Teaching Ancient Biography
by Dr. Margaret Cotter-Lynch, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Original text © 2005. Margaret Cotter-Lynch.
Plutarch: Life of Antony
What made him succeed?
What made him fail?
In-class writing (5-10 minutes): Based upon Plutarch, what is your opinion of Cleopatra and why? Support your opinion with reference to the “Life of Antony.”
I. Pompey and Antony: what connections can we draw, based upon Plutarch’s two biographies?
a. Our overall impressions of the two men:
i. Both are charismatic military leaders who parlay money and military success into political power
ii. Both are great men with great weaknesses
iii. In both Lives, Plutarch asks the question: why do some men succeed and others fail?
1. Pompey and Antony ultimately fail
2. Julius Caesar and Octavian ultimately succeed (according to Plutarch)
b. More detailed similarities between the two men, as described by Plutarch:
i. Both Pompey and Antony are wildly successful militarily at a young age
ii. Both are very popular amongst the populace and their soldiers
iii. Both are at one point co-leaders with the man who eventually defeats them
1. Pompey and Julius Caesar
2. Antony and Octavian
iv. Both surprisingly lose in a major battle and die in disgrace
v. Both, according to Plutarch, have a single, identifiable character flaw that leads to their downfall:
1. Pompey is too easily swayed by peer pressure, and is afraid of unpopularity
2. Antony is too easily swayed by Cleopatra, as part of an overall weakness for women and other sensual pleasures
vi. Overall moral of both stories: Both men make decisions emotionally rather than rationally, and therefore fail
II. Antony and women as a theme of this Life
a. Women are remarkably prominent in this biography
i. Fulvia
ii. Octavia
iii. Cleopatra
b. By my reading, Plutarch seems clear in his judgements of Fulvia and Octavia, but less clear in his estimation of Cleopatra
i. Fulvia: Plutarch doesn’t approve of her, and in fact blames her for making Antony succeptible to Cleopatra
1. p. 372: Fulvia is introduced as power-hungry
2. p. 386: Fulvia stirs up trouble with Caesar, then dies
ii. Octavia (Octavian’s sister): according to Plutarch, Octavia is a model of all that a good woman should be. Through much of the story, Octavia appears as the only good, fair, and reasonable person involved:
1. p. 387: Octavia is introduced as a “marvel of womanhood.” We as readers are led to hope that she will influence Antony for the better, and save Rome.
2. p. 404-408; chapters 53-57: All about Octavia and Cleopatra:
1. Octavia: wants to visit and help her husband, bring him supplies, keep the peace
2. Cleopatra: threatened by Octavia, turns to trickery
3. Caesar Octavian: wants Octavia to give him an excuse to attack Antony
4. p. 408: Antony throws Octavia out of the house, and people feel sorry for Antony, since his actions prove that he doesn’t know what’s best for himself.
5. p. 429: after Antony and Cleopatra die, Octavia takes care of the whole family, and founds a dynasty.
iii. Cleopatra: Plutarch seems equivocal in his estimation of her, leaves us as readers with the question of what to think:
1. Cleopatra is clearly at the root of Antony’s downfall, and specifically blamed by Plutarch in numerous instances: p. 382, 391, 415
2. Plutarch, however, raises a question: is the problem here Cleopatra herself, or is it rather the way in which Antony lets himself be ruled by his obsession with her?
1. It is exceptional that Antony dies on page 423, but his biography continues for another 7 pages, which recount what happens to Cleopatra after his death. A significant fraction (more than a tenth) of this biography is thus dedicated to Cleopatra after Antony is gone.
2. After Antony’s death, Cleopatra shows some admirable traits:
1. Concern for her children
2. Determination and decisiveness
3. She proves herself to be smarter than everyone around her
It seems to me, that in this Life, Plutarch is clear in what he thinks of Antony, and the lessons we as readers should take from his life. However, it also seems to me that Plutarch is not so clear about what we should think of Cleopatra.
Assignment: for next time, read Plutach’s “Life of Caesar.” How does Julius Caesar seem similar to, and different from, Pompey and Antony?
