How Is Rome Portrayed In Gladiator

I think both films portrays Rome and the Romans in a negative light; however, Gladiator showcases a revolt undertaking the corruption of Rome. Most notably, the film situates the blame almost entirely on the antagonist, Commodus. Although Messallah is portrayed as an evil dictator as well... Judah points out that his mission does not end with Messala's death. He cannot just forget and move on. Messala was not the problem, Rome was and it corrupted him into being the tyrant he came to be. "Give power back to the people of Rome and end the corruption that has crippled it," says Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He knows Judah has not been corrupted by politics. Commodus on the other hand, is an immoral man who cannot rule. Judah is the son he should have …show more content…
Essentially, he says assimilate with the Romans or you will be extinct. Right away, the film highlights the oppressive nature of "Great" Rome, but greatness is just a vision. "Look to the West. Look to Rome." Jonah contests, "Rome is evil [...] strangling my people, the country, the whole earth [...] I am against you." Jonah is enslaved by the Romans, denied his name, and branded with the number 41. He wars rags signifying primitiveness and a lack of civilization alike Heston's portrayal of Taylor in the Planet of the Apes. His mother and sister contract leprosy in prison and are exiled, shunned by the Romans for their discoloration and dis-figuration, they throw rocks at them. During the chariot race, Messala tries to dis-inhabit Judah by whipping him instead of the horse, thereby signifying he is born a slave and will die as one. Messala's acknowledges "the race is not over," which means his defeat and gruesome death does not resolve the narrative. Therefore, Judah rejects his Roman citizenship as his journey does not end there. For example, Pontius Palate tells Judah to not be resentful as a "grown man knows the world he lives in and for the present, the world is Rome." Here, Pontius reiterates Messala's sentiments demonstrating the the ideology of Western civilization and colonization. In Gladiator, the Romans turn on Commodus. He continues to make enemies and eventually his people turn on him. This is demonstrated by the refusal to give him a sword and the people carrying Maximus's dead body and leaving Commodus to rot on the ground. However, this does not discount the Roman's part in the spectacle, entertained by men killing each other, parallel to the contemporary dystopia film, the Hunger Games. Moreover, Gladiator spent more time focusing on the evil of a particular character, Commodus. He justifies his haineous deeds by not being loved by his father,