In the passage from chapter 5 of The Prince, Machiavelli aims to convince readers that a prince must either ruin a conquered republic or reside there. Two ways he works towards this purpose are:
1. He explains the roots of rebellion in conquered republics: Machiavelli discusses how republics have vitality, hatred, and a strong desire for vengeance, making it challenging for them to accept a loss of liberty. By highlighting these characteristics, he argues that a conquered republic is inherently unstable and prone to rebellion, thus justifying the prince's need to either destroy the republic or establish control through residence.
2. He contrasts the characteristics of principalities and republics: Machiavelli distinguishes between principalities and republics by emphasizing the differences in governance, obedience, and the ability to maintain order. By contrasting these two forms of government, he builds his case for why a prince must either destroy a republic or rule it directly to ensure stability and control.
By utilizing these strategies, Machiavelli strategically presents his argument for the necessity of a prince to either ruin a conquered republic or establish dominance within it, appealing to the reader's understanding of governance and power dynamics in different political systems.