The scene I chose for analysis is the scene where Maximus and the emperor of Rome are settling their anger in the arena. I chose this selection of “Gladiator” because for this assignment it demonstrated the rising action leading into the climax of the story. Compared to other elements of the story, it contains direct examples of narrative structure pertaining to one act of the “three act structure.” A three act structure is a story defined in the covering of thee sections, a quick adaptation of Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey.” I felt that this scene was the most influential in the movie, and a scene that audiences everywhere would recall in correlation to the film.
This clip is the third and final act of the film, revealing the conclusion to the film. This film arguably is the most important factor as it plays the deciding role for the outcome of good verses evil. In the beginning the characters are revealed and Maximus (the protagonist) is betrayed and has everything taken away from him. In that moment, he exacts his revenge and spends a majority of the film fighting as a slave to move up the social ladder and get close to the two-faced emperor Commodus. When Maximus now has all the support of Rome behind him, the king begins to feel inferior and decides to challenge him. This is impacting, as the audience now are biased and are in favor of the hero, thus becoming entranced in the conflict.
The film explores two forms of structure: a sub-plot and dramatic structure. Allow me to elaborate on each of these elements, as both are important to the structure of the story. First, the plot is revealed in a dramatic structure. Dramatic structures generally follow the same three act structure, but is more detailed and the resolve is more knowledgeable. The exposition is the revealment of Maximus and how Commodus betrayed him and murdered him. This follows the rising action, and this was explained all in the paragraph before. However, through this method many parts of the narrative are revealed: Maximus is the protagonist, Commodus is the antagonist, the action scenes and historical setting reveal the novel as a historical-adventure, and the story flows as an omnipresent narrator following the chronological events.
Another structure is the use of sub-plot. Generally there is one sub-plot revealed throughout the context of the film, and that is the love story between Commodus’s sister and Maximus. As irrelevant as it seems, it helps later with the progression of the film. She later betrays her brother and joins Maximus to gain control of Rome, and forces Maximus into the climax.
The narrative is organized through plot as shown through a continuous narrative of the story, all leading up to the final resolution. It follows a very chronological order of events, and there are no clip juxtaposition from other characters without an intention. For example, most of the story will follow the protoganist as he enters his bloody battles, and the only time the plot deviates is when it’s addressing sub-plot categories such as his lover, and the betrayal of Commodus to his father.Also this film is more character driven than plot driven. Although it follows the plot, it essentially doesn’t revolve around the story of all the preliminary characters. Instead it mainly focuses on Maximus and his story. This is shown through the flashbacks to the murder of his family, and with that revealed the audience can understand why the soldier continues to fight. The story also revolved around him, even after he is killed in battle, and it shows him in the famous wheat field gracefully walking towards his family.
As far as the narrative flow of the story, inner conflicts within the sequences also help to progress the plot. As pointed out in the question, there are indeed “arguments” within Gladiator that reveal future motives and themes of the story. Take for example, the theme of family as expressed by the antagonist and the protagonist. Let’s begin with Commodus (antagonist) his views on family are slightly corrupt, as he’s spent a majority of his life living up to his father’s expectations. On his deathbed, the father has an argument with his son and states that he cannot rule and that his commander should take control of the empire. Filled with rage he attacks his father and secures his place as king, dishonoring the compassionate bond between father and son. He then decides to attack the commander’s family and place the commander in jail. Now we focus on Maximus (protagonist) who had lost everything unknowingly. When he uncovers the truth an inner abhorrence for the emperor fills his heart and makes him powerful. This shows the character change and explains why in the end he kills his enemy, and more symbolically Commodus’s immediate family is seen surrounding him, the protagonist now regaining his pride.
When watching Gladiator, the audience forms a deep understanding on the story based on the analysis elements of the film. The story is told in 3 act structure, as most Roman/Greek mythology stories and closely follow the protoganist, Commodus, through a third person narrative. The film has an amazing storyline that attracted the refined taste of American and international alike. American was going through a very critical time during the early 2000’s as it seemed war was on everyone’s mind, and the “success” rate was not so high. So films like Gladiator which demonstrated a genre of historical-action adventure would surely cater to everyone as it retold the story of once-slave and now gladiator Maximus. Going much more detailed into the story, there are underlying themes expressed in the story. We simply know that the protagonist, Maximus, was a retired general who had lost everything and been forced into slavery. As we focus in on his character we see him as a strong and stoic leader, who makes himself known as one of the best gladiators in Rome. With that the characters become attracted to the idea of the all powerful hero referencing back to the days of the “underdog/superhero” era. At the same time, strong loathing for the antagonist, Commodus who is solely responsible for ruining the protagonist's life and taking the throne. There is a theme of revenge, and finding true happiness. As much as many disagree, the story was not all about fighting and gore, as it explained the personal struggle of Maximus into true happiness.
