Commodus from Gladiator is often viewed as one of cinema’s most detestable villains, yet beneath his heinous actions lies a tragic character shaped by his upbringing and circumstances. His intense jealousy toward Maximus is palpable throughout the film; he constantly witnesses Maximus being favored by his father, Marcus Aurelius, leading to a deep sense of insecurity that manifests in hostility. This jealousy drives Commodus to commit patricide, asphyxiating his father in a desperate bid for approval and power. The act not only signifies his moral decline but also reflects the profound emotional neglect he experienced, leading him to believe that love and validation could only be attained through domination. Throughout his reign, Commodus resorts to violence, orchestrating gladiatorial games that revel in bloodshed, which highlights his detachment from human life. This ruthlessness can be traced back to his upbringing, where he was deprived of genuine emotional connections and taught that power is paramount. His incestuous feelings for Lucilla further reveal his warped understanding of love, showing that his only intimate bond is mired in manipulation and control. His emotional breakdowns, marked by whining and complaints, underscore the fragility behind his tyrannical façade; he is not just a monster but a deeply insecure individual seeking approval in all the wrong ways. When he cheats to defeat Maximus in their final confrontation, it encapsulates his desperation and moral bankruptcy, and yet even this cowardice fails to secure his victory. While Commodus undeniably embodies the traits of a horrible human being, committing atrocious acts that warrant condemnation, it is crucial to recognize that his actions are not justifiable but can be understood as the tragic outcomes of a toxic childhood and the relentless pursuit of a father’s approval. Commodus is a reflection of how emotional neglect and familial betrayal can warp one’s perception of love and power, making him not just a villain but also a victim of circumstance—trapped in a cycle of violence and despair that he never learned how to escape.

    So, overall—I’m saying that Commodus is more so a victim of circumstance since he grew up without being raised entirely properly by Marcus. Had his father perhaps paid a little more attention to him and raised him differently, taking more time to perhaps manifest a more authentic bond, Commodus could’ve developed to be more stable. Of course he still would’ve faced some mental challenges, as it’s just that all this childhood neglect additional to those pre-existing issues didn’t end well, but I feel as though there was indeed opportunity in there for him to pull through a little better. Being unable to form genuine bonds with people distorted his worldview, also, probably confusing his feelings and making him think that he liked his sister, which he must’ve on some level, but those feelings weren’t born of healthy roots, again traceable back to his beginnings, isolated from genuine friendships and pressured by the burdens of royal life, leading to his sister, Lucilla, being one of the few truly there for him.

    Well, that’s all from the top of my head right now. If you have any further questions for my extreme opinion, I’d be more than happy to answer!—also keep in mind that I DO NOT support his actions in any way, shape, or form. None of them are justifiable, and he had his death coming, but all I’m trying to say here is that it’s possible to explain some of his actions, and to sympathize with him on some level.

So before you all sharpen your knives, hear me out. I love Gladiator, it's one of my favorite movies, but man it bugs me to no end that in the beginning Maximus, the supposed greatest general in the Empire, makes such a tactical blunder as to either A. Not take Commodus's hand, walk right outside the tent and rally the Legion to take out Commodus, or, if he's too honorable for that, B. Not sending Cicero, his servant, out to rally his commanders while he puts on his armor and grabs his sword. Even if he is captured at that point it wouldn't take much for Maximus's Equites to catch up with the Praetorian's who have Maximus under arrest and wipe them out before turning and dealing with Commodus. Anyway, those are my thoughts. Anyone else have an opinion on the subject?

Also, as an aside, I love how Proximo negotiates with the slave trader at the beginning: "I'll give you two thousand for the slaves, and four thousand for the animals. That's five thousand, for an old friend."

So I just watched Gladiator and thought the plot twist towards the end was lame.

Summary: Maximus (Russel Crowe) is a gladiator who used to be general of the Roman Army. Maximus is loyal to the former Emperor Marcus Aurelius (who was killed by his son current Emperor Commudus played by Joaquin Phoenix ). Commudus' sister Lucilla is also loyal to her father and has conspired with Maximus and the Senate to overthrow Commudus.

Now here is where things get silly IMO; the scene where Commudus finds out about his sisters betrayal. Lucille's son, Lucius, is playing with the guards pretending to be a gladiator. Commodus assumes the kid is pretending to be a Roman Soldier. (paraphrasing) Lucius: "No I'm a gladiator. I am Maximus the savior of Rome!" Commodus: "Maximus the savior of Rome? Who did you hear speak of him as the savior of Rome?" Commodus leans down and Lucius whispers to him. In the next scene Commudus is sitting with Lucius and his sister enters and he gives her the business in a creepy way threatening her and her son.

Now here is my question... when did the kid hear his mother refer to Maximus as the savior of Rome? I have add so it is possible I missed an earlier scene. But even so think about this...

Lucille loves her son and is terrified of her brother. She lives in fear that Commudus sees her son as a threat (to be the next successor). She is in the middle of taking part in a coup to overthrow her brother. Wouldn't she be a bit more careful about what her son sees and hears in regards to the plans of revolt? It just seemed like lazy writing.

So what am I missing?

