Deviations From History
Deviations From History
In addition to costume technique, Gladiator strays from historical facts for the purpose of including plots that promote the emotional appeal of the movie. Several major events surrounding Commodus are changed in order to heighten the tension of the film. Additionally, characters are included for the purpose of incorporating a love story with Maximus. The starkest effect of the changes is to portray Commodus as sicker and more wicked than he was in the real Roman Empire. Collectively, these elements enhance the emotional reaction viewers have to Gladiator by engendering suspense, horror, and sadness.
Historical Facts Ignored by Gladiator
Historical Facts Ignored by Gladiator
-
Lucilla was executed by Commodus for plotting against him long before his death.
-
Lucius Verus, Lucilla's son, died as a small child.
-
Commodus was not killed in the arena, he was actually strangled by an athlete named Narcissus.
Source: Potter, D. S. Emperors of Rome: The Story of Imperial Rome from Julius Caesar to the Last Emperor. London: Quercus, 2007. Print.
Purpose
Lucilla technically died as a result of plotting to assasinate Commodus. While a similar plot is included in Gladiator, it occurs much later in Commodus' life and Lucilla is never killed. Her life extention serves the purpose of love interest to Maximus. This draws on emotions of hope that he can be happy again and also creates hope in the viewer that Maximus will live. Additionally, she serves as a figure for Commodus' sick incestuous fantasy. Thus, he is made to seem more wicked and mad by her character. Ultimately, she elevates the stakes of the final fight scenes between Maximus and Commodus. Suspense is generated because if Commodus lives she will be raped and held captive by him, but if Maximus lives they both have a chance at happiness. Her existence provokes emotions of hope and desperation in the viewer as they want her to make Maximus happy and see Commodus as disgusting.
Lucius Verus is an innocent child at the hands of a dangerous and sick Emperor in Gladiator. However in actuality, Lucius died long before the age of eight as he is said to be in the film. Keeping Lucius in the story was intentionally done to use his character as a foil for Commodus. When Commodus puts his arms threateningly around the boy several times during the film, viewers are left with creepy disgust toward Commodus. And when the enraged Emperor threatens to kill the boy, even more counts on the final fight of Maximus. The emotional tension builds on the horror felt in the audience that an innocent child might die.
The death of Commodus in Gladiator is more than just a spectacle. By altering history from Commodus sometimes fighting in the arena to making it the setting for his death, the film hits an emotional climax. Maximus killing him in front of a crowd seals Maximus' name as a legend with an audience to remember him. The scene takes the arrogance of the madman that is Commodus and transforms it into heroic success for Maximus. The culmination of the entire movie rests on this moment, making the Colosseum the only place significant enough to do its emotional impact justice. Also, using the Colossuem as a setting for emotional impacts applies to the death of Maximus that follows. He is formed into a martyr by the walls of the same arena that martyred thousands of Christians in antiquity. The historical fame of the Colosseum from Christian prosecution creates the perfect context for the death of a Christ figure. Using this setting places the viewer in an emotional state satisfaction at the death of Commodus and sadness and hope over the martyrdom of Maximus.