Symbolism in Gladiator (warning: potential spoiler)

Rating: Null/10 (16 April 2001)

The film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, contains many elements of symbolic nature. This becomes evident in the story very quickly. Although most Ridley Scott films seem completely pointless, this film is surprisingly deep. The first obvious symbol that is shown in this movie is the wheat field that Maximus is walking through several times throughout the movie. This field symbolizes his view of paradise. We know that this is the ideal place that he wants to be, because there is a scene where he describes his home, and the way he describes it shows plainly that he prefers that place over any other. Another symbol in the movie is Maximus' habit of rubbing his hands in the soil before battle. This symbolizes his ability to know his enemy; also to know the battlefield. A third symbol in Gladiator is the child and mother dolls, which are physical representations of Maximus' family in the afterlife. These dolls are used very effectively in the denouement of the story, where Juba buries the dolls in the center of the Coliseum. This represents the closure that Maximus has attained through his death. Fourthly, we see another symbol in the wooden sword of the character Proximo. This sword represents not only the freedom of Proximo, but also foreshadows the freedom that Maximus is to attain. Unfortunately, Maximus dies just as he achieves his freedom, which is a slightly ironic but very necessary plot twist. Gladiator is a multi-faceted film that contains all the elements of a true epic, and is quite a masterpiece. Symbolism is well used in this movie, and the instances where it is used, both obvious and not so obvious, show evidence of much creative thought.