The Book of the City of Ladies
During the renaissance many different views of leadership surfaced.Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the City of Ladies, NiccoloMachiavelli’s The Prince, and William Shakespeare’s Richard III eachpresent distinct views of what would make a good leader during therenaissance period. Shakespeare and Christine de Pizan’s views alignmost closely with Plato’s. Christine de Pizan’s view also aligns withAugustine’s medieval view of leadership. Machiavelli’s view, however,strays the farthest from Plato and Augustine.
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In The Book of the City of Ladies, Christine presents an allegoricalcity made up of great ladies from history. Allegorical charactersReason, Rectitude, and Justice guide Christine to the proper view ofwomen by dispelling slanderous lies spread by men throughout history.As the leaders in Christine’s journey, Reason, Rectitude, and Justicerepresent characteristics that leaders should hold. Christineestablishes Reason as the foundation of great leadership by sayingthrough Reason, “I was commissioned, in the course of our commondeliberation, to supply 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 just 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 reputation 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 work is completely opposite the ideal 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 should and should not be. Shakespeare and Christine de Pizan’sleaders 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 Pizan’s view as many of her leaders strive to please Godin their leadership. Machiavelli’s radical idea of leadershipresembles neither Plato nor Augustine as it promotes seeking powerthrough less than virtuous methods for less than noble reasons.
