Gladiator (2000) Film and Reflection

The movie Gladiator is set during the Roman Empire in 180 AD and begins with General Maximus leading his troops against Germanic tribes, establishing his popularity and skills as a commander.  The emperor Marcus Aurelius confides in Maximus that he will not name his son Commodus as his successor, having Maximus succeed him instead.  Commodus finds out and kills Marcus Aurelius, arresting Maximus who later escapes to find that Commodus has burned and crucified his family.  Taken by slavers, Maximus is sold to a gladiator school in north Africa where he quickly makes a name for himself before being taken to Rome to participate in Commodus’ 150 days of games.  Maximus, fighting with other gladiators in Commodus’ games, gains the admiration of the Roman public.  Commodus feels threatened by this, repeatedly sending Maximus to fight in seemingly unwinnable events.  Maximus is brought into a plot to overthrow Commodus by Lucilla, Commodus’ sister, and the senator Gracchus (no relation).  This fails and Maximus is made to fight Commodus, killing him despite being injured by the emperor beforehand.  Before dying of his wounds, Maximus requests for the freeing of the other slaves who helped him as well as the senators involved in the plot against Commodus and their reinstatement to the Senate.  Here, Maximus is carrying out Marcus Aurelius’ wish to return Rome to a republic.

A central theme in this movie is the Roman concept of dignitas represented by the fight over prestige between Maximus and Commodus.  Initially, Commodus’ status as an emperor, as well as his holding of the games, gives him access to high standing and respect among Romans.  Maximus grows his dignitas by repeatedly winning against the odds and sparing one of his opponents, earning him the title “Maximus the Merciful.”  This angers Commodus who is unable to have him executed in the arena as, because of Maximus’ dignitas and prestige among ordinary Romans, it would reflect poorly on the emperor.  Maximus’ dignitas also makes him a desirable ally for Gracchus, who needs the gladiator’s popularity with the army to march on Rome and overthrow Commodus.  In the end, Commodus’ lowered dignitas also affects his auctoritas, as his subordinate who had helped him seize power refuses to give the emperor another sword in his fight against Maximus, leading to his death.  By the time the movie ends, Maximus’ authority and power to command is greater than Commodus’.