Commodus (Gladiator)
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The Emperor Commodus is a fictional character in the 2000 epic film Gladiator in which he is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix. He is based on the historical Roman Emperor of the same name.
[edit] Role in story
When we first see Commodus he is in a carriage with his sister Lucilla, with whom he seems to be flirting. Commodus is on his way to his father's war-camp to assist his father, the elderly Marcus Aurelius in defeating the Germanic hordes. Commodus deliberately arrives late hoping that his father and his forces will be defeated and killed so that Commodus can become king. The plan fails when General Maximus leads the Sparta army to victory. Emperor Marcus meanwhile has realised that his son lacks a moral core whilst Maximus by contrast is not only a brave and skilled fighter (unlike Commodus) but also highly moral. As such Marcus decides to make Maximus his heir. When he informs Maximus, the General reluctantly agrees to ascend the throne but when Marcus tells his son that he will not be Caesar, Commodus murders his father in a fit of madness. Commodus then becomes Emperor of Rome and orders Maximus and his family murdered. Maximus escapes Commodus's minions and flees home only to find his house destroyed and his wife and son crucified and burned. Despairing, Maximus buries their bodies and falls asleep beside them, insane with grief. He is found by slave traders who take him captive and Maximus is sold as a slave to a man named Proximo. Commodus meanwhile has re-built the Colliseum and Maximus ironically becomes a gladiator. After defeating a handful of other gladiators in a re-enactment of the Battle of Gaul Maximus earns the favour of the "mob." Commodus meanwhile is enraged that that Maximus is alive. He sends the greatest gladiator in all of Rome to challenge Maximus in the arena but Maximus soundly defeats the gladiator and spares his life, thus earning the name "Maximus the Merciful." Commodus despairs as his own popularity decreases whilst Maximus's increases. He is driven further into insanity when he discovers that his sister, Lucilla (whom he lusts after) has conspired with Maximus and the Praetorian Guard to have him assassinated. The evil Emperor threatens to murder Lucilla's son, Lucius unless Lucilla reveals the names of her fellow conspirators whom Commodus immediately orders killed. Rather than killing Maximus however Commodus decides to prove his superiority by defeating his opponent in the Colliseum and has Maximus brought there to challenge him. Before the battle however Commodus wounds Maximus with a stilleto knife, aware that Maximus's physical prowess surpasses his own. In the Colliseum Maximus still manages to overpower Commodus and the tyrant meets his demise when Maximus drives a stilleto knife into his throat before dying from his injuries.
[edit] Personality
Commodus is obviously a highly insecure individual as shown by his cowardly ways and obsession with accumulating power. He also appears to be emotionally immature which is a frequent side effect of parental neglect. This is shown in his fear of the dark and habit of bursting into tears when things don't go his way. Marcus Aurelius speculates that Commodus's amoral ways are as the result of Marcus not being a good father when Commodus was a child. This would make sense as Commodus's sole purpose throughout the film is to convince the people of Rome to love him possibly to compensate for the lack of love he received as a child. This would explain his insane jealousy of Maximus. Not only does Maximus exceed him in strength and physical prowess but he has the love of the people and indeed Commodus's primary love-interest, his sister, Lucilla. Commodus's tormented personality is shown in him quoting his father to his sister saying Do you remember what he said? "It's all a dream - a frightful dream" ... I think it is. Suggesting nihilism and possibly solipsism.
[edit] Comparisons to the historical Commodus
The fictionalised Commodus bears little resemblance to his real-life counterpart. Far from being cowardly, the true Commodus was highly bloodthirsty and frequently appeared in the Coliseum to show off his immense physical strength, something which the fictionalised Commodus lacked. Furthermore there is no evidence that Commodus lusted after his sister. Also unlike the Commodus in the 2000 film who seemed to lack self-esteem, the real Commodus was highly egotistical to the point of megalomania, frequently comparing himself to the Greek demi-god Hercules. Commodus's sadistic and narcissistic tendencies were somewhat toned down for the film, however, as were many of his other eccentricities which may not have been understood by a modern audience. Additionally in the film Commodus is portrayed as a cunning politician and strategist, whereas his real-life counterpart was supposedly quite naive in matters of government and such like.
