The Charges Against Herodotus

Abstract The chapter examines the careful structure and argumentation of the On the Malice of Herodotus, looking particularly at (a) the charge of κακοήθεια (kakoētheia) and (b) the role that style plays as the vehicle for Herodotus’ kakoētheia. Plutarch includes in his definition of the term not only its basic meaning of malice, spitefulness, and/or cynicism, but also highlights its associations with jealousy and illiberal attitudes and behaviour. The chapter also surveys what we know about prose style in general and historiographical style in particular, and where Plutarch’s essay fits in with previous approaches. It concludes that Plutarch, while recognizing and acknowledging the traditional virtues of Herodotus’ style, has made a surprising and daring innovation by detaching the nearly universal equation made in ancient literary criticism between style and character.