Gladiator Maximus Meridius: Characteristics Of A Tragic Hero

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In the movie, Gladiator Maximus Meridius portrays the characteristics of a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s theory. He has a hubris, hamartia, and catastrophe. In the beginning of the movie he was a Roman General who lived with his wife and his son. He was a very prestigious member of the empire that help fight various battles, seeing his capability, the emperor wanted to appoint him he said; "I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die. I will empower you to one end alone; to give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption that has crippled it"(Gladiator, 2000). After been given this opportunity Maximus declined this offer because he wanted to stay home instead and spend with his wife and son. Declining such an offer is evident that it was his hamartia. This was his …show more content…
That is enough.” (Gladiator, 2000). This proved that the only reason he was killing others as a gladiator was because that was his only way to survive. But then Proximo a fellow gladiator made Maximus recognize and make him find a reason to live him said: “That’s enough for the provinces, but not enough for Rome.” After what Proximo said it made Maximus realize that he need to fight for Rome so he does. His catastrophe occurs when he Slowly he begins to lead the slaves to their freedom as well as win the hearts of the people, becoming so he eventually started to get recognized as the best gladiator that cannot be defeated. He realizes that it was him who had to give Rome back their freedom. So at the end he fights Commodus and he kills him and then his death occurs, and he passes the ruling back to the senate in order to leave Rome in good hands and for them to have a better future. Basically, he was “The General who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor.” (Gladiator, 2000).While the audience is viewing this they realize he is a good example of a tragic hero as he progressed on in life and mad a better future for

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