Secrets of the Wee Free Men and Discworld (18 page)
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Authors: Linda Washington
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A Hierarchy of Power
Power at a point. That's what
Tacticus
said.
And here it's the one right on the end of
Ahmed's
crossbow.
Tacticus
said.
And here it's the one right on the end of
Ahmed's
crossbow.
â
Vimes to Lord Rust in
Jingo
124
Vimes to Lord Rust in
Jingo
124
P
ower. People die for it, vie for it, lie for it. Books are written about it:
How to Win Friends and Influence People
âthe Dale Carnegie classic
. The 48 Laws of Power
(Robert Greene).
Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior
(David R. Hawkins).
Get Anyone to Do Anything: Never Feel Powerless Again
(David J. Lieberman). We use PowerPoint on our PowerBooks and take power walks and naps.
ower. People die for it, vie for it, lie for it. Books are written about it:
How to Win Friends and Influence People
âthe Dale Carnegie classic
. The 48 Laws of Power
(Robert Greene).
Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior
(David R. Hawkins).
Get Anyone to Do Anything: Never Feel Powerless Again
(David J. Lieberman). We use PowerPoint on our PowerBooks and take power walks and naps.
If you're a student of history, you're well aware that back in the sixteenth century, philosopher and statesman Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli wrote a treatise on power called
The Prince
.
125
One doesn't have to be a prince to be a mover and a shaker in a town. We looked for ways his advice seemed to be played out or ignored in Discworld.
The Prince
.
125
One doesn't have to be a prince to be a mover and a shaker in a town. We looked for ways his advice seemed to be played out or ignored in Discworld.
DISC-CLAIMER:
Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
A prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred; because he can endure very well being feared whilst he is not hated.
âFrom
The Prince
, chapter XVII “Concerning Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved than Feared”
The Prince
, chapter XVII “Concerning Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved than Feared”
The View from Vetinari's Desk
Ankh-Morporkâthe New York, London, or Shanghai of Discworldâis the largest city on the Disc. It is the City that Worksâa nickname Chicago bears in our world. (Get it? Chicago Bears? We're still trying on the puns.) It is a city where Patricians seldom come in names other than Vetinari. Oh sure, there have been Patricians before Lord Havelock Vetinari came to power (Crazy Lord Snapcase, a.k.a. Psychoneurotic Snapcase; Giggling Lord Smince). But now that he has the position, he's managed to hold on to the reigns of power pretty tightly, even after several assassination or impeachment attempts by nobles and guild leaders such as Lords Downey (head of the assassins), Selachii, and Rust. But Vetinari's the one who established the guild system in the first place, with its thieves, assassins, alchemists, beggars, clockmakers, “seamstresses,” and so on. And his training as an assassin makes him a leader almost impossible to get rid of. Just what the doctor ordered for Ankh-Morpork.
Vetinari is the Denethor of Ankh-Morpork, a steward who does not sit on the throne of the city. Not that he would want to anyway,
since it is wood covered in gold foil, as he reveals to Carrot in
Men at Arms.
Although he is not loved, he inspires fear the Machiavellian way. Any genuine despot would do the same thing. His life seems to reflect a principle found in chapter VIII of
The Prince
: “A prince ought to live amongst his people in such a way that no unexpected circumstances, whether of good or evil, shall make him change.”
since it is wood covered in gold foil, as he reveals to Carrot in
Men at Arms.
Although he is not loved, he inspires fear the Machiavellian way. Any genuine despot would do the same thing. His life seems to reflect a principle found in chapter VIII of
The Prince
: “A prince ought to live amongst his people in such a way that no unexpected circumstances, whether of good or evil, shall make him change.”
The way he handles Moist von Lipwig, the con man-turned-Postmaster in
Going Postal
âby dangling freedom in front of him and taking it awayâseems to reflect a
chapter 5
principle: “He who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it, may expect to be destroyed by it.” In other words, you can allow freedom, but only so far as you can control it. Vetinari keeps Moist and Vimes on a long leash, but a leash nevertheless.
Going Postal
âby dangling freedom in front of him and taking it awayâseems to reflect a
chapter 5
principle: “He who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it, may expect to be destroyed by it.” In other words, you can allow freedom, but only so far as you can control it. Vetinari keeps Moist and Vimes on a long leash, but a leash nevertheless.
