The Gladiator - A Jungian Analysis
Gladiator is a movie I felt in my guts. I can feel the archetypal energy flowing, my inner hero is awakening. I feel pumped, ready for battle. The crowd in the Colosseum was moved by Maximus, they were cheering for their favorite hero. The courage, the bravery, the honor. He is a mirror for the man or woman we feel deep down inside we want to be or potentially can be. This is what an archetype is, a blueprint, a potential energy that is partially connected to instinct and partially to spirit. Maximus shows us a healthy way of integrating aggression, something that is so repressed in our society nowadays.
What is your relationship to aggression? How are your using it? Are you being passive or active aggresive?
One of the most prominent themes in Gladiator is the idea of the warrior archetype, which is central to the character of Maximus. The warrior archetype is a concept in Jungian psychology that represents the innate, primal instincts of humanity. The archetype is characterized by a deep sense of courage, honor, and self-sacrifice, as well as the desire for conquest and purpose. Maximus embodies these qualities to a remarkable degree, making him an excellent example of ‘the Heart Warrior.’
Throughout the movie, Maximus is depicted as a highly skilled warrior, a master strategist, and a charismatic leader. He is respected and admired by his fellow soldiers, and his reputation as a fearless commander precedes him. Maximus is not only a physical warrior, but he also possesses an unwavering moral code that guides his actions. He is a man of integrity, whose sense of duty and loyalty drives him to risk his own life to protect his men.
How is it with your inner Maximus? Is he awake?
Another important concept in Jungian psychology that is relevant to Gladiator is the father complex. The father complex is a psychological concept that describes the relationship between a son and his father. It suggests that a son's relationship with his father can influence his personality and behavior, often in ways that are unconscious. In Gladiator, Maximus has a complicated relationship with his father, which deeply affects his character and actions.
Maximus's father was a farmer who instilled in him a strong sense of honor and duty. However, when Maximus leaves to join the Roman army, he is forced to leave his father behind. Later in the movie, Maximus learns that his father has been murdered by the corrupt Emperor Commodus, who is also Maximus's enemy. This knowledge fuels Maximus's desire for revenge, and he vows to avenge his father's death, but he wants to do this with honor and waits for the perfect time, like a true strategist. A warrior can focus on his purpose and is not available for the little boy with his constant needs or the negative anima with her moods. You can already see that a too one-sided warrior that ignores his inner child, can also be destructive in the long run. We need the lover archetype as well. And we need a mature anima to relate to people. This is the individuation journey of Maximus. He needs to heal his father’s wound. His father figure Marcus Aurelius helps him a lot and is murdered by his own son.
The father complex gives Maximus structure in the psyche and libido to fuel his fights and purpose. Complexes are not a bad thing, we can not get rid of complexes. We outgrow them. And they provide us with structure and energy. So we should honor them instead of repressing, or trying to fix them.
We see that Maximus does not become depressed, even when he is a slave and lost everything, his family slaughtered. From a well respected general to a slave. He is not at the mercy of his surroundings, but he shapes them through his own inner strength and call for expanding love and honor in the world. Maximus is cheered by a crowed that just wants to see the ritual of death and rebirth taking place in the Colosseum. Just like we are watching movies on Netflix as a projection of inner proceses and transformations. It is a passive form of entertainment. Maximus with his wounds, could have turned into a bloodthirst monster in the arena, but his honor is what makes him so popular. People can see the better part in themselves, true him.
“A man is not at the mercy of his surroundings – he shapes them through his own inner strength and call for expanding love and honor in the world.” - Eivind Figenschau Skjellum, Masculinity Movies
The negative anima is another concept in Jungian psychology that is relevant to Gladiator. The negative anima is the shadow side of a man's inner feminine energy that is often characterized by moods taking a man over, such as fear, rage, and envy. In Gladiator, the negative anima is possessing Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius, the leader of Rome. This can only happen when a boy is not properly initiated, and has no strong connection to the warrior archetype. A man needs to be able to defend his own psyche from being taken over by archetypes, such as the negative anima. We can see that Commodus has a strong connection to the lover archetype (he is a ‘Dionysus’ man). Surrounded by women in love with his sister. He shows more feminine energy. Not a mature feminine energy, but a hostile, infantile, control seeking, fear driven, feminine energy. The warrior and the lover archetype are opposites that need to balance out in our psyche. We are the Emperor of our own psyche and we need to lead the archetypes and inner energies instead of being led by them. Therefor we need the warrior archetype. We are fighting battles in the outer world and in the inner world. Even if we don’t know it.
"The capacity to hold the tension of opposites is necessary for psychological growth. When people dare to oppose and integrate the opposites within themselves, a process of transformation begins, and they become whole." - Rollo May, The Courage to Create
“Your failings as a son are my failings as a father” - Marcus Aurelius
General Maximus faces not only physical challenges but also inner turmoil as he is betrayed by Commodus, the son of the dying Emperor. Commodus is deeply troubled by the lack of acceptance and love from his own father, and his broken state leads him to seek power for power's sake, without a greater calling. As Aurelius tells Commodus, "your failings as a son are my failings as a father."
