Aspects of Ancient Roman society and culture are regularly portrayed with the use of modern media. The film, Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, revolves around the life of the General Maximus Decimus Meridius. He is betrayed by Commodus, son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, as he murders his father to seize control of the throne. Relegated to slavery, Maximus fights as a gladiator in the hopes to avenge his family and emperor through the assassination of Commodus. The film depicts numerous concepts of Ancient Rome including themes of entertainment connected with slavery, the roman army, roman history, and religion. This review will analyse the historical accuracy of the film with accordance to Themes in Roman Society and Culture, written by Matt …show more content…
The main theme that the film revolves around is the role of gladiators and their forced participation in the gladiatorial games. This form of Roman entertainment was both accurately and inaccurately depicted through different scenes within the film. According to Themes in Roman Society and Culture, gladiators were well-trained professional swordsmen that fought against other gladiators in an amphitheatre to entertain the Roman people. (Gibbs, 272) The gladiators consisted of slaves, criminals or war prisoners bought for gladiatorial combat by a Lanista, (Gibbs, 276) who was the owner of a troupe of gladiators. The gladiators had the same rights of a slave as they were considered as a property. In the film, the character Proximo Palindromos is a Lanista who bought Maximus. He stated “these slaves are rotten… I’ll give you $2,000 and $4,000 for the beasts.” (Gladiator, 51:30) Proximo treated his men worse than animals, as he had paid more for the wild animals. While training them he stated “I did not pay good money for your company. I paid it so I could profit from your death,” (Gladiator, 52:09) This furthermore proves that the gladiators were viewed as slaves, used to put on a good show for spectators. An inaccurate representation depicted within the film is the …show more content…
After the Germanic battle, Maximus went to his temporary residence and started praying in front of a shrine with many statues of gods and goddesses, including miniature statues of his family members. (Gladiator, 32:15) This accurately portrays Roman religion, as in Ancient Rome, citizens would create shrines, known as lares familiares, within their own homes with statues of domestic gods. (Roman Religion Lecture, 7) The main domestic god in the shrine was named Lar, who would protect all the household members from immediate family to slaves. The shrines also included statues of the family members. Maximus would attempt to pray to Lar for the protection of his family on a daily basis, hence displaying the accuracy to which the film’s characters would replicate the realistic rituals from Ancient
The movie starts out with an opening battle between the well-equipped Roman army and a Germanic tribe defending their lands. Russell Crowe is the main character in the movie and he plays a roman general named Maximus. Maximus is a good hearted warrior with valor and honor that is constantly displayed in the epic. He is loved by the roman people and the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The Roman army led by General Maximus defeats the ragged Germans in the opening scene. After a successful march through Germany, Maximus has a meeting with the emperor. The emperor tells the general that Maximus will rule Rome after Emperor Aurelius's death instead of Aurelius' son Commodus. Maximus being a humble gracious man is shocked that a common general could rule Rome. Commodus kills his father in anger and believes he has been betrayed by his father. He then orders the death of Maximus and his family in his rage.
In the movie Maximus, a trusted Roman general is chosen to be the next emperor. Maximus is chosen over the emperor 's son, Commodus. Maximus is unable to protect his family from the threats and violent attacks of Commodus. Once his family has died, Maximus is captured as a slave and forced into gladiator games until his death. While performing for Commodus, Maximus reveals his true identity. Maximus and his lover, Commodus 's sister, create a plan to overthrow and kill Commodus. Commodus challenges Maximus to a duel in front of a raging audience. Maximus is stabbed in the lungs by Commodus but soon steals his sword and kills Commodus. Through the movie Maximus is determined to get revenge on Commodus. The archetype becomes more evident as the story goes on. Maximus completes his quest for vengeance. The gladiator is a movie telling the journey of Maximus’s “quest for
As the classic household back in the Western days, the women were responsible to cook and clean. It was frowned upon for a lady to be out doing men’s work, and a lady to be out on the hunt for a killer was unspoken of. That is why Henry Hathaway’s 1969 western film, True Grit, stands out so much. From a traditional western film, a woman is typically found inside of the house. Their duties are cooking, cleaning, and watching the children. In the presence of, one must be utmost polite and courteous. In the film True Grit, one of the main characters, Mattie, whose role is played by Kim Darby, is a young girl who’s bound and determined to catch and see to the hanging of her father’s killer. Mattie goes about this by hiring the West’s most tough and rugged U.S. Marshal, “Rooster” Cogburn play the one and only John Wayne. One might think this would be a typical story line where a young lady hires a U.S. Marshall to capture her father’s killer,
Sex, love, depression, guilt, trust, all are topics presented in this remarkably well written and performed drama. The Flick, a 2014 Pulitzer Prize winning drama by Annie Baker, serves to provide a social commentary which will leave the audience deep in thought well after the curtain closes. Emporia State Universities Production of this masterpiece was a masterpiece in itself, from the stunningly genuine portrayal of the characters of Avery and Rose, to the realism found within the set, every aspect of the production was superb.
