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NO. PARTICULARS PAGE NO REMARKS

1. MAIN CHARACTERS 1

2. SUPPORTING ROLE 1

3. STORY SUMMARY 2

4. LEADERSHIP AND PERCEPTION

5. APPLICATION OF THEORIES

6. STORY PROGRESS

7.INTERPRETATION THAT CAN BE

MADE IN THE MOVIE

8. CONCLUSION

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SUMMARY

MAIN CHARACTERS

Russell Crowe ... Maximus

Joaquin Phoenix ... Commodus

Connie Nielsen ... Lucilla

Oliver Reed ... Proximo

Richard Harris ... Marcus Aurelius

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS

Derek Jacobi ... Gracchus

Djimon Hounsou ... Juba

David Schofield ... Falco

John Shrapnel ... Gaius

Tomas Arana ... Quintus

Ralf Moeller ... Hagen

Spencer Treat Clark ... Lucius

David Hemmings ... Cassius

Tommy Flanagan ... Cicero

Sven-Ole Thorsen ... Tigris

Omid Djalili ... Slave Trader

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Summary of Gladiator the Movie

History, Facts and Information about Summary of Gladiator the Movie

The content of this article provides interesting facts and information via a Summary of Gladiator the Movie. Click the following link for additional info about this famous film:

Gladiator Movie

Gladiator Movie - Summary of Gladiator the Movie - the Background

The summary of the Gladiator Movie details the life of the hero of the film, Maximus Decimus Meridius. The summary of the movie Gladiator starts in 180AD with General Maximus Decimus Meridius leading the Roman Army against a barbarian army. The barbarians consisted of Germanic tribes who had been raiding the Northern border of the Roman Empire into Gaul for many years. The character of Maximus Decimus Meridius was shown as a great Roman General who had rose from the ranks during his military career which had started in the Roman province of Spain.

Gladiator Movie - Summary of Gladiator the Movie - the Death of Marcus Aurelius

General Maximus Decimus Meridius was favored by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius admired by his daughter Lucilla and treated with some suspicion by his son Commodus. General Maximus Decimus Meridius leads his army to victory witnessed by Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius is dying and summons Commodus and Lucilla to meet him at the site of the battle. He first speaks to Maximus and tells him he wants to name him as his heir because he trusts him, thinks of him as the son he would have wished for and believes that Maximus would lead the senate in returning Rome to a Roman Republic. The honorable and moral Maximus is horrified at the prospect of being proclaimed emperor as he wishes to return to his wife and small son at his home in Spain. Marcus Aurelius summons his son Commodus and tells him he will not be Emperor and that the role has been offered to General Maximus Decimus Meridius. Commodus kills his father in a fit of jealous rage.

Gladiator Movie - Summary of Gladiator the Movie - the Arrest of Maximus

Maximus is horrified when he learns of the death of his beloved emperor and realises that Commodus has murdered him in order to claim the throne. When Maximus refuses to support Commodus he is arrested. Maximus is informed that his family will also be killed. He

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manages to escape but is badly wounded in the process. Maximus desperate to save his family flees to his home in Spain.

Gladiator Movie - Summary of Gladiator the Movie - the Death of his Wife and Son

Maximus reaches his home but is too late to save his family. He discover the charred and crucified bodies of his wife and son in the smouldering ruins of his villa. Death by Crucifixion is a terrible and dishonorable way to die. Tortured by these thoughts Maximus collapses.

Summary of Gladiator the Movie – Maximus Captured by Slave Traders and sold to Proximo

Maximus is found by Slave Traders who take him to Zucchabar, a province in North Africa. He is accompanied by an African slave called Juba who befriends Maximus. Juba and Maximus are purchased by Proximo, the manager (lanista) of the local Gladiator school. Proximo is a hard man, an ex-gladiator who was granted freedom by Marcus Aurelius. The gladiators owned by Proximo have to fight in the local wooden arena. Maximus at first refuses to fight as a gladiator but then defends himself in the arena displaying his formidable combat skills to Proximo and his fellow gladiators. Juba and Maximus meet Hagen, a Germanic barbarian who also becomes their friend. Bitter and betrayed Maximus cuts out his shoulder tattoo S.P.Q.R. which Roman soldiers were required to wear by law. His friendship with Juba deepens and they talk of their families and their belief in the afterlife.

