In order to further examine and chart the effect of moral character in famous people's lives, Plutarch writes this collection as a biography study. For every Greek figure, there is an accompanying Roman. Following the pairing, Plutarch adds his own evaluation of the contrast of these two historical figures. Although refraining from comment in the biographies themselves, Plutarch heavily adds his personal evaluation of the men's respective characters, accomplishments, and reputations.
There are 48 men whom Plutarch writes about in this book. The majority of them are politicians, soldiers, and leaders. Dating all the way back to the mythic past with Theseus, the biographies encompass both legend and more recent history. In corresponding pairs, these are the less familiar men described: Lycurgus and Numa Pompilius, Themistocles and Camillus, Solon and Poplicola, Pericles and Fabius Maximus, Alcibiades and Coriolanus, Epaminondas and Scipio Africanus, Phocion and Cato the Younger, Agis and Tiberius Gracchus, Cleomenes and Gaius Gracchus, Timoleon and Aeilius Paullus, Eumenes and Sertorius, Aristides and Cato the Elder, Pelopidas and Marcellus, Lysander and Sulla, Pyrrhus and Marius, Philopoemen and Titus Flamininus, Nicias and Crassus, Cimon and Lucullus, Dion and Brutus, Agesilaus and Pompey, Demosthenes and Cicero, Demetrius and Mark Antony.
Though Plutarch is specifically writing about famous men, he includes the above characters who are less familiar to contemporary audiences. He does also write about big names. Theseus and Romulus are great examples. Both of these men are characters of myth, not historical figures, yet they both feature so prominently in the stories of the early days of Greece and Rome respectively, as the protagonist of The Odyssey and the founder of Rome. Of famous historical figures, Plutarch nabs some of the most famous: Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. Both were leaders who managed to amass large territory and diverse peoples over which to rule. Also both are examples of corrupt leaders who eventually welcome their own respective falls from power (and deaths).
