Gladiator - The Ultimate Study of Masculinity?

Last year, I was given a lesson on masculinity by Ridley Scott’s classic film ‘Gladiator’.

I must have been a teenager when I last watched Russell Crowe, aka, ‘Maximus’, courageously leading his soldiers into battle against a wild Barbarian army; becoming the most respected man in Ancient Rome along his way.

Back then, Maximus would inspire me greatly as I sat and dreamt about my own life as a man and how I might like it to look one day. Of course, the fantasy of charging into battle valiantly on horseback and defeating countless ‘bad guys’ in defence of my country didn’t ever come true, but I am now living my life fighting for many of things that I believe in, so I guess that I have Crowe to thank in some way for keeping me on track on my journey towards manhood.

A lot has happened in this life of mine since the first time of watching, and thankfully, my mind has evolved in many ways that allowed me to watch the film with a newfound depth and understanding, and respect for the films’ hero, Maximus.

Not only have I watched many videos and read countless books and articles about Stoic philosophy, psychology, and spirituality over the past few years, but I have also managed to carve myself out a sense of purpose and a mission in this world; something that has itself thrown up so many challenges along the way so far. Notably, those challenges against myself, as I seek to keep my ego in check and not allow my ‘shadow’ traits to take control of me on my quest to use my newfound artistic voice to be something of a leader in this world.

A Story of Good vs Bad, Yin & Yang, Light vs Dark

Whilst watching the film for the second time last year, I was particularly fascinated by the two polar opposite masculine archetypes in Maximus and Commodus that were portrayed brilliantly by Ridley Scott in the movie, with ego and power seemingly poisoning the films ‘bad guy’, Commodus, whilst the polar opposite was true for our hero, Maximus, who radiated love and light.

Maximus, in my opinion, is one of the ultimate masculine figures that has been portrayed to me in any film or story throughout my life so far, and serves to remind me of what I would like to strive for as a man existing in this world. He is a man of integrity, who embodies the Stoic virtues of wisdom, justice, courage and temperance, and shows loyalty in his love for his wife and family, despite the temptations that the world offers to this brave and fearless warrior throughout his almost three year exile from them.

Commodus, on the other hand, in his position of power as Roman emperor, portrays to me everything that a man should not be, and actually served to remind me somewhat of the three men that guided me throughout my early life in his acts of cowardice and weakness. Commodus repulsed me throughout the film, with his increasingly lustful advances towards his own sister perhaps bringing up the most uncomfortable feelings inside of me.

For some context about my writing of this essay; my biological father was an alcoholic who abandoned me emotionally upon birth, and physically by the time that I was three years old. The man who replaced him; stepfather number one, was a psychopath who beat my mother regularly; mainly whenever she rightly challenged him about his treatment of her children. He once stormed into my room and yelled at me for wetting the bed when I was around the age of four or five and then proceeded to argue with my mum when she told him that his treatment of me was unfair. Stepfather number two wasn’t much more of a ‘man’ either, although he was slightly less psychotic and chaotic, he turned to a life of petty crime and drug dealing to provide.

All of the men in my early life were children in adults bodies who were nursing some deep wounds and didn’t have the skills or resources to work on themselves and heal, similar to how I observed Commodus to be after the rejection that he felt from his own father, and in turn, himself, throughout his entire life.

I think that the director, Ridley Scott deserves a huge amount of credit for his understanding of psychology, and particularly how childhood wounding drives adult behaviour in his development of Commodus as a character.

It is Commodus’s quest for the love and admiration of the people of Rome in place of the love and admiration that he didn’t receive from his father, and therefore didn’t give to himself, that drives much of his evil and twisted behaviour; resembling that of a mad man at times throughout the film.

I found it quite funny that his lusting and longing for the admiration of the people actually only served to have the opposite effect throughout the film. Maximus, on the other hand, earned the love and respect of everybody without making any effort to do so. Whilst Commodus was plotting and scheming to earn love and affection from the people of Rome, including that of his own sister, Maximus was quietly minding his own business and going about his duties, led by truth and justice, rather than fame and glory. In turn, Maximus gained exactly what Commodus was seeking.

Making Every Word Count

One of the traits that I admire most in Maximus throughout the film is his ability to restrict his tongue and conserve his precious energy until it is only necessary that he uses it. Every word that he speaks is of the utmost importance.

‘‘Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity.’’

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next..”

“Whatever comes out of these gates, we’ve got a better chance of survival if we work together.”

Over the past few years, I have tried hard to become someone who only speaks when I have something worthwhile to say; whether that is a deep and meaningful question to get to know someone, or an inspiring and uplifting comment towards someone in need. I grew tired of wasting my energy engaging in mindless gossip, or asking empty questions that have no value, just to fill what I felt to be an uncomfortable silence. Maximus is more than comfortable in silence throughout the entire film, and that is a sign of true confidence. His carefully selected words of wisdom, leadership, and authenticity keep us hooked as viewers, and we know that he is a man that is worth listening to, as do the soldiers in his legion, and his fellow gladiators in the arena, all of which obey his every command. People like to listen to those who lead by example. They do not like to listen to and obey dictators.

I do, of course, still channel my own inner Commodus from time to time, and allow my emotions and thirst for acceptance and validation to rule my tongue. I couldn’t help but laugh at Commodus’s emotionally charged words throughout the film and the way in which he frequently lost control like a child would, speaking with such vengeance, hate and completely without guile. It doesn’t take much for us to lose trust in this man and see that his words count for nothing. The lack of integrity is evident right from the start.

The Dark Shadow of Commodus

Commodus is ruled by his own ‘shadow’; those parts of him that are broken and wounded that he hasn’t learnt to love, accept and integrate yet. We see every one of his ‘king, warrior, magician, and lover’ archetypes coming out in the ugliest and darkest of ways, which reveal his heavy and unconscious shadow to us as viewers. I found myself at times wishing that I could jump on into Ancient Rome and play the role of therapist for him; holding up the mirror so that he could see himself. (Forgive me, I’m an empath, and I can’t help but feel for the man, despite his ugliness and darkness).

I used to see the ugliest parts of myself appear at times; especially whilst I was playing sports. I’m glad that, with advancing years, they appear less and less, as I learn to love and accept myself, uncover my authentic self, and channel my own shame-based, inner perfectionist into my creative endeavours.

Though Commodus’s behaviour isn’t his fault entirely, there comes a point in every man’s life when he must stand up and take responsibility for his own actions and behaviours. You’d think that, by the time of reaching the position of emperor of Rome, and with that, becoming the most powerful man on the planet, he might have picked up a book or two, or listened to somebody when they told him that he was being a bit of a dick!