Kings and generals a YouTube channel made a video about him. Portraying him as not as much of a tyrant as most media depicts.

https://youtu.be/nVW5RJj6CTo

Most other accounts I’ve seen label him as one of the mad Emperors.

Hi u/winniehiller!

I've been enjoying the lessons and YouTube videos you have been teaching us! It's always great to go back and review the lessons and really soak in all the information. I'm back with another monologue! This time I'm going to attempt Commodu's monologue from the movie Gladiator. I have included my written work below! Let me know what areas of improvement I could implement! Thank you!

Monologue: You wrote to me once, listing the four chief virtues: Wisdom, justice, fortitude and temperance. As I read the list, I knew I had none of them. But I have other virtues, father. Ambition. That can be a virtue when it drives us to excel. Resourcefulness, courage, perhaps not on the battlefield, but... there are many forms of courage. Devotion, to my family and to you. But none of my virtues were on your list. Even then it was as if you didn't want me for your son. I search the faces of the gods... for ways to please you, to make you proud. One kind word, one full hug... where you pressed me to your chest and held me tight. Would have been like the sun on my heart for a thousand years. What is it in me that you hate so much? All I've ever wanted was to live up to you, Caesar. Father

Who Am I? Commodus. I am a pretentious coward who believes I am going to be emperor due to my lineage. In reality all of my respect is hollow and comes from nepotism. I have been constantly overlooked for my abilities despite everything being handed to me. I’m flawed, I know this. But I believe that there are redeeming qualities in me. I am a spoiled brat who lacks true intelligence and believes to have more power than I actually do. I know my father doesn’t see my potential but I know I am worthy in my own right.

Who Am Talking To? My father, Marcus. Current emperor of Rome. He believes I am unfit to take this place So he decides to select Maximus to rule. My father is well respected and beloved by those around him. He doesn’t see the potential in me. I just want to feel the smallest sense of affection from him.

Where Am I? I am in his room. It is late in the evening. Everyone is already in bed. We are discussing what my father's plans are for the new emperor. I come into his room confident that I will be the new Emperor of Rome. I don’t see who else would take his place than me.

What Do I Want From The Person I Am Speaking To? What Is My Objective? I want my father to be honest with me. His decision to not make me emperor speaks volumes on how he views me as not only a ruler but a son. I want to know what caused those feelings for me. I’ve been searching my entire life for this honesty, to know what he really thinks of me. Whether it is disappointment or disgust...I just want to know. My objective is to urge him to tell me the truth by confessing how I have viewed myself despite his perceptions of me. And to finally confess what I had been craving from him my entire life. Love.

What Happened Before The Scene?

Marcus: Commudus, I have decided that you will not be emperor when my time is done. I know you wouldn’t prefer it to be this way but this is the choice I have made.

Written Work:

(Tactic: Recalling the moment when I had questioned my worth in the eyes of my father. I should have known then.)

C: You wrote to me once, listing the four chief virtues: Wisdom, justice, fortitude and temperance.

M: Yes, the four chief virtues. The ones that make a person worthy of the highest honors.

(Tactic: Letting him know that I know I don’t possess the virtues. Underneath, I’m not that surprised by his decision. I had always known it would come.)

C: As I read the list, I knew I had none of them.

M: Commodus, I wouldn’t be so sure of that. I’m sure you possess some of those..

(Tactic: Acknowledging to my father that there are other important virtues and more importantly, that I do possess these, maybe not to their full extent but I have good qualities about myself)

C: But I have other virtues, father.

M: Oh you do? And what would those be, Commodus?

(Tactic: Trying to overcompensate for the qualities that I don’t have)

C: Ambition.

M: Would you consider that a virtue?

(Tactic: Convincing myself and my father (but mostly to myself that this is a virtue)

C: That can be a virtue when it drives us to excel.

M: I’m sure ambition is a strong skill but I would think honor is just as important.

(Tactic: Frustrated. Listing more virtues that I think I possess but deep inside I know that I don’t meet the standards of these virtues)

C: Resourcefulness, courage, perhaps not on the battlefield, but... there are many forms of courage

M: Commodus, I get the sense that you are trying to prove yourself to be someone you’re not.

(Tactic: Expressing to my father my true issue, the lack of love, compassion I have never felt from him.)

C: Devotion, to my family and to you.

M: Commodus, I think these are all...unique...virtues. Why share them now?

(Tactic: Press even more, despite all my efforts, I don’t feel love. I have never been good enough for him)

C: But none of my virtues were on your list.

M: Oh Commodus, those simply are just virtues I found important, there are many things that make a person worthy of the highest honors.

(Tactic: Explain to him why despite all these efforts to be someone great, I still feel unimportant, I feel unwanted, I feel like I don’t belong. I’m lacking affection from my father)

C: Even then it was as if you didn't want me for your son

M: Commodus, why would you even think such a thing?

(Tactic: Confess to my father that I have wondered my worth for as long as I could remember. Further confess, that I used to pray constantly to make my father just the slightest bit proud of me.)

C*:* I search the faces of the gods... for ways to please you, to make you proud

M: Commodus, you have traits that make you special. I really do think that.

