Analyzing Rhetorical Techniques in Machiavelli’s The Prince
Question 20 • ELA 10B - 2023
Read the passage from chapter 17 of The Prince.Nevertheless he ought to be slow to believe and to act, nor should he himself show fear, but proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence may not make him incautious and too much distrust render him intolerable.
Answer
A
that princes are even harsher than Machiavelli describes
B
that readers should not have sympathy for a prince
C
that a prince should only be cruel when necessary
D
that weak rulers must learn to be frightening
Explanation
The passage advises a prince to act with prudence and humanity, avoiding both excessive confidence and excessive distrust. This supports the idea that harshness should be restrained rather than used without reason. Choice C, “that a prince should only be cruel when necessary,” best reflects that advice.
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