An Analysis of Costume Design
Aside from the villain, the costumes in Gladiator reveal as much emotional connection about the hero and his love interest as their actions do. This visual bridge between characters adds an obvious connection for the spectator to pick up on, further drawing them in emotionally. Costumes bind the image of the characters to their personalities. For instance, in Gladiator costumes represent transformations in the emotional development of Maximus and the connection Lucilla has to him. The costumes elevate the emotional impact of relationships between characters and the hero's final stand.
A mark in Maximus' character development on an emotional plane is visible through his armor. The beginning battle of the film introduces Maximus as a general who fears and laughs like any other man while still maintaining respect and command. His armor as a general (below left) is ornately decorated with stacked plates on the shoulders and designs of horses in metal on the breastplate. While this may seem only to define his high status, it also defines his role as a leader and the emotions that he felt as one. A revert back to his role as general is illustrated by the return of the same armor design (below right) in the final fight of the movie when he kills Commodus in the arena. This is the only scene in which the stacked shoulder plates of his general armor return. Upon close analysis of the metal design on the breastplate, there is a striking similarity between the horse designs. Thus, the two costumes are meant to directly parallel and bridge Maximus' character. On an emotional level, the armor shows he has relinquished the drive of selfish revenge and acts in the same devotion to serving Rome that he held before. Now, Maximus is fighting to restore Rome as a republic when before he only wanted to avenge his family by killing Commodus. This marks his transformation from gladiator to finally being a leader of free men again, a cause that resonates with the viewer by generating hope sympathetic emotions towards Maximus.
Beginning
Beginning
End
Another purpose of the costumes are to create allusions intended to identify the emotions of characters. The shot below depicts Maximus just before the final battle with Commodus. He is chained in the pose of Jesus Christ and wears a light colored garment. The white cloth not only further associates him with Christ, but the color also serves as a symbol of purity and good. Symbolism of purity intentionally signals that he is cleansed of revenge driven hate which has been replaced with good will for the people of Rome. Additionally, the costume foreshadows his death by associating him with the ultimate martyr figure. Because he will die for the cause of restoring Rome as a martyr, his sacrifice is made greater in the eyes of a spectator that can feel the pain a comparison to Jesus implies. This continues to strengthen the emotional bridge between viewer and hero.
Costumes are also a means of subtlety linking characters that have emotional connections. Lucilla is sister to Commodus but fears him and turns to Maximus, who she had once had a relationship with in the past. When she comes to Maximus for the first time after he reveals himself in the arena, her costume (below left) is a collage of exotic patterns with one careful detail that links her to him. Her hood is a royal blue color that appears dark in the shadows. The blue coloration is meant to match the blue tunic of Maximus. Additionally, the fact that it is a fabric loosely draped over the top of her head identifies her biblical allusion as Mary. This allusion is solidified by Maximus image as Christ later on. This seemingly odd biblical parallel was used in some of the first movies set in the ancient Roman Empire. The film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ in 1925 uses a similar symbolism for the lovers Judah and Ester. When Judah meets Ester she is shown with a blue scarf draped over her head (below right) and he follows a journey similar to that of Christ. Therefore, Gladiator uses costumes as a powerful tool in emphasizing the emotional connections between characters and what they stand for. Emphasis highlights emotional connections for the viewer to detect and easily relate to their own emotions of love.
Lucilla
Ester
