Read the passage from Chapter 17 of The Prince:

"Coming now to the other qualities mentioned above. I say that every prince ought to desire to be considered clement and not cruel. Nevertheless he ought to take care not to misuse this clemency. Cesare Borgia was considered cruel; notwithstanding, his cruelty reconciled the Romagna, unified it, and restored it to peace and loyalty. And if this be rightly considered, he will be seen to have been much more merciful than the Florentine people, who, to avoid a reputation for cruelty, permitted Pistoia to be destroyed. Therefore a prince, so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty, because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those who, through too much mercy, allow disorders to arise, from which follow murders or robberies; for these are wont to injure the whole people, whilst those executions which originate with a prince offend the individual only."

How does the repetition of the words "cruel" and "cruelty" affect the tone of the paragraph?

A. It creates a frightening and despairing tone as Machiavelli offers example after example of the actions of cruel rulers.
B. It creates a tone of weakness and resignation as Machiavelli ultimately shows the negative results of a ruler's cruelty.
C. It creates a matter-of-fact tone as Machiavelli demonstrates the positive effects of a ruler's cruelty.
D. It creates a threatening tone as Machiavelli shows what happens to people who disobey cruel rulers.



Answer :

Final answer:

The repetition of 'cruel' and 'cruelty' in the passage highlights the balance a prince must strike between mercy and strength in ruling.


Explanation:

The repetition of the words cruel and cruelty in the passage affects the tone by creating a matter-of-fact atmosphere as Machiavelli provides examples and reasoning for the positive impacts of a ruler's cruelty. The repetition emphasizes the necessity of a prince balancing between being considered clement and cruel, showcasing the complexities of ruling with both mercy and strength.


Learn more about Machiavelli's view on rulership and qualities of a prince here:

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