Introduction
Movies that depict historical events often portray a certain time period through the eyes of a unique character, whose actions and motivations become tales for generations to tell. The 2000 movie Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, is no exception, as it follows a life of the general Maximus Decimus Meridius, a warrior and a hero, whose valor does not go unnoticed even by the highest of royals. However, Maximus wants to return home more than to lead the army. This desire to be free becomes the main motive of the film, as the plot follows Maximus, now enslaved, who tries to avenge his family and the emperor and regain his liberty. The other significant plot line of the movie revolves around the main protagonist, the enslaver Commodus, whose actions are guided by his need of love and acceptance. This review focuses on the two main heroes and their motivations â Maximus and his wish for freedom, and Commodus and his desire for affection.
Freedom and Servitude in the Movie Gladiator
The lead character is Maximus Decimus Meridius, a former fighter of the Empire, now a gladiator and a deserter. After being betrayed by the emperorâs son, Maximus loses everything: his family, his home, and his status. However, he does not lose his will to survive, which is evident from his decision to fight in the gladiator games. At the beginning of the film, his motivation to fight and serve comes from his allegiance to Rome. However, after Maximus becomes enslaved, the source of his motivation changes, as he is now overcome with vengeance. He takes advice from his master, Proximo, who tells him that it is possible to win freedom by gaining the favor of the crowd. Maximus becomes an entertainer and moves up the ranks with an intention to receive a blessing from the emperor. His actions reveal his thoughts, as it becomes clear that he is prepared not only to kill but to conform to the crowdâs wants to reach his goal.
Maximus is a skilled soldier, who fought in many battles, so it is not hard for him to defeat the other gladiators. However, he has to learn the other set of abilities to become famous in the arena. He combines his combat knowledge and the advice from Proximo to perform in the games and quickly win the adoration of the crowd. Furthermore, even after being revealed to the emperor, Maximus does not lose hope to become free again. Compared to the beginning of the film, Maximusâ core desire stays the same, although the ways to fulfill it change.
The Reasoning and Motivation behind the Actions of Commodus
The main antagonist of the film is Lucius Aurelius Commodus. From the beginning of the film, the dialogue of the heroes portrays Commodus as a man unfit for the throne. Commodusâ father, Marcus Aurelius, even admits it to himself and Maximus. This relationship between a father and a son is strained for a number of reasons. First of all, Commodus and Marcus have different visions for the future of Rome. As a child, Commodus became obsessed with getting the recognition of his father, which shaped his perception of love and respect. He wants his every action to be met with positive emotions, and when he does not get the expected results, the reactions he receives confuse him more and more. His father makes a significant decision to take the power away from Commodus, which Commodus interprets as an act of hate. Commodus does not think about the possible logical reasoning behind his fatherâs actions. He is unable to distinguish critique from antipathy. He is afraid of losing his power; however, he is terrified of not being good enough for his father.
This perception of love is not limited to blood relatives when Commodus becomes the emperor and says he will treat his subjects as children. In this situation, he does not see a difference between love and obedience. Commodus says that he wants to receive affection. However, he implies that he wants the people never to question his authority. In the end, he treats the crowd as children, by giving them a toy in the form of the gladiator games. When the people act in a different way from what he expects, Commodus again sees this as an act of hatred. During the games, the crowd favors Maximus and treats Commodus as a cruel and unjust ruler. Commodus channels his frustration and anger towards his family and the closest servants, which drives him further away from everyone. His reaction involves him threatening his nephew and sister, spying on the members of the senate and, in the end, challenging Maximus to a duel. In this situation, Commodus is most envious of Maximus, because he sees that Maximus has the love and respect of the crowd.
Commodus thinks about every action through the extremes of love and hate and acts according to his beliefs. He fails to see why people are turning away from him, as he is blinded by the desire to be loved unconditionally. Commodus is convinced that he was neglected by his father, so he turns to Romans in hope to find the affection he wasnât given. When the people of the Empire along with the senate and his closest family detest him, he refuses to look into his actions and continues to believe that he is right. He again interprets the acts of others as treason. It is possible that his behavior is a result of his unstable relationship with his father, who admitted to raising his son without the needed attention. Commodus bases his every action on his desire to prove to himself and everyone else that he is loved.
Conclusion
The main characters of the film Gladiator have strong motivations that guide them through their journeys. The main protagonist, Maximus, is driven by his desire to be free. Throughout the course of the film, his perception of freedom changes from simply wanting to go home to his family to reclaiming the ownership of his life and protesting the servitude to the unjust and corrupted society. Commodus, the main antagonist, is motivated by the emotions of love and hate and the need of affection and acceptance. He sees the actions of others through his distorted perception of love and, thus, fails to notice the possible mistakes in his judgment. It is interesting that the behavior dynamics of both heroes evolve but stay consistent as the plot progresses. Both characters strive to achieve a certain goal, and the difference between these goals inevitably leads to a conflict between the two heroes.