Capable Carrot
Carrot Ironfoundersson, Captain of the City Watch and Vimes's right-hand man (or right-hand dwarf, according to Carrot), might be that long-awaited king and thus the most powerful man in the city, but he refuses to be other than a watchman for the time being. Yet he has the charisma to unite people, as Vimes and Angua notice several times. He lives out the chapter VIII principleâthe one about not changing. But how about chapter XVII, the one we mentioned earlier concerning the inspiration of fear or love? In that same chapter, Machiavelli remarks: “Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person.”
126
Carrot somehow manages to inspire both.
126
Carrot somehow manages to inspire both.
Vimes Invested
Vimes, as the duke of Ankh-Morpork, is the second most powerful man in the city, to the chagrin of the nobility. His rank is that of a knight with the title “Sir” like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Sean Connery, and ⦠but, sorry, not Terry Pratchett (he is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, however). Vimes chafes at being known as “Vetinari's terrier.” But he knows which way the power wind blows. And it usually blows Vetinari's way.
Within any power structure, a clear chain of command is helpful. So the chain of command in Ankh-Morpork would go like this:
But if you add the Watch, which Commander Vimes heads, the chain goes like this:
(See diagram on the following page.)
(See diagram on the following page.)
In
Feet of Clay,
Vimes describes himself as an advocate of the people. He seems to live by a principle found in chapter IX (“Concerning a Civil Principality”) of
The Prince
: “[O]ne cannot by fair dealing, and without injury to others, satisfy the nobles, but you can satisfy the people, for their object is more righteous than that of the nobles, the latter wishing to oppress, whilst the former only desire not to be oppressed.”
127
While Vimes does not ignore the faults of the people, he at least knows that, like sheep, they need a shepherd.
Feet of Clay,
Vimes describes himself as an advocate of the people. He seems to live by a principle found in chapter IX (“Concerning a Civil Principality”) of
The Prince
: “[O]ne cannot by fair dealing, and without injury to others, satisfy the nobles, but you can satisfy the people, for their object is more righteous than that of the nobles, the latter wishing to oppress, whilst the former only desire not to be oppressed.”
127
While Vimes does not ignore the faults of the people, he at least knows that, like sheep, they need a shepherd.
Dealing with Dragons
Vimes's belief is in direct opposition to that of the Dragon King of Arms, who hopes to put a noble puppet on the throne and be the power behind the throne. Machiavelli could probably take lessons from the Dragon King, who plays the political game like a chess grand master. Don't like the pieces you have? Substitute new onesâthose who will do your bidding. The Dragon King's “chess board” consist of the books of family heritage, which he uses to his advantage. This fits with Machiavelli's suggestion that a prince study the art of war, described in
chapter 14
of
The Prince.
With all wars, even those fought behind closed doors rather than on the battlefield, strategy counts.
chapter 14
of
The Prince.
With all wars, even those fought behind closed doors rather than on the battlefield, strategy counts.
The actions of the noble dragon of
Guards! Guards!
however, seem to embody a principle found in chapter VIII (“Concerning Those Who Have Obtained a Principality by Wickedness”): “[I]n seizing a state, the usurper ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to inflict, and to do them all at one
stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily.”
128
She's also a firm advocate of crushing freedom, as Lupine Wonse learned the hard way.
Guards! Guards!
however, seem to embody a principle found in chapter VIII (“Concerning Those Who Have Obtained a Principality by Wickedness”): “[I]n seizing a state, the usurper ought to examine closely into all those injuries which it is necessary for him to inflict, and to do them all at one
stroke so as not to have to repeat them daily.”
128
She's also a firm advocate of crushing freedom, as Lupine Wonse learned the hard way.
Moist Makes the Most of Matters
And now on to that other branch of civil service: the Post Office. Due to his crimes, Moist von Lipwig has the reins of power firmly thrust into his hands by Vetinari. It is either that or be executed. By the end of
Going Postal,
he's not only the Postmaster, but also the head of the Grand Trunkâthe clacks company. Since we'll have to wait and see how he does as the head of both (perhaps
Making Money,
the next installment of his story published in October 2007, explains that), we can only suggest this advice from
The Prince,
taken from chapter VI (“Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired by One's Own Arms and Ability”): “A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.”
Going Postal,
he's not only the Postmaster, but also the head of the Grand Trunkâthe clacks company. Since we'll have to wait and see how he does as the head of both (perhaps
Making Money,
the next installment of his story published in October 2007, explains that), we can only suggest this advice from
The Prince,
taken from chapter VI (“Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired by One's Own Arms and Ability”): “A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.”
