The most important literary work of Plutarch is generally considered to be the “Parallel Lives,” which are biographical comparisons of pairs of prominent figures—one Greek and one Roman politician or general. There are 48 such pairs, of which 46 have survived.
He also wrote the “Moralia,” a collection of numerous essays on topics such as virtue, theology, religion, politics, and the role of philosophy in shaping character—especially that of public figures, whose choices and actions have always influenced the course of history. However, it seems that with the “Moralia,” he did not feel he was achieving his main goal of influencing his contemporaries and guiding them toward virtue, during a time when the Roman Empire had reached its height and was on the inevitable decline.
Therefore, he turned to the biography of great politicians and generals from the past to provide more tangible and human examples—models to emulate during their most admirable moments or to avoid their wrongful deeds. Among his preferred figures are Solon with Popplicola, Themistocles with Kammilos, Aristides with Kato, Pericles with Fabius Maximus, Alcibiades with Marcius, Pelopidas with Marcellus, Alexander with Caesar, Agesilaus with Pompey, Demetrius with Antony, and others.
In the “Parallel Lives,” Plutarch clearly states that he does not write history nor focus on recording their most famous deeds, but rather, through real people and true scenarios, he examines their inner psychological world and provides readers with the necessary historical material to understand the characters of notable men and their moral behavior.
Thus, with masterful skill, Plutarch reflects and marries his knowledge of the past with the need to morally uplift nations and leaders—particularly during a time marked by signs of decline.
