The last season of Sopranos being released soon, and as I have been reading one of my books about Machiavelli the last few days, I’m reminded about how badly the show treats Machiavelli. Throughout the show, especially third season, Tony as well as Paulie have intense loyalty to Sun Tzu as a strategist while the only thing that is ever said about Machiavelli is that Tony couldn’t really understand his writing.
While Sun Tzu’s writing is excellent, I am very much a fan myself, however I believe that Machiavelli is clearly the superior author in depth and range of material. Sun Tzu’s subjects are mainly limited to warfare while Machiavelli wrote on all aspects of governing.
I find this especially odd given Tony’s need to point out various ways that Italians have contributed to art, culture, science and other areas. Machiavelli is a paesan, a fellow Italian. He should naturally gravitate to Machiavelli for this reason and his racism against non-Italians. Additionally, Tony is very interested in European warfare, especially World War II, and would know that many of the important figures of that war kept copies of The Price close by.
I think this must have been caused by some producer, or someone with a great deal of influence over the show, but with no real care for the characters. He or she must have told the writers that Sun Tzu should be referenced a much as possible, but not Machiavelli. I think this is an unfortunate detail that takes away from the authenticity of the show.
I am definitely looking forward to the last season though. Will there be a war between New York and New Jersey? Will Phil die? Will Tony die? Will Furio come back? Everyone else is writing about that though, so I decided to write about something more obscure.
I thought that it was starting in a few days, but now the official Sopranos web site says: “Gear up for The Sopranos premiere by watching season 6 again starting Tuesday, January 16th at 9:00PM.”
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