The inclusion of these "blameworthy" lives is a deliberate educational tool. Plutarch argues that just as young flute players are shown both good and bad performers to learn distinction, readers are more eager to imitate the good when they see the disastrous consequences of the bad.
Volume IX remains a pivotal text for understanding the transition from the Hellenistic world to the Roman Empire, offering the sole continuous account of Demetrius’ career and a nuanced (if moralizing) look at the man who nearly ruled Rome alongside Cleopatra. Plutarch • Comparison of Demetrius and Antony Plutarch's Lives, Volume IX: Demetrius and Anto...
In the Comparison of Demetrius and Antony that concludes their section, Plutarch makes several biting distinctions: The inclusion of these "blameworthy" lives is a
Plutarch credits Demetrius for winning his own victories, whereas he notes that many of Antony's greatest triumphs were actually won by his generals in his absence. Plutarch • Comparison of Demetrius and Antony In