Christi Justice
HST101
Armounte
Document Analysis: The Life of Alexander by Plutarch
Questions:
1. According to Plutarch, was Alexander an educated man?
For a man of his time, Alexander was a very educated man. His father, Phillip, thought that Alexander’s education was so important that he had Aristotle, who was “the most famous and learned philosophers of his time” (page 2), be his teacher. This Alexander “… was devoted by nature to all kinds of learning and a lover of books”
2. How would describe Alexander’s relationship with his father?
I would describe Alexander’s relationship with his father as a great tragedy because it had the potential to be a very loving relationship if not for the greedy and jealous influences of others. …show more content…
How effective, according to Plutarch, was Alexander’s leadership? Does he deserve to title Alexander the Great?
According to Plutarch, Alexander’s leadership was what made him great. He writes “…it was his own generalship which did most to win the victory…” and that “the result of this battle was a brilliant victory for Alexander.” But besides his brilliant leadership in battle, Plutarch writes of an unselfish side to Alexander where he gives away his riches to his companions, and of having bronze statues made for fallen soldiers after a battle. (page 4) This portrays Alexander as, not only an effective leader, but one that is almost flawless.
Although there are those that disagree, Plutarch’s version of Alexander most definitely deserves to be called Alexander the Great. Even as Plutarch is writing about appalling acts such as totally destroying a city and murdering a close friend, he spins it in such a way that these acts don’t seem as horrendous as they were: “…he believed that the murder of Cleitus, which he committed when he was drunk, … caused by the anger of the god Dionysus, who wished to avenge the destruction of his favorite city. And of those Thebans who survived, it was remarked that all who came to him with a request were granted whatever they asked.” (page
HST101
Armounte
Document Analysis: The Life of Alexander by Plutarch
Questions:
1. According to Plutarch, was Alexander an educated man?
For a man of his time, Alexander was a very educated man. His father, Phillip, thought that Alexander’s education was so important that he had Aristotle, who was “the most famous and learned philosophers of his time” (page 2), be his teacher. This Alexander “… was devoted by nature to all kinds of learning and a lover of books”
2. How would describe Alexander’s relationship with his father?
I would describe Alexander’s relationship with his father as a great tragedy because it had the potential to be a very loving relationship if not for the greedy and jealous influences of others. …show more content…
How effective, according to Plutarch, was Alexander’s leadership? Does he deserve to title Alexander the Great?
According to Plutarch, Alexander’s leadership was what made him great. He writes “…it was his own generalship which did most to win the victory…” and that “the result of this battle was a brilliant victory for Alexander.” But besides his brilliant leadership in battle, Plutarch writes of an unselfish side to Alexander where he gives away his riches to his companions, and of having bronze statues made for fallen soldiers after a battle. (page 4) This portrays Alexander as, not only an effective leader, but one that is almost flawless.
Although there are those that disagree, Plutarch’s version of Alexander most definitely deserves to be called Alexander the Great. Even as Plutarch is writing about appalling acts such as totally destroying a city and murdering a close friend, he spins it in such a way that these acts don’t seem as horrendous as they were: “…he believed that the murder of Cleitus, which he committed when he was drunk, … caused by the anger of the god Dionysus, who wished to avenge the destruction of his favorite city. And of those Thebans who survived, it was remarked that all who came to him with a request were granted whatever they asked.” (page