The tragicomedy of politics: Niccolò Machiavelli’s mockery of tragedy

In his letter to his friend Francesco Guicciardini, Niccolò Machiavelli claims himself as an “istorico, comico et tragico”. However, modern scholarship is divided over the question of whether Machiavelli is a tragedian or a comedian of politics. This article contributes to this debate by arguing that Machiavelli is a great comedian who mocks the seriousness of tragedy. For him, tragedy demonstrates that our adherence to virtues inevitably leads to vices, while comedy reveals the absurdity of our virtues and vices. By analysing Machiavelli’s political works and his comedies, this research aims to show how Machiavelli puts the so-called “virtues” and their ‘tragedy’ in his time into question.

This research finds that Machiavelli identifies tragedy in politics yet mocks it with a comic spirit. A central theme in his works is the tragic dilemma in which political actors inevitably encounter their downfall when they consistently adhere to pagan or Christian virtues.
Machiavelli mocks the seriousness of such a “tragedy” to advance his conception of virtu.
For him, the tragic dilemma they confront is not a necessity dictated by fortune but a laughable error of their own, for the so-called “virtue” they uphold is merely an appearance rather than the essence of virtue. Therefore, the conflict between reality and our “virtues” is not unavoidable when political actors with virtu understand how to adapt their ethical qualities to changing circumstances. In this way, this research hopes to unveil a tragicomedy staged by a Renaissance comedian through his complex ethics.