Through Suetonius, we find that many of the emperors pursued artistic endeavors. For instance, Julius Caesar loved the art of debate, particularly that of philosophy. Nero was a talented musician, often giving concerts that lasted for hours (Suetonius, p.117). These glimpses into the lives of the rulers gives them a human side, which tends to balance the unscrupulous deeds throughout the rest of the book. Suteonius treats the emperors harshly, spending much time documenting their brutality.

In some cases, Suetonius provides a balanced account, highlights successes with failures, and misdeeds with kindness. In other cases, he is clearly against the leader, as with the case of Caligula. Surprisingly, Suetonius includes one account where he has nothing bad to say. Apparently, the short life of Titus was a fine example of humanity. If one were to form an opinion-based entirely on Suetonius, it would appear that he considered Julius Caesar to...
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