Plutarch's opinion on the nature of Pericles leadership in Athens

 Plutarch observes Pericles’ leadership in a very critical light. Which is not to mean that he thinks lowly of the man, in fact it is made quite obvious at times that Plutarch has enormous respect for Pericles. One such example of this is from Plutarch’s ‘Life of Pericles’, in which he describes the other man, saying that Plutarch “entertained extraordinary esteem and admiration… a composure of countenance, and a serenity and calmness in all his movements”. In the same work, however, Plutarch cites others who described the man in negative terms. Most notably, the poet Ion, who said that Pericles has “a presumptuous and somewhat arrogant manner of address” and that he possessed a “great deal of disdain and contempt for others”. Similarly, another man named Zero, who Plutarch also mentions, describes Perciles’ austerity as “a mere thirst for reputation, and swollen conceit”. These kinds of inclusions would suggest that Plutarch viewed Pericles negatively, a direct contrast to Plutarch’s earlier description of the man as admirable and composed. Overall, Plutarch’s critical nature of Pericles’ rule allows him to see the other man in both a positive and negative way. However, it is important to note that Plutarch’s background as a highly democratic man, and Pericles’ position as rather aristocratic, force Plutarch into a bias against Pericles, instead favouring the democrat Kimon.