Do toys have lives?
And what about people?
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AI Overview
Toy Story narratives are fundamentally about the cutthroat politics of securing loyalty and affection within a competitive, closed society.
A Machiavellian reading of
Toy Story positions Woody not as a selfless leader, but as an insecure autocrat wielding power to maintain his status. Driven by the fear of replacement, Woody manipulates the toy society, employing authoritarian tactics to secure his position as Andy’s favorite. His initial actions against Buzz Lightyear mirror the political maneuvering of a ruler eliminating a rival to maintain control over his "kingdom".Woody as the Prince: Woody operates as a ruler who prioritizes maintaining his power (Andy's love) above all else. His authority is absolute, with other toys acting as subordinates in a small, closed, "tribal" system, a dynamic similar to the authoritarianism discussed in the context of political power.
The Threat of the New: Buzz Lightyear represents a "new prince"—a disruptor threatening the established order. Woody’s hostile, Machiavellian reaction is to manipulate and neutralize this threat rather than foster a cooperative environment.
The Machiavellian Dilemma: Woody's actions are driven by fear—specifically of being irrelevant or replaced—prompting him to take drastic, often unethical, measures to retain his position, which highlights the central Machiavellian tenet that it is safer to be feared than loved, although he ultimately seeks to be both.
