What are the motifs in Fall of the Roman Republic by Plutarch?

Belief in signs, omens and fortune is a recurring idea. As was true of this time period, all of the men pay attention to the signs and omens that are used as indications of coming successes or failures, in many cases using these to determine when—or even if—to take a particular action. When Cicero is faced with the decision of what to do with Catiline's men who were conspiring against the government, he is torn. On the one hand, he knows that some of these men are of important families in Rome. Imposing the death penalty could earn Cicero some enemies at a time when he needs all the support he can muster.