Maximus was both a farmer and a soldier. The film begins with Maximus walking through a field of wheat on his farm near Trujillo (Hispania). He walks alone; he is not carrying a thing. Being alone in this wheat field shows Maximus as a humble farmer who does not seek power. This image increases the idea of Maximus as an everyday farmer as opposed to a heartless and power hungry warrior.
In the film’s initial battle scene, General Maximus is leading Roman legions to victory against Germanic tribes. As his men become overwhelmed with their responsibilities, Maximus humors them: “If you find yourself alone riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled, for you are in Elysium, and you're already dead” (Gladiator)! This shows Maximus is a good leader. Good generals care about their men, and Maximus cares about his men. He uses humor to put his men at ease. He wants his men to accomplish the task but wants them to feel at ease doing so.
The group of soldiers that Maximus leads sees him as a friend instead of a leader. When Maximus walks among his men, they all knee out of respect for him, not because they required doing so. Maximus speaks to one his men while he was kneeling. This shows that Maximus has a rapport with his soldiers. To his men, Maximus is both a friend and a leader. Maximus is not arrogant about being charge of such a great army. Maximus sees himself as one of his men. He is no greater then any of his men; he is no important than his lowest ranked man.
In ancient Roman society, patriotism, which is love of country and the willingness to sacrifice for it, was an important virtue. Whether it was serving as a soldier in a Roman legion or avenging the murder of his beloved Emperor, Maximus was a true patriot. After claiming victory over Germanic tribes, Maximus returns and speaks with the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius asks Maximus why he thinks his legions fought. Maximus answers, “They fought for you and Rome” (Gladiator). Marcus asks Maximus another question: “And what is Rome, Maximus” (Gladiator)? Maximus replies, “I’ve seen much of the rest of the world. It is brutal and cruel and dark, Rome is the light” (Gladiator). Marcus reminds Maximus he has never even been to Rome. This shows Maximus is truly dedicated to Rome. Maximus is willing to sacrifice everything for Rome; a city he has never even been to. Maximus has patriotism for Rome.
Although Marcus Aurelius has a son, Commodus, he decides to appoint Maximus as his successor. Marcus tells Maximus about his decision before telling Commodus. Upon hearing this, Commodus murders his father because of his jealously of his father’s decision. After murdering his father, Commodus declares himself as emperor. He then asks Maximus for his loyalty. Maximus refuses to be loyal to the new emperor because he realizes Commodus’ involvement in Marcus Aurelius’ death. Because of Maximus’ refusal to remain loyal, Commodus orders the execution of Maximus and his family. Within this, Maximus shows patriotism. Maximus wants to remain loyal to the “true” Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius. He will not remain loyal to a traitor of the Roman Empire. He is willing to risk his own life to remain true to his country and his emperor.
Commodus secretly stabs Maximus while he was tied as a prisoner; however, before his death, Maximus is able to defeat and kill Commodus in a battle in the Coliseum. As Maximus is dying, his last wish is to return Rome to a democracy. Even during his own death, Maximus puts the love of his country before his own needs. He wants to restore Rome to its former glory.
Throughout Gladiator, Maximus possesses gravitas. To Romans, gravitas was a sense of the importance of the matter at hand, responsibility, and earnestness. Maximus knew he had responsibilities as a soldier, and as a father and husband.
As a military leader, Maximus shows gravitas. In the beginning of the film, Maximus leads his legions victory against Germanic tribes. Throughout the battle, Maximus fights alongside his men. Maximus does not see himself higher up on the hierarchy than his men; he sees himself equal. Like a good leader, he wants to fight alongside his men, and does not want to direct from the back. In addition, Maximus is conscientious during battle. Maximus holds back when he sees that he is about to kill his own man. Unlike most soldiers, Maximus stops and ceases his attack. Maximus shows gravitas during this moment because he concerned with his men. He is not too absorbed in the battle to stop caring about them.
Once Maximus returns from battle, Marcus Aurelius asks, “How can I reward Rome’s greatest general” (Gladiator)? Maximus simply replies, “Let me go home” (Gladiator). Maximus’ reply shows he wants to return home to see his family and harvest the crops on his farm. This shows Maximus realizes he has other responsibilities: he has a responsibility as the paterfamilias and as a farmer.
The virtue firmitas is the strength of mind and the ability to stick to one’s purpose. Maximus had strength of mind and he knew his purpose. Whether Maximus was enslaved and fighting in the gladiatorial arena, or avenging the deaths of his family and his emperor, Maximus knew his purpose in life.
When Maximus is found collapsed from exhaustion, he is taken to Zucchabar and is purchased by Antonius Proximo, the head of a gladiator school. Initially, Maximus refuses to fight, but how he defends himself in the arena leads to a rise in his popularity among the audience and he gains respect from his fellow fighters. Maximus realizes good can be made from this situation. He realizes at this particular time, fighting in the gladiatorial ring was his purpose.
