Commodus

    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.