1. Nicolo Machiavelli

2. Il Principe
In this treatise, Machiavelli writes for his employers- the Medicis- an examination of how to attain power and keep it.
It is still admired today, mostly by spin doctors, as still relevant in the 21st century.
Marlowe would certainly have been aware of it.

3. Advocates: Cunning Scheming Ruthlessness.
Real world leaders need to be half beasts, containing the fox’s guile and the lion’s brutality.

4. Immoral?
Probably not, since the whole is linked with a flourishing state. The people should not suffer in this construct.
Thus the intended outcome of the actions is to the benefit of the many, rather than of the individual (who nevertheless will have benefited by his rise to power).
The ends do not justify the means in all cases.
Any acceptable cruel action must be swift and targeted so as not to cause unnecessary hurt.

5. Moral?
The means to an end should be largely moral. Generally harshness must be used to instil learning or develop better practices (cruel to be kind).
Within families, certainly, be moral, since families can be relied upon, is the message

6. POLITICS
In this area, no one can be trusted so the prince must be “flexible”. It is this flexibility which allows for individual responses to individual events. Morality can be dispensed with to suit circumstances.