In the Coliseum, Commodus demands Maximus to remove his helmet and tell him his name. Maximus removes his helmet, turns to face Commodus, and says, “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next” (Gladiator). After hearing this, Commodus trembles in disbelief. Maximus says this to Commodus to prove a point: he will not rest until he avenges the deaths of his emperor, wife, and son. Maximus realizes he must murder Commodus to have his vengeance. Commodus was the individual who caused the deaths of Maximus’ family and the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
Pietas is more than religious piety. Pietas is the respect for the family, country, and the gods. Like all ancient Romans, the family, country, and the gods were the most important aspects in Maximus’ life. Each aspect had a significant meaning in his life.
Primarily, Maximus was a family man. He was the paterfamilias. Throughout the film, Maximus cares for them, in their lives and in their deaths. Maximus asks General Quintus, a former friend of Maximus’, to look after his family. Quintus tells Maximus he will meet his family in the afterlife. Although Quintus coldly responded to Maximus, Maximus shows concern for his wife and son. He wants to make sure they are doing well in the afterlife. He would like someone to look after them since he cannot.
Maximus serves as a general for Rome. He is victorious against Germanic tribes. When he returns from the battle, he earns the respect of the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Marcus appoints Maximus as his successor instead of his son, Commodus. Upon hearing this, Commodus murders his father because of his jealously of his father’s decision. After murdering his father, Commodus declares himself as emperor. He then asks Maximus for his loyalty. Maximus refuses to be loyal to the new emperor because he realizes Commodus’ involvement in Marcus Aurelius’ death. Because of Maximus’ refusal to remain loyal, Commodus orders the execution of Maximus and his family. Maximus wants to remain loyal to the “true” Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius. He will not remain loyal to a traitor of Rome. He is willing to risk his own life to remain true to his country and his emperor.
Throughout the film, Maximus has a strong devotion to the gods. After the deaths of his wife and son, Maximus has an even stronger devotion to them. He asks the gods to watch over his wife and son. He asks them to whisper to them that he only lives to hold them once again. This shows Maximus’ devotion to his family. He wants his family to be cared for and he wants them to know he is thinking about them. Most importantly, he wants them to know he is living out his life in order to be reunited with them in death.
In any society, truthfulness is an admirable characteristic. In ancient Rome, truthfulness was known as veritas. Maximus has this virtue. He is honest when dealing with others. When Marcus Aurelius appoints Maximus his successor, he does not accept. Most people would gladly accept this great honor; however, Maximus will not. He is being honest with Marcus. The only thing Maximus desires is to return home.
Before Commodus stabs Maximus, Maximus tells him, “I knew a man once who said, ‘Death smiles at us all. All a man can do is smile back’” (Gladiator). Commodus sarcastically replies, “I wonder, did your friend smile at his own death” (Gladiator)? Maximus tells Commodus he does know because he murdered his father. This shows Maximus is not afraid to be honest with someone; he reminds Commodus of his wrongdoing.
Stoicism is an indifference to pleasure or pain. Throughout the film, Maximus is impartial to many occurrences. Maximus handles the deaths of his family and his emperor with Stoicism. Although he is pained because of his losses, he does not allow his pain to show.
When Commodus teases Maximus about the deaths of his wife and son, Maximus handles the situation stoically. Commodus begins teasing by saying, “They tell me your son... squealed like a girl when they nailed him to the cross. And your wife... moaned like a whore when they ravaged her again and again... and again” (Gladiator). Stoically, Maximus says, “The time for honoring yourself will soon be at an end” (Gladiator). Maximus says this to appear unaffected by Commodus’ taunting. He does not want Commodus to see him as weak. If Commodus does, he will use it against Maximus, and will be able to defeat him.
In Augustan Rome, ancestor worship and worshiping the gods of the Republic was typical of its citizens. In the film, Maximus asks his deceased ancestors for guidance. He also asks them to care for his family. He asks, “Blessed mother, come to me with the Gods’ desire for my future. Blessed father, watch over my wife and son with a ready sword. Whisper to them that I live only to hold them again, for all else is dust and air” (Gladiator). Maximus also tells his ancestors he honors them and he tries to live with the dignity they have taught them.
At the end of Gladiator, Commodus challenges Maximus to a duel in front of an audience in the Coliseum. Before their dual, Commodus stabs Maximus, but stabs him so the wound is concealed. However, Maximus seeks his vengeance before he dies. He stabs Commodus’ neck and he collapses to his death. As Maximus begins to die, he sees his wife and son in the afterlife. To viewers of the film, they realize Maximus avenges the deaths of his family and his emperor. Without Maximus’ possession of Augustan values, he would have not been able to avenge the murders of his family and the Emperor, Marcus Aurelius.
Works Cited
Gladiator. Dir. Ridley Scott. Prod. Douglas Wick, David Franzoni, and Branko Lustig.
Screenplay by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson. By David Franzoni. Perf. Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, and Richard Harris. Dreamworks SKG, 2000. DVD.
