Maximus: The Great Stoic

Quite often, we find ourselves caught in the complexities of life, unaware of how to get out of it. Problems usually enter our lives unannounced. It could be a typical day, and we would be sailing through without any problem when an issue arises out of nowhere, leaving us shaken and confused. It could be a health issue, a financial crisis, or something to do with our loved one. Whatever it might be, it unnerves us, and we are left broken and overwhelmed. Being the survivalists that we are, our next step would be to try and fix the complication the best we can. First, we try to solve it on our own. When that does not work out, we run from post to post, looking for people to help us. And if we are lucky, we might find a solution and return to our everyday lives. But this is not always the case. The help we expect does not come, and the difficulty lingers on, robbing our days of the happiness we think we deserve.  

Sometimes, when we get out of one tight spot, another emerges, yet again unannounced, leaving us unsettled. The world rarely behaves as we expect. Very little appears to be in our control. 

As we go through our lives, we will soon understand the planet can do away with us whenever it pleases, just as we would crush and dispose of a fly. How, then, is the right way to move through the world? How should we face the problems that life throws at us? How should we react when we tremble in fear despite feeling so sure of ourselves only a minute ago? A perfect example to follow would be the character of Maximus in the movie Gladiator by Ridley Scott. As shown in the movie, Maximus was the general of the Roman army at the time when Rome was ruled by Marcus Aurelius. Although debates still rage as to the historical accuracy of the movie, we can assume it to be correct for the sake of our discussion.

In the movie, we are shown that Maximus is a loyal general of Marcus Aurelius and considers him a father figure. His wife and son are miles away in the village, and it has been two years and 264 days since he has seen them. This attests to the strength of his character, as most people would barely make it through a few months without seeing their loved ones, especially when modes of communication are rudimentary. 

Maximus has ideals that are reasonably high for any ordinary mortal to reach. This is very evident when he is confronted with a dicey situation in which he is asked to proclaim loyalty to Commodus after the death of Marcus Aurelius. He knows the potential risks of rejecting the same, yet does not relinquish his principles. Convinced that the end of the emperor was unnatural and that his son, Commodus, was to blame for the same, Maximus refuses to take his side, eventually leading him to face the possibility of execution. The consequences of such an action do not end with him. It also extends to his wife, son and the others in the village.

The strength of his character is on display even when he is taken to the site of execution, and the soldier raises his sword to decapitate him. Despite having his hands tied, he deftly tackles the executioner and the other soldiers, killing them in the process. Having escaped a certain death, he rushes to save his family. But he is late and only gets to see their hanging lifeless bodies. Any average person would be shattered at this point, but the story of Maximus does not end there.

While lying unconscious on the graves of his wife and child that he had dug, he is taken away by slave traders who roam the country. It is at this point in the movie where his fortitude is on full display. After leading what was perhaps the most enormous army at the time, he finds himself a slave who must now fight to obtain his freedom. During these trying moments, he never breaks down or laments what his life has thrown at him. But he takes on his new role with the same attitude he had when he was a general. One could argue that thoughts could be raging in his head. While that is a possibility, the stoic exterior that he maintained could only arise from a calm and controlled interior. His only advantage in this new reality is his experience on the battlefield, which comes to his help in the ring when facing possible death. 

As the gladiator fights continue, all Maximus can think of is vengeance, fuelled by rage at the injustice suffered at the hands of Commodus. But being only a gladiator, he cannot find any way of getting even. His enemy, the emperor of Rome, is miles away, well-secured, and protected, far from his reach. 

'Good things to those who wait,' an essential tenet of stoicism, is best shown at this juncture. After securing the throne, Commodus announces gladiator games to entertain his people. When Proxima mentions it to Maximus, he sees this as the perfect opportunity. It was like the universe was finally getting in tune with his thoughts. So he joins Proxima and the team to participate in the games and goes to Rome. 

 

Having only the desire to kill the emperor and no actual plan to execute it, Maximus waits for the situation to unfold. Following the first fight in the Colosseum, his identity is revealed to the emperor and the others present. Luckily for Maximus the crowd cheers for him. In the coming days, he manages to survive by having nothing other than the support of the people. On the other hand, Commodus witnesses all his power come to nothing in the face of the strength of the mass. He has no other option but to put his thirst to execute his arch-enemy on hold. In the following scenes, he comes up with techniques to kill Maximus in the ring. But all his plans fail in the face of the former general's dexterity with the sword.

Further, the support the general-turned-gladiator receives from the audience only enrages him. But the mob is fickle, and their backing will surely subside with time. Both Maximus and Commodus are aware of this. Ultimate power is always in the hands of the emperor. Despite knowing that he could meet his end at any moment and that his desire for vengeance would remain unfulfilled, Maximus remains tranquil and composed. 

Finally, when the rebellion initiated by Maximus fails, he is thrown into the ring again, this time to face the emperor. But he is purposely injured before the duel by Commodus. We all know fully well how this ends. Lacking Maximus's capability with the sword, Commodus is no match for him, even when injured. Caesar finally succumbs to his injury when a knife is thrust into his neck. All his scheming comes to nothing as he lay dying in the middle of the ring. Finally, even Maximus's life comes to an end.

While this is just a story, and the historical accuracy can be questioned, it still has a lot of lessons for us. Chiefly, the significance of remaining sangfroid in the face of danger. Life is uncertain, and the world can be a dangerous place. It is almost impossible to predict what may happen tomorrow. Everything we own and hold dear can be taken away in seconds. The world we were accustomed to all these years can become strange and terrifying. Whatever the situation, it is up to us to not be rattled and face what is thrown at us head-on, just like Maximus would.   

Vineeth Thunoli