Ridley Scott’s epic film, Gladiator, considered one of the greatest films in recent years, won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Scott’s film, tells the story of the fall and rise of the great Roman General, Maximus Decimus Meridius. The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, tells Maximus that he wishes that he ( ) the emperor after his death, instead of his son, Commodus. Angry, Commodus, murders his own father, thus becoming the emperor, and sentences Maximus and his family to death. Maximus escapes, but the Emperor’s men murder his family and burn his home. Slave traders, capture Maximus, and sell him into slavery. Maximus must rise to the top once more, and enact his revenge on Commodus. Through a liberal humanistic critique, the film contains an inherent meaning, shows the enhancement of life and propagation of values, and reveals that human nature never changes.
The gladiators were not born athletes who had a mission in life to become warriors, most of them were normal men living a normal life on a farm located within the fringes of the Roman Empire, such as Moesia. These men had families and friend within their village and usually farmed to survive. They had little to no contact with people outside of their town and kept to themselves. This made them easy targets for the Roman armies to attack which was extremely common. As the Romans began their attack the men of a village usually sent their women and children off while they stayed to fight. Of course they stood no chance and were forced to surrender to be taken as Roman slaves. They would be forced to take the trip to Italy which usually took over fifty days. Immediately after reaching Italy the newfound slaves were taken to an auction where they would be sold off to the highest bidder. The men bidding on the slaves could be using them for various t...
"Gladiator", comes from the latin word "gladius", for sword. They were primarily made up of slaves, criminals, prisoners of war or even volunteer free men. The crimes that could lead one to the arena included treason, robbery, and murder, among others. Some free men became gladiators of their own free will in hopes of gaining notoriety and patronage amongst the wealthy citizens. By the end of 50 BC almost half of the gladiators fighting in the Colosseum were free men.
Gladiatorial events were a token of the Roman civilization. A brutal form of sacrifice adapted from the earlier civilization of Etruscans, who believed when a person dies, his spirit relies on a blood sacrifice to survive in the afterlife. The first event to take place in Rome was in 264 BC, when Decimus Brutus held a sacrifice to honor his dead father (Roman Gladiator). Soon after these events became an undeniable part of the Romans lives, used for political power and general entertainment.
Stanley Kubick's Spartacus In the 1960 film Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick, the character called Spartacus is depicted as a revolutionary who leads an army of slaves against the oppressive forces of Rome during the first century B.C. Though the overall story is true, and most of the main characters are real, the presentation of their character is entirely fictional. Spartacus and the other characters have been split into groups epitomizing good and evil, and the story itself has been vastly romanticized. This essay will address the ways in which the story deviates from reality and finally will show how Kubrick and those before him have used such interpretations as a valuable tool for social change.
“The Romans are often characterized as loving violent and cruel entertainment in the amphitheatre. It has been suggested that the games served the dual purpose of providing entertainment for the people and maintaining the political status quo.”
the battle as a haze. The music then begins to go quieter and at this
During the middle and late third century, the Roman republic era gave rise to the arena games and became a great phenomenon for the Romans. An amphitheater, also known as a coliseum, housed these dangerous games that potentially harmed the audience as well as those who participated in them. Gladiatorial combat originated as part of funerals for deceased influential Romans. These large gladiatorial games were held by emperors during funerals of important roman officials, but were also included during other occasions. Over time the connection among the gladiator games and funerals decreased, and the upper class put on the games mainly to raise their social standing and gain favor with the public.
" Life of a Gladiator. N.p., n.d. Web. The Web. The Web. 06 Mar. 2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard The "Roman Gladiator" - "The Roman Gladiator" The Roman Gladiator.
Gladiator (2000) is an action drama about a Roman general that is betrayed by his country and is forced to fight in the Colosseum. This particular scene, which runs for approximately 5 minutes, is the aftermath of the fight scene between Maximus, the betrayed general, and Commodus, the jealous emperor who betrayed him. This scene is not only significant because it is the concluding scene of the film, but also because it represents the end of Maximus’s enslavement and his coming to peace with dying.
Full Metal Jacket is written and directed by Stanley Kubrick. The film was released in 1987 and it is starring Matthew Modine (Joker), Vincent D’Onofrio (Pyle), Adam Baldwin (Animal), and R. Lee Ermey ( Guy.Segr. Hartman).