Plutarch's Lives, Vol. 1

Plutarch’s Lives (also known as the Parallel Lives) is a collection of biographies written by the author and philosopher Plutarch in the sec century CE. It is a seminal work in classical literature and biography. Each of the 23 pairs of biographies in the collection contrasts a famous Greek with a Roman figure, culminating in a comparison that draws moral and ethical lessons from their lives. Plutarch’s intent is not to provide a comprehensive historical account, but rather to explore The Influence of Character on History, The Role of Leadership and Morality in Public Life, and The Universality of Human Nature.

This study guide uses Volume 1 of the two-volume Modern Library Classics edition of Plutarch’s Lives, published in 2001. Volume 1 contains the first 14 pairs of biographies of the collection.

Summary

Plutarch’s Lives represents an effort to explore the way individuals shape historical events. The works consist of pairs of biographies or “parallel lives,” with each biography of a Greek figure accompanied by the biography of a Roman figure. Most of these pairs of biographies are followed by a short comparison of the two figures.