The Book of the City of Ladies Essays -- English Literature

The Book of the City of LadiesDuring the renaissance many different ingests of attractorship surfaced. Christine de Pizans The Book of the City of Ladies, NiccoloMachiavellis The Prince, and William Shakespeares Richard III eachpresent distinct views of what would make a good leader during therenaissance period. Shakespeare and Christine de Pizans views alignmost closely with Platos. Christine de Pizans view also aligns withAugustines medieval view of leadership. Machiavellis view, however,strays the farthest from Plato and Augustine.In The Book of the City of Ladies, Christine presents an allegoricalcity made up of great ladies from history. representative charactersReason, Rectitude, and judge guide Christine to the proper view ofwomen by dispelling slanderous lies spread by men throughout history. As the leaders in Christines journey, Reason, Rectitude, and Justicerepresent characteristics that leaders should hold. Christineestablishes Reason as the foundation of great leaders hip by sayingthrough Reason, I was commissioned, in the course of our commondeliberation, to fork out you with durable and pure mortar to lay thesturdy foundations and to raise the large walls (12). Rectituderepresents the benevolence leadership requires as she says, I oftenvisit the full and exhort them to do what is right, to give to eachperson what is his according to his capacity, to say and uphold thetruth, to defend the rights of the poor and the innocent, not to hurtanyone through usurpation, to uphold the disposition of those unjustlyaccused (12). Finally, Justice presents in the terminating qualitiesof truth and pure honor as she says, I teach men and women of soundmind who want to belie... ...his subject field is completely opposite the likingl Augustineleader.Christine de Pizan, Niccollo Machiavelli, and William Shakespeare showseveral different forms of Renaissance leadership. Each writerexpresses their version of leadership by giving examples of what aleader shoul d and should not be. Shakespeare and Christine de Pizansleaders most closely fit the Platonic ideal of leadership by rulingthrough wisdom, being reluctant to lead, and promoting the idea oftrue virtues over shadows of virtue. The Augustine leadership ideal,characterized by a love for God and people, most closely resemblesChristine de Pizans view as many of her leaders get hold of to please Godin their leadership. Machiavellis radical idea of leadershipresembles neither Plato nor Augustine as it promotes seeking powerthrough little than virtuous methods for less than noble reasons.