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 In Thousand and One Nights and King Lear, are the role of women are consistent in these two text? And how do they differ?

Force and intelligence is frequently used in Thousands and One Nights to influence others. Discuss which of these two methods of influence is stronger in the text.

In The Prince, Nicolo Machiavelli tells his readers what characteristics a great leader should have. He does not teach anyone, but merely gives his opinion. Though it may require violence and lying at times, it also requires studying and beginning at a young age. This idea is also present in the New York Times article “For the Goal-Oriented Parent, A Jump-Start in Toddler Sports” by Mark Hyman.

In order to become a prince, Machiavelli believes one should start as earlier as possible and have them study not only other princes, but sports. Machiavelli states, “A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.” According to the article, “The Little Gym… begins classes for children at 4 months old.” Though entrepreneurs behind these gyms say they are not trying to make these children ESPN stars, once junior high school cones around, these children are quite athletic and familiar with the sports in their schools.

In The New York Times article “Sprawling Cinema, Tamed to a Stage”, author Charles Isherwood claims that the play, Throne of Blood, was quite boring. Throughout the entire article, he has negative comments about the play except for their “fancy samurai getups”. Isherwood states in the beginning of his article, “Were it not for the gorgeous costumes– sweeping silken kimonos and samurai armor made of glistening black patent leather– Ping Chong’s “Throne of Blood,” a new production from the Next Wave Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, would be as boring to look at as it is to listen to.”

This critique was pretty harsh towards Chong’s “Throne of Blood” play. It wasn’t the best play, but it was pretty enjoyable. There was humor, which made it easier to watch. The bits of Japanese added a nice touch.

On November 16, 2010, New York Times published an article titled “Diana’s Ring Seals Prince William’s Marriage Plans.” This article is about the heir to the British throne, Prince William, announcing his engagement with Kate Middleton. In A Thousand and One Nights, both kings, Shahryar and Shahzaman are cheated on by their wives. Both, evidently, kill the wives and the men the wives slept with. Shahrayar starts to marry every night and kill his newly wed wife every morning. Finally one day, he marries Shahrazad. Shahrazad is acknowledged to be an “intelligent, knowledgeable, wise, and refined” (B, 414). Shahrazad postpones her death in the morning by intentionally not finishing a story, thus making Shahrayar wait with curiosity till she finished.
Kate Middleton and Shahrazad have many similarities. First, they are both educated. Kate Middleton met Prince William in University. In fact, she will become the first princess with a college education. Second, both are predeceasing a death. Kate Middleton was given the ring of Queen Diana (who died in a car crash).

In Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, Machiavelli outlines his beliefs relating to sovereign, governance and power. Machiavelli describes the characteristics a Prince should possess. He believed a Prince should establish ambitious goals even if such goals were unattainable. Of utmost importance to Machiavelli, was the idea that a ruler shouldn’t rely on fortune but rather their natural skill and intelligence. That talent would help a Prince rule more effectively and efficiently. Machiavelli says “those who, like these men, become princes by means of ingenuity, acquire their principality with difficulty, but hold on to it with ease” (C,235). He advises that although it is more difficult to gain power through inventiveness, it is easier to hold that power once it is won. In the alternative, Machiavelli believed that even if one doesn’t possess the requisite skill and abilities to govern, they should nevertheless act as if they do. Princes must work on their image and how they appear to the people they govern.

In the New York Times article “A former schools chief shapes her comeback” by Trip Gabriel, Michelle Rhee follows some of Machiavelli’s advice. Ms. Rhee, who is known as an important figure in public education, resigned her seat as chancellor of Washington D.C. schools in October due to pressure. However still passionate saving the education system, she announced this week that her next move is to lead a new advocacy group, called Studentfirst. She plans to set ambitious goals to repair the public school system, she says “The ultimate goal is to shift the power dynamic of education in this country, which I think for far too long has been dominated by special interests, whether the teachers’ unions or textbook manufacturers”. She intends to raise a billion dollars for Studentfirst, which Machiavelli would consider as an ambitious goal. However her authoritative tactics has also caused her to gain enemies. To help salvage her image, Ms. Rhee hired Anita Dunn, former communication director for President Obama. She plans to reform the education system from its corrupt ways in a manner Machiavelli would endorse.

The Book of the Courtier/NYT

EU Suggests Jail Time for Insider Trading

“The European Commission on Wednesday suggested mandatory jail terms for insider trading and other market abuses as part of measures aimed at bolstering market confidence.”

Although in the US it has already been a normal practice for a long time, many EU countries “resisted sending white-collar offenders to prison.” Wrongdoers just paid a certain amount and were free to go (“Spain, Poland and Sweden are capped at €1 million, while only 12 countries impose sanctions corresponding to the amount earned from the violation, according to E.U. officials”). Still the amount of penalties and fines varies hugely across the EU.

“’Traders and executives must realize that they won’t get away with it and that the response will be tough,’ said Michel Barnier , the E.U. commissioner for financial services, referring to violations of financial services laws”.