Summary of Gladiator the Movie - Proximo and his Gladiators are sent to Rome

Meanwhile the Emperor Commodus sponsors gladiatorial games in Rome to commemorate his father's death. Proximo is elated by the prospect. He acknowledges the great skills of Maximus and gives him some armor. Maximus realises that this might be an opportunity to wreak his revenge on Commodus. Proximo and the Gladiators arrive in Rome. The gladiators are awe struck by the site of the Roman Colosseum.

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Summary of Gladiator the Movie - Gladiatorial Combat in Rome

Maximus and the gladiators are scheduled to fight in the arena of the Colosseum. Maximus meets the son of Lucilla, Lucius. Proximo is furious when he realises that his gladiators have been booked as a 'support act' fighting as Catervarii the name given to gladiators when they did not fight in pairs, but when several fought together. The gladiators were heavily armored. The movie depicts the gladiators fighting as Provocatores who were recognisable by their armor and weapons and easily distinguished by a helmet without crest called a Provocator Galea (helmet). The Provocatores were the only types of gladiators to have effective protection for the upper body in the form of a rectangular breastplate. The gladiators were fighting, as the losing side, in a re-enactment of the Battle of Carthage in the arena of the great Roman Colosseum. The Emperor Commodus, Lucilla and her son Lucius join the spectators in the Imperial box. Their opponents were Essedari (War-Chariot Fighters) who included Female Gladiators.

Summary of Gladiator the Movie - Victory in the Roman Colosseum

Maximus, his features hidden by his helmet, leads Proximo's gladiators to a decisive victory against the more powerful force. The spectators roar their approval. Maximus, the anonymous Gladiator, is the hero. Commodus, followed by the boy Lucius, enters the arena to meet the victors and is stunned to discover that the the leader of Proximo's gladiators is General Maximus Decimus Meridius. Maximus threatens Commodus and would attempt to murder his enemy but the boy gets in the way. The emperor is unable to kill Maximus - the 'mob' decides who lives or dies in the arena. And Commodus needs the support of the 'mob'.

Summary of Gladiator the Movie - Maximus the Merciful

The gladiatorial games continue. Commodus arranges for Maximus to fight against Tigris of Gaul, Rome's only undefeated gladiator. In the arena there are also chained tigers with handlers instructed to target Maximus. Maximus narrowly defeats the great Tigris and waits for a decision whether to kill or spare Tigris. Commodus indicates death but Maximus spares Tigris, insulting the Emperor but delighting the 'mob'. He earns the name "Maximus the Merciful". A furious Commodus starts to plan the death of his enemy.

Summary of Gladiator the Movie - Lucilla and the Plot to overthrow Commodus

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Lucilla, daughter of Marcus Aurelius and the sister of Commodus, meets Maximus. It becomes obvious that they had a past relationship. Lucilla persuades Maximus to join her and Senator Gracchus in a plot to overthrow Commodus. The plan is to reunite Maximus with his army communicating with them via his former faithful servant Cicero.

Summary of Gladiator the Movie - The Plot is Discovered

Commodus suspects a plot and his sister's betrayal is discovered. Commodus threatens her young son Lucius and forces her to reveal the details of the plot. Praetorian guards are sent to the gladiator barracks. Proximo and the gladiators fight the guards while Maximus escapes. Hagen and Proximo are killed in the siege while Juba and the survivors are imprisoned. Maximus escapes only to witness Cicero's death. He realise he has walked into a trap as he is ambushed by a legion of Praetorian guards and captured.

