The Prince Does Not Rule Over Literature
J. K. Rowling has sold millions of her Harry Potter books, J.R.R. Tolkien has sold millions of copies of the books in his The Lord of the Rings series, and George Lucas has sold just as many Star Wars novels. Why have these authors sold so many books? Simply because the books are engaging, fun to read, and thought provoking. Why then, are none of these books on student reading lists? Is it because they're not good enough? No, it is because books like Machiavelli's The Prince (which is not even a book, rather a pamphlet) are considered to be more valuable to the educational process; they are considered to be more intelligent. Books that should be on student reading lists should be interesting books that students enjoy. Not books that make them want to turn on the TV.
As a student myself, I feel that Machiavelli's The Prince, is completely and totally useless to me at this point in my life, and I know that many of my peers feel the same way.
Famous posthumous portrait of Niccolò Machiavelli...
Princes Gustaf Adolf - Sigvard & Bertil & Princess...
Prince William - Crown Prince, King Sweden at Olym...This "book" doesn't offer a challenge for students, and ends up either making them frustrated or bored. Books that are assigned by teachers shouldn't have those kinds of effects on students. Rather, they should be engaging and enjoyable for the student, and should encourage reading, not discourage it.
While many educators would argue that The Prince is a "Classic," the term is subject to interpretation. Everyone has their own opinions on books, and students are not given enough of a choice in what they read.
The subject of Machiavelli's The Prince is another concern. Because it is a book on how to successfully rule a country, the students cannot relate to it. Nothing in this...