While films like Ridley Scott’s Gladiator recreate glorious civilizations from our past, they also portray some of the most brutal practices of empires. Set during the reign of the Roman Empire, Gladiator follows a former general in his quest for revenge against the corrupt emperor who obliterated his entire family and indirectly turned him into a slave. The movie is one of the most magnificent period dramas ever made. It is also known for its spectacular exploration of gladiator games, from fast-paced action sequences to emotional one-on-one battles. One quote in the movie that emotionally blisters me is, “Are you not entertained?” Maximus delivers it after he defeats his opponents in the arena. In this article, we examine why Maximus’ rhetorical question to the crowd is an introspection about what it means to be human. A Little About the Gladiator Games in Ancient RomeIn reality, gladiators were enslaved people forced to fight in the arena to entertain the Roman elite. It began as a ritual at Etruscan funerals, where gladiators would fight each other to the death, believing that the dead gladiator would accompany the deceased man as his guard into the next world. With the increasing popularity of the death matches, they soon turned into entertainment for the Roman nobility. Not many know that this barbaric sport was systematic. The men were divided into categories based on their strengths and fighting styles, and they also received years of official gladiator training before they were made to fight. In the...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Thursday, 4 December