Summary of Gladiator the Movie - Commodus v Maximus

Commodus plots the death of Maximus in the arena of Rome. Commodus, himself wants to kill Maximus gaining the approval of the mob. He stacks the cards against Maximus by stabbing him with a dagger, puncturing his lung. Maximus is forced to fight with the the wound concealed beneath his armor. During the fight Maximus rips the sword from the hands of Commodus. Commodus requests a sword from his guards, but they betray him and refuse to lend him their weapons. Commodus pulls out a hidden dagger and renews his attack. Maximus eventually kills Commodus but is dying from his fatal wounds.

Summary of Gladiator the Movie - Death in the Colosseum

Commodus collapses in the now-silent Colosseum lies dead and a dying Maximus begins slipping into death seeing his wife and son in the afterlife. He is brought back to reality by the Praetorian prefect Quintus who asks for his orders. Maximus orders the release of Proximo's gladiators and Senator Gracchus. Maximus instructs that Gracchus must return Rome to a Republic as requested by Marcus Aurelius. Maximus then collapses and Lucilla rushes to his side. Maximus dies and drifts into the afterlife to be reunited with his wife and son. Senator Gracchus, Lucius and Proximo's gladiators carry his body out of the Roman Colosseum. The movie ends when a newly freed Juba buries Maximus' two small statues of his wife and son in the Colosseum, and says that he too will eventually join them, but not yet...

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LEADERSHIP

When we talk of the movie, Gladiator, the first thought that comes to anyones mind would be Leadership. Marcus Aurelius, the Emperor or the Roman Empire was proved to be a good leader. He had a clear vision of whatever he wanted to achieve. For example, in this movie, he had a vision to make the Roman Empire Republic. He wants Rome to be freed from politics. So to achieve that goal, he had the right man (Maximus) in his mind.

Marcus Aurelius was a good leader because he had all the general attributes that differentiated him from the rest. 

Capacity:

He was capable to solve any problems arose in the Empire, made effective decisions and judgments, and also he was hard-working. He was alert, intelligent and was sound in making judgments. For example, in this movie, Caesar Marcus Aurelius wanted Rome to be politically free and Republic. So he made up his decision of making Maximus as his next successor as he was the only man suitable for the job among him and Commodus.

Achievement:

He ruled Rome for 25 years and has achieved a lot during this period. He gained experience and expertise in this time.

Responsibility:

Marcus Aurelius was a responsible Caesar. He always initiated, may it be a battle or any other thing. He was aggressive too. He was self-confident in whatever he did. He created his own world by conquering and splitting blood of many people.

Participation:

Marcus Aurelius, as mentioned earlier, was a capable and a responsible leader. This was due to his involvement in any situation or condition. He always participated in every single thing.

Situational Factors:

The Caesar always had a clear vision of the end result to be achieved. Any goals in his mind were very crystal clear. He was very smart and intelligent, alert and his followers always like him, respected him, and obeyed him.

Talking of leaders, Maximus was also proven to be an effective leader. He had all the situational variables present in high proportion and he had more control as a leader. 

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Leader-member relations: Maximus was a respected man and was liked by everyone. Nobody had any problems with him. In a sequence at the start of the movie where, as Maximus passes through the battalion of soldiers, they rise and respectfully call him General. People had faith and trust in him. The satisfaction with the work was high among the group. The individual values did not collide with the group values. Under Maximus’s leadership, there was a good amount of mutual trust between him and his fellowmen.

Task Structure: Maximus specified the tasks (jobs) very well and effectively to his men. The followers knew exactly what to do and what not to do. When they were preparing for the battle, he addressed his fellowmen. And also in the later part of the movie, when the gladiators were in the Colosseum for the first time, Maximus asked each and every gladiator to be united. The task was specified to the men and most of them followed it and survived, others who did not respect him and did not follow his decision were killed by the rival Gladiators.

Position Power: Maximus was entrusted with high position power. He had the legitimate authority. He could make his own decisions without asking any top level authority. In the Colosseum, the arena, where the Gladiators met to fight, he made his own decisions without even asking Proximo (his leader). 

