Parallel Lives Plutarch Analysis

In Parallel Lives by Plutarch, he portrays Alexander the Great as an outstanding moral individual and an excellent leader of his people. Although Plutarch illustrates Alexander as a wise, compassionate, and ambitious individual, his defense of Alexander against the people who think of Alexander as a bad leader is weak and inefficient. Plutarch’s defense of Alexander’s fallible qualities, such as his drinking problems and his apathy to his people at the later part of his life is questionable and easily disproved, weakening his argument that Alexander is a truly admirable person. The majority of the beginning of Alexander is dedicated to the description of Alexander’s background and his experiences as he grows up into a mature and ambitious

Plutarch continues his portrayal of Alexander as a man of compassion, wisdom, and ambition, which can be seen in multiple stories during Alexander’s conquest of the known world. Alexander shows generosity to his soldiers by giving them a portion of the spoils from every battle that they win. Plutarch also recounts stories where Alexander lets his captives go free, such as when Alexander frees Timocleia because he is amazed at how she managed to protect herself and walk towards him, her enemy, calmly, fearlessly and with dignity. Another example is the capture of the Persian King Darius’ mother, wife and daughters. “the most honourable and most princely favour which these noble and chaste women received from him in their captivity…but lived, as though guarded in sacred and inviolable virgins’ chambers instead of an enemy’s camp” (Alexander, Section 21). Instead of letting the women be enslaved and left to the whims of his men, Alexander is shown to have treated them with honor, respect and generosity. He does not treat them like prisoners, but like guests of honor in his camp. Plutarch uses this situation to show Alexander’s compassion and his rationality and sense of justice when it comes to protecting those under his domain. Another example is Alexander’s policy of letting his conquered territories to govern themselves independently and not robbing them of their freedom. Through these merciful and honorable acts of Alexander, Plutarch manages to highlight Alexander’s greatest traits as leader as an individual, and simultaneously support his argument that Alexander is inherently good and exceptional among