Machiavelli and the Malfoys

            Let me begin by giving a shoutout to ABC Family’s Harry Potter marathon this week. Firstly because it just improved the overall quality of my life for the past few days, but also because it helped me remember that J. K. Rowing has provided us with the greatest example of Machiavelli’s theory about being feared over being loved. And how it isn’t always true. 

            I’ve already written a blog post about why Machiavelli’s theory is totally accurate in politics; when it comes to a prince, or any ruler of any kind, the only way to guarantee preferred results is to install fear in your citizens. In The Prince he writes, “Men are less worried about harming somebody who makes himself loved than someone who makes himself feared, for love is held by a chain of obligation which, since men are bad, is broken at every opportunity for personal gain. Fear, on the other hand, is maintained by a dread of punishment which will never desert you.”

In my last post, I drew upon Andrew Jackson and how him and Machiavelli were completely on the same page; his concern was not being loved by his people, but being politically and economically effective. In an ideal world, any ruler would be feared and loved, but Machiavelli argues that their coexistence is impossible. In this Harry Potter example, fear comes from one source and love comes from another, but it’s a true representation of how love can do things fear cannot. 

Original members of the Order of the Phoenix

Voldy and his crew

Here’s a brief summary of the situation for anyone unaware: *SPOILER ALERT* but let’s be honest- the series has ended and if you cared enough about how it ended you’d already know. Also don’t read this aloud because bad things happen when you say Voldemort’s name. So basically we have him and his vicious army of Death Eaters on one side, and all the good guys, termed the Order of The Phoenix, sided with Harry Potter. Draco Malfoy, asshole from day one, is part of the bad guys. Shocker. But he’s been born into it – his parents made the decision to side with Voldemort before he was born, but by the final movie he’s old enough to fight himself. 

The Malfoy fam

Now I compare Voldemort to Machiavelli. I can’t think of any leader in any book, movie, or history both fictional and non-fictional, who rules more through fear than Voldemort. There are many instances throughout all the movies in which we see his most dedicated and loyal followers act solely out of fear that he will kill them if they don’t. They shiver in his presence. I mean for God’s sakes people won’t even say his name because of how terrifying it is. And their fear is justified; he has no mercy and kills his death-eaters for questioning him. Machiavelli would say he’s got it right – the only way to ensure they win is by ruling with fear to the extent that no one dare challenge him. And it works…to an extent.

The seventh book (eighth movie) includes the Battle of Hogwarts – the final ending to the series and last confrontation between Voldemort’s army and the morally sound party we’re rooting for. We can focus in on the Malfoy family to understand why Machiavellian thought just isn’t always the way to go. Immediately after Voldemort “kills” Potter (or so he thinks), he sends Mrs. Malfoy to go check that he’s dead. 

This is a monumental moment in the series because here we see her love trumps fear. She walks over to Harry, kneels down beside him, and instead of checking to prove he’s dead, she asks instead “Draco – is he alive?” Her actions deny everything she has previously worked for. She’s been a dedicated follower of the Dark Lord for her entire life, but in this moment, her fear does not overcome the love of her son. Her concern does not lie with Voldemort anymore because she is consumed by the thought of her own son being dead. Fear can only get you so far, Voldemort. Love, as J. K. Rowling wants us to see it, trumps all.

The work that Mrs. Malfoy and her entire family have put into following Voldemort with the ultimate goal of killing Potter comes down to this moment – and she throws it all away. Her only concern is that her son is alive, and she sacrifices the goal of her entire team for news about her beloved child. Harry nods his head so subtly that she is the only one who can see it, confirming her son is still alive, and in return she reports to her leader that the deed is done. Harry Potter is dead.

I understand where Machiavelli is coming from, and I’ve already written about how I agree with him. But here I contradict myself. “Fear… is maintained by a dread of punishment which will never desert you,” he writes. There’s no doubt that if Voldemort knew the truth he would have killed Mrs. Malfoy on the spot, but her fear of punishment did desert her, because love got in the way.