Symbols & Subtext

This grotesque, life threatening, maggot filled wound is a symbol of Commodus' betrayal of true Roman leadership. The wound was delivered by Commodus' personal soldiers who were under his command. The infected, maggot fill wound lies close to his SPQR tattoo, a symbol of the Rome that Maximus served. This connects the threat that Commodus serves against the original idea Maximus had of Rome. When Maximus heals up, he then proceeds to carve the tattoo off because Commodus has corrupted that vision of Rome, and Maximus wishes to sever his ties to this new Rome.

A dog represents loyalty and service due to the close connection dogs have had to humans through history. The dog is loyal to Maximus and saves his life in the battle; this loyalty shows that Maximus is worth being loyal to, and mirrors the sentiment of the roman army. It also shows that Maximus has a strong connection to the natural world, which reflects his down to earth, and honest nature. Which again reinforces his distaste of the politics that Commodus plays.

The lion is a symbol of strength and courage. This symbol is connected to Maximus by paralleling his situation when first he is first bought by Proximo. The lion symbolises Maximus' strength and courage, but also that he is being caged and controlled.

Later in the film, the appearance of tigers is also symbolic. Tigers do not live in Europe, so they represent the influence and power of Rome because their very presence in Rome could only be accomplished through extensive power and influence. Their presence, chained and being used in the Colosseum also shows the depraved appetite for violence and entertainment that the people of Rome demand from caged and chained 'animals'.

Maximus' action of picking up dirt and rubbing it into his hands serves a practical combat purpose, to keep his hands dry so his sword does not slip. But this pre-combat ritual also connects Maximus to the earth, which reflects his farmer origins and humility that again contrasts Commodus' displays of wealth and status.

Commodus wears armour and carries a sword during his first visit to the Senate. The Senate is a place of discussion and intellect, a place for the ruling class to find solutions to their problems. Commodus' armour and sword were worn to deliver the image of confidence and power to the senators. However, they were symbolic of Commodus' contempt for any competitors that challenged his power, and were symbolic of the subconscious violence he wished upon them. It therefore is also a symbol of his own weakness, as he could not contend with the senators as an equal, he had to use his armour and sword to feel superior to them.

The two horses on Maximus' breastplate (Argento and Scatto) are symbolic of his farming heritage, which again reinforces his presence as connected to the natural world. They are also described as Spanish horses which reinforce his title as 'The Spaniard', which is an important symbolic association as it shows that Maximus has effectively separated his identity from Rome, and reinvented his former glory and courage before the Roman people in a way that is more natural and honest to the person he was before serving Rome.

The first time we see Rome, it is when Commodus returns from the battlefields of Germania, as the newly anointed emperor. The shots of Rome are delivered with strong blue tones, which are symbolic of coldness and uncaring. More importantly, there is a shot of the Roman eagle, a symbol of Rome which was appropriated by Hitler and the Third Reich. The use of this symbol connects the Rome of Commodus' rule to that of the Third Reich of Hitlers rule. This establishes Rome as a dictatorship under a tyrant. Even the shots of the crowds and architecture of Rome are reminiscent of footage of Hitler addressing German crowds before WWII.

This is a strong element of positioning Commodus as an evil persona, the counter to Maximus' hero role. The central conflict between Maximus and Commodus can then take on the subtext of over throwing tyranny and corruption in the name of justice and honour. This is an inevitable subtext from western filmmakers as it parallels the narrative of recent western history. Even now, this film evokes a sense natural justice in the face of tyrants - Think Isis, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin.

Roses are undoubtedly a symbol of love. The Colosseum is a symbol of the Roman people who, as we established in the 'Settings' section, rulers of Rome needed to keep satisfied in order to rule. Combined, the rose petals in the Colosseum is symbolic of the love the people had for Maximus. It is the love that he earned through his feats of courage, leadership and skill, as Maximus 'The Spaniard', a man who as we have shown to be apart from the worst indulgences of Commodus and the politics that threatened Rome. This natural man, a farmer, a soldier, a general, embodied the true essence of Rome as Marcus Aurelius had wished before his death, and the people knew this of him and loved and respected him for his plain virtues. Which is why his final words before death carried the 'gravitas' (importance, power) to actually have these wishes for Rome come true. The true power in Rome, was therefore in the hands of the people - an important symbol which has significance to the subtext of overthrowing tyrants in the name of democracy.