These were not the only leaders in this movie. There were two more, Commodus and Proximo. As far as Proximo was concerned, he was a good leader with his own unique skills. He did manage his men to be good Gladiators. He made them strong and taught them how to tackle opposition. 

On the other hand, Commodus was an ineffective leader. He was disliked by his fellowmen; they did not have trust and faith in him. He was not participative and did not take responsibility to solve the problems of the people in his Kingdom. He was a lazy emperor and was not capable to be the Caesar.

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APPLICATION OF THEORIES

GOAL SETTING THEORY –

According to Goal setting theory that the intention to work towards a goal are major source of motivation. Exactlly, The Hero “ gladiator” he had set certain the goal that “ a man robbed of his name and his dignity strives to win them back, and gain the freedom of his people “and he did so. He was very efficient , and hard working kind of person. He belived in his Aim and so he was motivated to give his best so that he could achieve what he wants. He was a leader who lead his team and that the reason the movie is relevent to goal setting theory .

REINFORCEMENT THEORY –

Reinforcement theory relates to the character of Gladiator in the sence that he had set his mind to get his name , fame , dignioty back , and gain freedom for his people for thbat he did many fight , he fought till the end of his life and he achieved what he wanted to this was his behavioristic apporoch . According to reinforcement theory it ignores the inner state of an individual and just concentrate on what happens when he takes actions. How the action takes palce which relates to his behaviour that’s the reason the gladiator some or other part retlates to reinforcement theory .

EQUITY THEORY –

This theory relates to word Equity the fareness , equality among the people or employee of the organisation . These motivation theory states that equality place avery major role not only in the organisation but also in the real life .The humanhave a tendency say that “ what they get from organisation ( slary / bonus/ recognisation) in relation of what they give put into it ( efforts/ harwork/ experience , etc. ) and then compare their outcomes and inputs with other . Exactly In the movie the emperors son commondus he is tent to relate to this theory he belives that what his father is willing to give maxicus ( gladiator) he deserves that and in order to achive that he just kill his father this state shows that he comparing his inputs and outcomes with gladiators input and outputs. That the reason their should be equity so that it would sometimes lead to a bad result.

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VROOMS EXPECTANCY THEORY :-

Expectency theory argues that strength of the tendency to act in a certain to act in a certain way depends upon the expectation of a given outcomes and its attractiveness. Exactly in this movies the two main character the hero and the villan both were giving their efforts towards getting some expectation in return . the commondus was in expectation to win the title of emperor and gladiator was in the expectation to get back his dignity and name , and freedom of his people. That the reason the expectancy theory relates to the gladiator movie.

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INTERPRETATION

As the big winner in this year's Academy Awards, Ridley Scott's movie "Gladiator" is

understandably receiving lots of attention. It has all the ingredients an audience loves: blood,

gore, passion, and revenge -- all set to the magnificently reconstructed settings of the greatest

empire in the history of Western civilization: Rome.

As a committed Jew, when I thought about the movie, I couldn't help but feel unease: a

celebration of the decadent, barbaric, pagan values of bloodshed, violence and death. A Jew

is supposed to give up his life rather than be forced to commit murder!

THE MAXIMUS STORY

"Gladiator" tells the story of a Roman General, Maximus Decimus Meridius, or Maximus for

short. (I suppose if he were Jewish we would just call him "Max.") Maximus has close ties

with the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. When the emperor's son Commodus strangles his

aging father and names himself the new emperor, he figures that one of his main opponents

will be Maximus, his father's favorite. So he tries to have Maximus executed, but the plan

goes sour when Maximus escapes from his executioners, is sold into slavery and made into a

gladiator. (You know, one of those Roman arena warriors who fights other gladiators and

beasts to the death.)

He is sent into the arena to kill or be killed in front of thousands of spectators.