(Tactic: Plead to my father that I just wanted the smallest ounce of affection, knowing that I had a parent, a family member or simply anyone that loved me the slightest for the person I am._

C: One kind word, one full hug... where you pressed me to your chest and held me tight.

M: My decision for ruler was never meant to be an indication of our relationship, Commodus. Please understand that.

(Tactic: Make him visualize how much the slightest ounce of affection would’ve made me feel. It would not have required a lot to make me feel like I am loved. But it would be a moment I would remember forever.)

C: Would have been like the sun on my heart for a thousand years.

M: Commodus, you are a member of this family. There are many people that think you are special in your way. You are appreciated.

(Tactic: Get right to the point. I just want to know. If my father could be honest with me for one second. Let it be now.)

C: What is it in me that you hate so much?

M: Hate is such a strong word. Hate shouldn’t exist with family, Commodus. Why must you ask such questions?

(Tactic: Confess to my father why I am so disappointed with his decision. Let him know this decision was a big blow for my quest to make my father proud. All I have ever wanted to just be loved by my father, just for the slightest bit. And now, i know for certain that I will never get this love.)

C: All I've ever wanted was to live up to you, Caesar. Father

M: I think your time will come, perhaps in other forms.

You’d think being the son of Marcus Aurelius would make you a little more level headed so why was he the way he was?

I know probably it must have been said here million times but still i believe that Commodus was a sad story of a person who wanted the World to acknowledge him but he couldn't, His father did not, His sister did not and Maximus rejected the handshake. I understand he killed his father but still in a way it was the Father's fault because he insisted on Maximus to be the Emperor but Maximus did not want to even that he still told his son that he isn't going to be.

To be fair Commodus is a really tragic tale other than Maximus

The whole plot of Gladiator hinges on the fact that Commodus apparently can't have his enemy Maximus killed. But why not?

Commodus doesn't have Maximus killed because, as he explains, it would make him a martyr - the people of Rome adore him. But, as the film also explains, the mob are fickle, and will forget a gladiatorial hero just as quickly as they might learn his name. So if Commodus had had Maximus assassinated in the same sneaky way as he did that other senator (snake in the bed, or something like that) would the mob even know Maximus was dead? And even if they did, would they know he was assassinated? Commodus is the Emperor of Rome. Surely it wouldn't be too hard to cook up some story of Maximus dying of plague or something?

This narrative smells a bit artificius and contrivus to me.

im writing a book that is heavily inspired of the time the gladiators and its politics. im watching the film Gladiator (2000) to draw inspirations from Maximus but im also unsure of what is Historically accurate and what isnt.

plus im doing all the research i can on this time period, but finding a lot of contradicting information and unsure what to use.

if anyone could help me, id be grateful. thank you.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

I will now proceed to explain my title; Maximus starts by being this battle hero who is almost undefeatable for some unknown reason, then he gets offered the throne but he declines it, in part because he is also a man of the people and because he wants to go back with his family, this is extremely unoriginal but at this in the movie acceptable.

What triggered me the most is the vengeance plot, Maximus' family gets slaughtered by Commodus, which again is something we've seen plenty of times and most people could see that coming from the moment we knew Maximus had a family. The vengeance plot is weak, we don't even see Maximus mourning his family, it's almost like he forgets immediately. Throughout the movie Maximus stays pretty much the same, it's a plain character. The Maximus we see in the first part of the movie is exactly the same as at the end of the movie. I thought I was going to get to see how Maximus grew crazier or angrier but he doesn't even look like he wants to kill Commodus at all. At this point, it feels really cheap that the director made the choice to kill the protagonist's family because it didn't affect how the character evolves, it just moves him from A to B in the story. At least with Commodus, one can see how he grew crazier and we can understand why.

I can't help to compare Maximus with other heroes that also lost their friends/family/whatever and are trying to have their revenge, I mean even Kratos from a game has more character development than Maximus, we don't see him scream, we don't see him cry, he shows no human emotion, it's almost like watching a robot, Russel Crowe in gladiator is so bland, he just stays the same the whole movie I don't even know how he got an Oscar nomination for this role. And what about that romance between Maximus and Commodus' sister, it felt so awkward and forced. It almost felt like they needed a kiss scene to get the okay from the studio.

I feel like the director couldn't make the choice between a revengeful character who slaughtered everyone without any shame or a good hero, but in the end, he accomplishes nothing with this character.
People am I missing something about this movie, I mean Joaquin Phoenix was great and most of the shots were great too, but every time Russel Crowe appeared the movie went downwards.

I feel like the director could have made little changes that would've been very impactful in the character development and the movie overall. Opposite from what we see in the movie and what the directors intendS we end up cheering more for Commodus than for Maximus, because in Commodus at least we see some humanity.

On the page for Gladiators, Wikipedia cites Carlin Bartons "The Sorrows of the Ancient Romans: The Gladiator and the Monster" and claims "Caligula, Titus, Hadrian, Lucius Verus, Caracalla, Geta and Didius Julianus were all said to have performed in the arena". Why then is Commodus remembered solely and allegedly shamefully as the gladiator emperor, when emperors as respected as Titus and Hadrian allegedly performed in the arena as well?