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Identifying an Author's Primary Purpose
Whenever those states which have been acquired as
stated have been accustomed to live under their own laws
and in freedom, there are three courses for those who
wish to hold them: the first is to ruin them, the next is to
reside there in person, the third is to permit them to live
under their own laws, drawing a tribute, and establishing
within it an oligarchy which will keep it friendly to you.
Because such a government, being created by the prince,
knows that it cannot stand without his friendship and
interest, and does its utmost to support him; and
therefore he who would keep a city accustomed to
freedom will hold it more easily by the means of its own
citizens than in any other way.
-The Prince,
Niccolò Machiavelli
What is the author's primary purpose in writing this
passage? to entertain
What does Machiavelli most want the reader to know?
how to maintain power
What is his secondary purpose?
How does Machiavelli work to achieve his secondary
purpose?
Done