Maximus As The Hero In The Film Gladiator

Introduction The film Gladiator takes place in ancient Rome where the current emperor, Marcus Aurelius, is nearing his death. Marcus’s plan was to name the main character, his honorable general Maximus, the successor to the throne, but his jealous son Commodus discovered these plans. Commodus murders his father, Maximus’s family and goes after him next. Maximus avoids Commodus’s attempts, but is sold as a slave and later becomes a gladiator. Maximus and the other gladiators become more and more popular over time and they end up traveling to Rome. They battle in the Colosseum in front of thousands of people and most importantly, Commodus. Maximus uses his military experience and diverse skills to lead his group through countless opponents, gaining popularity amongst the crowd. Previously covered in armor, Maximus reveals himself to a dumbstruck Commodus. In an attempt to keep the throne, Commodus challenges Maximus to a battle to the death. Maximus is victorious and finally revenges the death of his family and of

One of those being how it portrays gladiators. Gladiator fights make up a huge part of Roman culture and it was displayed perfectly in this film. Because the story was told through the eyes of a gladiator, Maximus in this case, I was able to learn much more about what they experienced. Tying into the idea of gladiators, the second historical element the film captured was the Colosseum. Being a film about gladiators, the Colosseum was an important part of the storytelling. The feelings you have when the gladiators enter the arena are unmatched and it gives you a good idea of how epic these battles were. The third most important historical point this film makes was the characters themselves. Commodus and his father Marcus Aurelius were both rulers of Rome, which the film depicted wonderfully. The honor of Marcus and the insanity of Commodus was both accurate and