In NYT article is written what a good and law-abiding citizen shouldn’t do. On the other hand in The Book of the Courtier is mentioned what a perfect Courtier should learn and do. “[B]eing of noble birth, graceful, charming, and expert in so many exercises”, “a man of honor and integrity: for included in this are prudence, goodness, fortitude, and temperance of the soul”, he also should avoid affectation and be devoted to his prince. In the excerpt from the Book C we can read mostly about perfect person(Courtier). Therefore in the EU government have to punish Courtiers who don’t seem to possess qualities praised by Baldesar Castiglione.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/business/global/09criminal.html?_r=1&ref=business

In The Prince, Machiavelli makes the statement that “men will judge their prince solely on appearance” and “thus it does not matter to the people that a prince may occasionally employ evil to achieve his goal” this position is very brash as he shows that appearance is greater then actions even if they are immoral. In today’s world no one has taken more away from this statement then the Republican Party, who have established themselves as the party for economic change. In the article “Economic Policy? More Listen to Conservatives” in the New York Times, emphasizes the new position of the Republican that led them to take the House of Representatives, even when it was under their control on government that led the economy near a second depression. Machiavelli would be proud of the Republican Party’s ability to rebrand themselves as something that is better then what they truly are, with policies such as “Pledge to America” and attacks on controversial Federal Reserve policy.

The Republican Party make policies such as the Pledge to America call for “a ban on tax increases, a tax deduction for small businesses and a reduction in government regulations. However, its proposals for paring the budget deficit — canceling unspent stimulus funds, ending government control of the mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, capping new discretionary spending and rooting out wasteful programs” but the article shows the party has no way of doing it or how it would help the economy through the Pledge. The GOP gives of an image that they can repair the economy in a way that all can benefit, meanwhile having no real clue of how it’s going to work. The Machiavellian ideal of appearance gives the people nothing more then a façade just as the Republican do with it policies.

On November 7th, New York Times published an article on Afghani wives titled “For Afghan Wives, a Desperate, Fiery Way Out.” This article describes the life of women in Afghanistan. Simply, in Afghani culture, the woman is property of the husband. On a more complicated side, these women are arranged to be married and to provide for their husbands at a very young age. The husbands are superior to their wives. Gul Zada, a victim to spousal abuse and a mother of six, choose the only option she had to get out of her situation, Suicide. However, her attempt at burning herself ended with her surviving with 60% of her body being burned. Suicide is the only option because “Returned runaways are often shot or stabbed in honor killings because the families fear they have spent time unchaperoned with a man. Women and girls are still stoned to death.” Gul Zada isn’t the only victim. In fact, the burn hospital has at least 10 female self-immolation cases at any one time. The hospital also added that Ms. Zada probably suffered from depression. This shows how much power the husbands have over their wives. New York Times states “The choices for Afghan women are extraordinarily restricted: Their family is their fate. There is little chance for education, little choice about whom a woman marries, no choice at all about her role in her own house. Her primary job is to serve her husband’s family. Outside that world, she is an outcast.”
In “The Pillow Book,” Sei Shonagon illustrates the life of a woman in Japan during the 10th century. In her stories and poetry she exhibits how women are treated as non equals by men. Husbands have full control over their wives since marriage. In her memoirs, she expressed “Depressing Things.” One story she tells is about a husband who fails to return home because he was with “some high-ranking Court lady” (B, 251). In medieval Japan, woman were housewives without opportunity. The major art of “The Pillow talk” was keeping it hidden. The fact it was kept hidden shows a great deal of how Japanese women were not equal to men.
Both the Afghani and Japanese women were put down by their husbands. As a whole, the male gender was and still is superior in some parts of the world.

Prince is a book on political theory. One theory The Prince strongly stresses, in Chapter 18, is “keeping your word.” A prince is only honored for keeping his word. Machiavelli also adds, a prince can still be honored if he gives off the illusion that he keeps his word. He states “And in the end they won out over those who founded themselves on loyalty” (C, 236). This quote simply means that perception and reputation is key to being a leader.  In today’s politics it’s easy to see majority of political leaders follow this motto. In recent news, President Barack Obama followed this motto precisely. President Obama won office based off a campaign he won by his popular slogan “change.” For the last 25 months Barack Obama’s reputation and his perception is falling apart, his approval ratings are at an all time low that illustrate this notion. With the reelection counting down on his priority list, he must reinstate his willingness to keep his words, dating back to his campaign. On December 3^rd he did just that, with surprising visit to the troops in Afghanistan. Once again, he reiterated his impression to start removing troops and aimed to ending foreign combat by 2014. New York Times writer Alissa Rubin states “American military forces have tripled, to 100,000, on Mr. Obama’s watch, and he has vowed to begin reducing the number of troops next July.” Publication of this story was mandatory to try to revive Obama’s perception in the United States, especially to attempt to get reelected. Machiavelli adds “Everyone sees what you appear to be, few touch what you are.” (C, 237) This quote again explains, the image you show is golden. Since only a few people personally know Mr. Obama, what he shows the majority through media is what the majority will judge him by. With the last 25 months of his presidency he expressed is lack in “keeping his word.” The loss of the house to the Republicans is directly correlated.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/us/politics/04prexy.html?scp=9&sq=Obama&st=cse