The vice that erodes Rome might live in myself.
In the mind of Maximus lies a fear to his own selfishness, which keeps flowing throughout bottom of the work, echoing with inhumanity that the huge empire contains. It was not for putting on modesty that he once declined the offer by Emperor Marcus Aurelius to yield him the imperium. He felt scared in fact.
Although his wife and son were killed, Maximus still kept living by cutting down misfortunate opponents utilizing his overwhelming fighting skill in arenas. It is sure thing that a human-being wants to keep living. Having said that, his action proves that what he feared exists inside his own self. His power flowed into cruel entertainment, was wasted, depriving Maximus himself of pride, in spite that the same power might have been able to save the nation out of corruption.
Even Maximus, who came from provincial farming village and was described as being ignorant of recent Rome by former emperor, could not elude own selfishness. His once lover Lucilla has still more contradictions in her hands. When she first appeared, she was indulging in upper-class privileges, relaxing in an armored coach guarded by soldiers. Some viewers may well have taken her for a villain.
If a borderline was established between good and evil, the work may temporarily excite us, but never keeps appealing to our hearts. Removal of the borderline generates fear for depravity and hope for ideal at the same time.
Maximus, having lost his pride for a long time, made up his mind to rise in revolt and defeat Emperor Commodus. There may have been vengefulness. He may have wanted to protect Lucilla's son. Also, it can be interpreted that his pride was restored since he spared life of a worthy opponent Tigris. However, defeating Emperor Commodus never solves the true problem, as long as based on capricious people's desire. Hope is always being placed far away.
After prevailing in the one-to-one fighting with Emperor Commodus in Colosseum, Maximus orders to free gladiators. If imperative rights belong to emperor, it can be said that he exerted imperium which had been trusted by former emperor. We are filled with sorrow, facing the fact that he had no other choice than exerting a leadership in the contrary form to the ideal of republicanism even when he was about to pass away. A poetic beauty was there in the figure of collapsing Maximus to ground who embraced contradictions inside until he at last came unable to support it any more. It was a pathetic heroism.
"Let us believe it again." said Lucilla after seeing death of Maximus. Her words tell that true victory has never been brought about yet. The enemy he fought against will emerge again and again as long as this human world continues, urging us to have insight and determination.
In the mind of Maximus lies a fear to his own selfishness, which keeps flowing throughout bottom of the work, echoing with inhumanity that the huge empire contains. It was not for putting on modesty that he once declined the offer by Emperor Marcus Aurelius to yield him the imperium. He felt scared in fact.
Although his wife and son were killed, Maximus still kept living by cutting down misfortunate opponents utilizing his overwhelming fighting skill in arenas. It is sure thing that a human-being wants to keep living. Having said that, his action proves that what he feared exists inside his own self. His power flowed into cruel entertainment, was wasted, depriving Maximus himself of pride, in spite that the same power might have been able to save the nation out of corruption.
Even Maximus, who came from provincial farming village and was described as being ignorant of recent Rome by former emperor, could not elude own selfishness. His once lover Lucilla has still more contradictions in her hands. When she first appeared, she was indulging in upper-class privileges, relaxing in an armored coach guarded by soldiers. Some viewers may well have taken her for a villain.
If a borderline was established between good and evil, the work may temporarily excite us, but never keeps appealing to our hearts. Removal of the borderline generates fear for depravity and hope for ideal at the same time.
Maximus, having lost his pride for a long time, made up his mind to rise in revolt and defeat Emperor Commodus. There may have been vengefulness. He may have wanted to protect Lucilla's son. Also, it can be interpreted that his pride was restored since he spared life of a worthy opponent Tigris. However, defeating Emperor Commodus never solves the true problem, as long as based on capricious people's desire. Hope is always being placed far away.
After prevailing in the one-to-one fighting with Emperor Commodus in Colosseum, Maximus orders to free gladiators. If imperative rights belong to emperor, it can be said that he exerted imperium which had been trusted by former emperor. We are filled with sorrow, facing the fact that he had no other choice than exerting a leadership in the contrary form to the ideal of republicanism even when he was about to pass away. A poetic beauty was there in the figure of collapsing Maximus to ground who embraced contradictions inside until he at last came unable to support it any more. It was a pathetic heroism.
"Let us believe it again." said Lucilla after seeing death of Maximus. Her words tell that true victory has never been brought about yet. The enemy he fought against will emerge again and again as long as this human world continues, urging us to have insight and determination.
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