Maximus loses everything -- his titles, his army, his estate and his family. He is made into a

slave, the lowest member of the Roman Empire. He loses his independence and his life,

becoming the property of his master who sends him daily into the arena to kill or be killed in

front of thousands of spectators. Death can come in an instant. What is the point of being

alive after everything that gave meaning to your life is taken away from you, and the evil man

that did this to you is now the most powerful man in the world?

Defeated, powerless and overwhelmed at the hands of a terribly powerful foe, what hope is

left for Maximus?

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His only hope is hope itself. "Gladiator" is in fact the story of one person who manages,

despite his lowly position and numerical disadvantage, to overcome the most powerful

individual in the world. Through the force of his will, through his desire for a just revenge for

the murder of his wife and child, and most importantly, through the righteousness of his path,

Maximus succeeds in winning the hearts of the Roman mob, and in defeating Commodus, the

evil emperor.

GOOD VS. EVIL

In doing so, Maximus teaches us a lesson: that good and righteousness cannot be beaten, no

matter how powerful and menacing, heartless and immoral the evil that stands against it.

In this sense, "Gladiator" teaches us a crucial lesson about power. Power is one of those

elusive qualities that we all aspire to have. We seek it through money, through education,

through politics, and through our social ties. When we think of the Roman Empire, we think

of "power." The Roman Empire ruled over the Old World for hundreds of years. There were

other individuals and nations that managed to conquer much of the world: Alexander the

Great is the most famous, and Napoleon wreaked some havoc in his time. But since the fall of

the Roman Empire, that level of sheer power has not been matched.

Maximus defeats with his mind and his heart.

Though his skill as a gladiator and as a warrior are important, it is not with his sword that

Maximus defeats evil, but with his mind and his heart. He has courage, resilience, and a

singular belief in the power of good to triumph over evil.

Though the movie's final, climactic scene depicts Maximus killing the Emperor Commodus,

Maximus in fact had won the war with Commodus much earlier, by virtue of his survival and

his refusal to be broken.

JEWISH TEACHINGS

If this idea rings true in your ears, it is no coincidence. This theme has been repeated in

Jewish teachings for millennia. Throughout the Bible, one is confronted time and again with

the idea that despite the size of an army or how advanced their weapons, the biggest factor in

battle is how large your heart and whether or not it is in the right place.

Moses teaches the nation of Israel time and again not to rely merely on the strength of their

army, but to know that real power comes from following the path of truth, justice, and

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commitment to God. The prophet Zechariah exhorts: "Not with might and not with strength

but with my spirit said God the Almighty" (Zechariah 4:6).

It is no coincidence that the Jewish nation came into direct conflict with every great empire of

the classic world (including the Romans) over precisely this matter. Not unlike the fictitious

character of Maximus, our nation suffered terribly for our beliefs and for our insistence on

following the path of truth and justice.

The Romans destroyed our Temple in 70 CE, slaughtering millions of Jews in the process. If

you go to Rome today you can visit Titus' Triumphal Arch which bears the engraved image

of the Menorah from the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem being carried victoriously into

Rome.

JEWISH SURVIVAL

Yet the Jews have survived, drawing resilience from our firm faith in the Torah. Amazingly,

against all odds, we have prevailed.

How is it that we "prevailed?" No, we never beat mighty armies Roman or captured their

kings. But just go out into the street wherever you live, and try to find a member of the

Roman Empire. Or if there aren't any Roman centurions around your neighborhood, perhaps

you could find a Greek, a Babylonian, or a Persian?

Go out into the street wherever you live, and try to find a member of the Roman Empire.

You won't find any, of course, because they have vanished from the face of the earth long

ago. They remain only as memories in the pages history books, and in movies such as

1"Gladiator."

And yet if you go into any city in the Western world, chances are pretty good you can find a

thriving community of Jews: living, loving, and continuing their commitment to the eternal

Torah through its study and practice of its teachings.

"Gladiator" illustrates somewhat allegorically what we as Jews have learned through our

history: that no matter how powerful or evil our foes, by following the path of truth and

justice as taught in the Torah, we can forever overcome.