Machiavellianism and King Lear
Learning Objectives By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
● Define Machiavellianism and clearly distinguish it from Machiavelli’s actual ideas in The
Prince.
● Analyse how Shakespeare uses Edmund as a Machiavellian figure to explore power,
betrayal, family breakdown, and the inversion of natural order.
Section 1: What Is Machiavellianism?
Modern definition (what we usually mean today): Machiavellianism is a ruthless, cynical
approach to power. It means:
● The ends justify the means — lying, manipulating, betraying, or even killing is
acceptable if it achieves power.
● Amorality: no concern for ethics, loyalty, or religion — only results matter.
● Key traits: deception, adaptability, charisma mixed with cold calculation, and treating
people as tools.
Important distinction: This label comes from Niccolò Machiavelli’s book The Prince (written
1513, published 1532), but Machiavelli was describing how real rulers succeeded in chaotic
times — not necessarily saying “this is morally good.” He was a pragmatist writing survival
advice for unstable Renaissance Italy. Shakespeare gives Edmund the tactics from The Prince,
making him dangerously attractive so the audience feels the pull of evil.
Quick note for essays: In King Lear, Edmund is the clearest Machiavellian character. His
soliloquies and schemes mirror the book’s advice, showing how personal ambition can destroy
families and kingdoms.
Section 2: Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) & His Ideal Prince
● Italian diplomat, historian, and political thinker during the Renaissance.
● Worked for the Florentine Republic but was tortured and exiled when the Medici family
returned to power.
● Wrote The Prince as a job application / survival guide for rulers facing constant war and
betrayal.
, His big idea: A successful ruler must be both a lion (strong and feared) and a fox (cunning and
adaptable). Fortune (luck) according to him was ‘like a woman’ — ‘she must be mastered by
force when she resists.’
Machiavelli’s muse: Cesare Borgia Machiavelli idolised Cesare as the perfect “new prince”
because he rose from illegitimate birth to carve out an empire through decisive, ruthless action.
Cesare used murder, betrayal, and military cunning, yet knew when to stop cruelty. Machiavelli
praised him for being pragmatic rather than idealistic.
Section 3: The Borgia Family & Machiavellianism in History + Detailed
Comparison to King Lear
The Borgias were the ultimate Renaissance power family — often called the “first criminal family
of Europe.” Their real-life tactics were exactly what Machiavelli described.
Key members & tactics:
● Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia, 1431–1503): Bought the papacy with bribes and
used the Church as a tool for family wealth and power.
● Cesare Borgia (1475–1507): Illegitimate son; made a cardinal, then a ruthless soldier.
Used poison, assassination, fake alliances, and public executions to seize land.
● Lucrezia Borgia: Used as a political pawn through strategic marriages; accused (often
unfairly) of incest and poison.
Learning Objectives By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
● Define Machiavellianism and clearly distinguish it from Machiavelli’s actual ideas in The
Prince.
● Analyse how Shakespeare uses Edmund as a Machiavellian figure to explore power,
betrayal, family breakdown, and the inversion of natural order.
Section 1: What Is Machiavellianism?
Modern definition (what we usually mean today): Machiavellianism is a ruthless, cynical
approach to power. It means:
● The ends justify the means — lying, manipulating, betraying, or even killing is
acceptable if it achieves power.
● Amorality: no concern for ethics, loyalty, or religion — only results matter.
● Key traits: deception, adaptability, charisma mixed with cold calculation, and treating
people as tools.
Important distinction: This label comes from Niccolò Machiavelli’s book The Prince (written
1513, published 1532), but Machiavelli was describing how real rulers succeeded in chaotic
times — not necessarily saying “this is morally good.” He was a pragmatist writing survival
advice for unstable Renaissance Italy. Shakespeare gives Edmund the tactics from The Prince,
making him dangerously attractive so the audience feels the pull of evil.
Quick note for essays: In King Lear, Edmund is the clearest Machiavellian character. His
soliloquies and schemes mirror the book’s advice, showing how personal ambition can destroy
families and kingdoms.
Section 2: Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) & His Ideal Prince
● Italian diplomat, historian, and political thinker during the Renaissance.
● Worked for the Florentine Republic but was tortured and exiled when the Medici family
returned to power.
● Wrote The Prince as a job application / survival guide for rulers facing constant war and
betrayal.
, His big idea: A successful ruler must be both a lion (strong and feared) and a fox (cunning and
adaptable). Fortune (luck) according to him was ‘like a woman’ — ‘she must be mastered by
force when she resists.’
Machiavelli’s muse: Cesare Borgia Machiavelli idolised Cesare as the perfect “new prince”
because he rose from illegitimate birth to carve out an empire through decisive, ruthless action.
Cesare used murder, betrayal, and military cunning, yet knew when to stop cruelty. Machiavelli
praised him for being pragmatic rather than idealistic.
Section 3: The Borgia Family & Machiavellianism in History + Detailed
Comparison to King Lear
The Borgias were the ultimate Renaissance power family — often called the “first criminal family
of Europe.” Their real-life tactics were exactly what Machiavelli described.
Key members & tactics:
● Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia, 1431–1503): Bought the papacy with bribes and
used the Church as a tool for family wealth and power.
● Cesare Borgia (1475–1507): Illegitimate son; made a cardinal, then a ruthless soldier.
Used poison, assassination, fake alliances, and public executions to seize land.
● Lucrezia Borgia: Used as a political pawn through strategic marriages; accused (often
unfairly) of incest and poison.
