Final answer:
Plutarch aimed to explore moral virtue and character in his 'Parallel Lives' by comparing Greek and Roman figures, providing a Greek cultural perspective on their moral qualities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plutarch's aim in writing the Parallel Lives was to explore moral virtue and character through the lens of biography. He juxtaposed the lives of notable Greek and Roman figures, drawing comparisons and contrasts to illuminate their moral qualities and vices. While Plutarch was ethnically Greek and a Roman citizen, his cultural perspective was primarily Greek. His works often reflected on what he considered to be barbarian or unnatural practices from a Greek viewpoint. The Parallel Lives was not merely a historical record but a moralistic evaluation, meant to provide ethical examples for readers to follow or avoid.