By the way, the Post Office hierarchy goes like this (Moist's perspective):
But from Miss Maccalariat's perspective, it goes like this:
Get Rid of Ridcully?
We talked about Mustrum Ridcully, the archchancellor of Unseen University, in
chapter 7
. Ridcully is yet another leader who has maintained power for quite some time, despite attempts to murder himâmurder being the way to gain another level in wizarding circles. The position of archchancellor of old embodied a principle of Machiavelli from chapter VII of
The Prince
(“Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired Either by the Arms of Others or by Good Fortune”): “Those who solely by good fortune become princes from being private citizens have little trouble in rising, but much in keeping atop.” How true. Ridcully seems to buck that tradition. Guess it pays to keep a loaded crossbow handy.
chapter 7
. Ridcully is yet another leader who has maintained power for quite some time, despite attempts to murder himâmurder being the way to gain another level in wizarding circles. The position of archchancellor of old embodied a principle of Machiavelli from chapter VII of
The Prince
(“Concerning New Principalities Which Are Acquired Either by the Arms of Others or by Good Fortune”): “Those who solely by good fortune become princes from being private citizens have little trouble in rising, but much in keeping atop.” How true. Ridcully seems to buck that tradition. Guess it pays to keep a loaded crossbow handy.
Dabble Like Dibbler?
A man with his own sort of power around Ankh-Morpork (and other places it seems) is Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibblerâthe persistent purveyor of the sausage-in-a-buns that a person eats to his detriment. He is also an agent to some as well as a former movie mogul, having taken over from Thomas Silverfish in
Moving Pictures.
You know what happens to that career and the groups he manages in
Soul Music.
Is he a success? A failure? Although he may seem “to follow the paths beaten by great men”âthe chapter VI principle we mentioned earlierâno one would say that Dibbler's abilities savor of greatness. They savor of someone trying to rip you off.
Moving Pictures.
You know what happens to that career and the groups he manages in
Soul Music.
Is he a success? A failure? Although he may seem “to follow the paths beaten by great men”âthe chapter VI principle we mentioned earlierâno one would say that Dibbler's abilities savor of greatness. They savor of someone trying to rip you off.
Keeping Company with Chrysophrase
Speaking of ripping people off, there's thug “prince” Chrysophrase, who wears a suit and engages in such activities as money lending at 300-percent interest (the mark of a loan shark) and extortion. He is chairman of the Silicon Anti-Defamation Leagueâthe troll watchdog committee. No one can deny that Chrysophrase has power. Whether you love or hate him, he's a true Machiavellian devotée, one who lives out the chapter VIII principle we mentioned earlier (“A prince ought to live amongst his people in such a way that no unexpected circumstances, whether of good or evil, shall make him change”) and others. Unlike Dibbler, he is a “success” in Ankh-Morporkâan accepted hazard of life in a corrupt city.
Shine On
Mr. Shine claims to be “the indisputable king of the trolls,”
129
as we learn in
Thud!
But instead of being a rock like shale, Mr. Shine is a diamond, but more than a “diamond in the rough”âthe description for Aladdin in the movie
Aladdin.
Diamond trolls become kings. Cream rises to the top, apparently. But war follows in the wake of the rise of the diamond troll.
129
as we learn in
Thud!
But instead of being a rock like shale, Mr. Shine is a diamond, but more than a “diamond in the rough”âthe description for Aladdin in the movie
Aladdin.
Diamond trolls become kings. Cream rises to the top, apparently. But war follows in the wake of the rise of the diamond troll.
A good chess player studies his or her opponent and learns to anticipate the opponent's moves. Mr. Shine studies the dwarfsâthe
enemies of the trolls. How does he do this? By playing the strategy game Thud. This fits with Machiavelli's notion that “to exercise the intellect the prince should read histories, and study there the actions of illustrious men, to see how they have borne themselves in war” (chapter XIV: “That Which Concerns a Prince on the Subject of the Art of War”).
enemies of the trolls. How does he do this? By playing the strategy game Thud. This fits with Machiavelli's notion that “to exercise the intellect the prince should read histories, and study there the actions of illustrious men, to see how they have borne themselves in war” (chapter XIV: “That Which Concerns a Prince on the Subject of the Art of War”).
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