This clip is the third and final act of the film, revealing the conclusion to the film. This film arguably is the most important factor as it plays the deciding role for the outcome of good verses evil. In the beginning the characters are revealed and Maximus (the protagonist) is betrayed and has everything taken away from him. In that moment, he exacts his revenge and spends a majority of the film fighting as a slave to move up the social ladder and get close to the two-faced emperor Commodus. When Maximus now has all the support of Rome behind him, the king begins to feel inferior and decides to challenge him. This is impacting, as the audience now are biased and are in favor of the hero, thus becoming entranced in the conflict.
The film explores two forms of structure: a sub-plot and dramatic structure. Allow me to elaborate on each of these elements, as both are important to the structure of the story. First, the plot is revealed in a dramatic structure. Dramatic structures generally follow the same three act structure, but is more detailed and the resolve is more knowledgeable. The exposition is the revealment of Maximus and how Commodus betrayed him and murdered him. This follows the rising action, and this was explained all in the paragraph before. However, through this method many parts of the narrative are revealed: Maximus is the protagonist, Commodus is the antagonist, the action scenes and historical setting reveal the novel as a historical-adventure, and the story flows as an omnipresent narrator following the chronological events.
Another structure is the use of sub-plot. Generally there is one sub-plot revealed throughout the context of the film, and that is the love story between Commodus’s sister and Maximus. As irrelevant as it seems, it helps later with the progression of the film. She later betrays her brother and joins Maximus to gain control of Rome, and forces Maximus into the climax.
The narrative is organized through plot as shown through a continuous narrative of the story, all leading up to the final resolution. It follows a very chronological order of events, and there are no clip juxtaposition from other characters without an intention. For example, most of the story will follow the protoganist as he enters his bloody battles, and the only time the plot deviates is when it’s addressing sub-plot categories such as his lover, and the betrayal of Commodus to his father.Also this film is more character driven than plot driven. Although it follows the plot, it essentially doesn’t revolve around the story of all the preliminary characters. Instead it mainly focuses on Maximus and his story. This is shown through the flashbacks to the murder of his family, and with that revealed the audience can understand why the soldier continues to fight. The story also revolved around him, even after he is killed in battle, and it shows him in the famous wheat field gracefully walking towards his family.
As far as the narrative flow of the story, inner conflicts within the sequences also help to progress the plot. As pointed out in the question, there are indeed “arguments” within Gladiator that reveal future motives and themes of the story. Take for example, the theme of family as expressed by the antagonist and the protagonist. Let’s begin with Commodus (antagonist) his views on family are slightly corrupt, as he’s spent a majority of his life living up to his father’s expectations. On his deathbed, the father has an argument with his son and states that he cannot rule and that his commander should take control of the empire. Filled with rage he attacks his father and secures his place as king, dishonoring the compassionate bond between father and son. He then decides to attack the commander’s family and place the commander in jail. Now we focus on Maximus (protagonist) who had lost everything unknowingly. When he uncovers the truth an inner abhorrence for the emperor fills his heart and makes him powerful. This shows the character change and explains why in the end he kills his enemy, and more symbolically Commodus’s immediate family is seen surrounding him, the protagonist now regaining his pride.
When watching Gladiator, the audience forms a deep understanding on the story based on the analysis elements of the film. The story is told in 3 act structure, as most Roman/Greek mythology stories and closely follow the protoganist, Commodus, through a third person narrative. The film has an amazing storyline that attracted the refined taste of American and international alike. American was going through a very critical time during the early 2000’s as it seemed war was on everyone’s mind, and the “success” rate was not so high. So films like Gladiator which demonstrated a genre of historical-action adventure would surely cater to everyone as it retold the story of once-slave and now gladiator Maximus. Going much more detailed into the story, there are underlying themes expressed in the story. We simply know that the protagonist, Maximus, was a retired general who had lost everything and been forced into slavery. As we focus in on his character we see him as a strong and stoic leader, who makes himself known as one of the best gladiators in Rome. With that the characters become attracted to the idea of the all powerful hero referencing back to the days of the “underdog/superhero” era. At the same time, strong loathing for the antagonist, Commodus who is solely responsible for ruining the protagonist's life and taking the throne. There is a theme of revenge, and finding true happiness. As much as many disagree, the story was not all about fighting and gore, as it explained the personal struggle of Maximus into true happiness.
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