Commodus is a complex character (with a strong negative father complex) who is driven by a deep sense of insecurity and jealousy. He is consumed by his desire to be loved and respected, and he feels threatened by Maximus's popularity and reputation. Commodus's negative anima manifests itself in his ruthless and cruel behavior, as he tries to assert his dominance over Maximus and gain the adoration of the Roman people. You can also see the shadow side of the warrior in his character. The sadistic energy aswel as the masochistic energy. He feels like a victim, a little boy and acts out his shadow in a sadistic way. These are the two poles of the shadow of the warrior. They can also be seen as immature defense mechanisms.
The shadow warrior is an immature version of the warrior that is unbalanced by other important archetypes such as the lover. We can fall victim to what Jungians call: the power shadow. Seeking power for the sake of power. Not for a purpose. Not from our heart.
How are you being sadistic or masochastic in your life? (a.k.a falling victim to the shadow side of the warrior).
Being a workaholic for example can be seen as masochistic, being self destructive, drinking too much, not moving enough, putting yourself in imposible relationships, letting yourself get hurt. Drug abuse etc.
Commodus is unable to cope with rejection and his sense of entitlement drives him to take extreme measures to gain what he perceives as his birthright.
Commodus exhibits sadistic tendencies in his treatment of those around him. He derives pleasure from the suffering of others and enjoys exerting his power over them. In one scene, he orders the execution of prisoners in the Colosseum for his own amusement, reveling in the bloodshed and violence. He also enjoys inflicting pain on others, as evidenced by his torture of Maximus.
On the other hand, Commodus also displays masochistic tendencies. He is shown to enjoy being humiliated and degraded, particularly by his father. His desire for approval from his father leads him to engage in behaviors that are self-destructive, such as killing his father and engaging in incestuous relations with his sister. He also seeks out physical punishment, as seen in his fights in the Colosseum, where he intentionally puts himself in harm's way. We can see that Commodus is confused. Wanting to have sex with his sister for example. Things are mixed inappropriately and the warrior can discern and differentiate these energies. But Commodus has no access to the mature warrior and is only a slave to the shadow warrior (sadistic and masochistic energies).
Commodus's sadistic and masochistic tendencies are indicative of a deep-seated psychological disturbance. He is driven by his need for validation and his desire for power, but is unable to handle rejection and criticism in a healthy manner. His behavior is self-destructive and ultimately leads to his downfall.
ANY man must be willing to enter a confrontation with his father, lest the corruption of their relationship will remain and not yield to the nobility and immensity of father-son love. Yet Commodus couldn’t, because he was from the outset an emotionally fragile person, wishing just to be held, to be loved (a strong mother complex).
Just like Dionysus, Commodus seems to seek his mother. He feels entitled but does not have the warrior spirit to rule Rome. A leader needs to have a strong warrior spirit.
We can see that in many myths and stories, like King Arthur which I will explore in another blogpost.
I hope after this blogpost you are rewatching this movie and will explore the archetypes and complexes discussed in this post, to add another layer of depth to this already epic movie. When you watched this move, feel the inspiration and longing in your heart to re-connect with the primordial, instinctive energy that is potent in you. The positive side of aggression.
Reclaim it and become your own Emperor, ruling with an open heart.
How to work with the warrior archetype?
First of all it is good to ask yourself some questions:
Where in my childhood was I violated in my warrior energy? My boundaries were overstepped. My Sovereignty was damaged. Do a compassionate inquiry to identify these moments, write down with whom this was, and what core beliefd it created. For example: I am unworthy to defend myself.
Our aggression, our anger, might not have been welcomed. We learned to repress and ignore it. Where did you learn to repress your anger? What beliefs were created?
What defenses did you create to feel safe instead of using your aggression or anger. For example, you might have repressed your anger (which is a defense strategy) and try pleasing your mom and dad instead so you would feel worthy and loved.
Journal about these moments to heal your inner child and reclaim your sovereignty.
Once you have a clear picture of your damaged warrior and inner child, you can do a number of things to re-activate, re-connect with the warrior within.
Breathwork - Breath of Fire
Men’s work (groups), Rituals of initiation, Ice Bath, Sweat Lodge, challenge yourself.
Connecting to instinct - vision quest, fasting, adventure, nature, surfing, martial arts.
Workout - any kind but using movements connected to throwing, striking etc. can be especially good.
Watching movies like Gladiator
Reading about people like Marcus Aurelius
David Goggins - he has some strong warrior energy
Confront your fears - if you are afraid of the dark, sit in the dark, afraid of commiting? Start practicing. Small steps.
Open your Heart - So you can feel your purpose, essential for a warrior
Live Fully - do not hold back in life, identify what you are avoiding, and confront it.
Receive feedback (from life) - a warrior learns from his mistakes, he is not perfect. He adapts.
Finding mentors with strong warrior energy, surround yourself with people that embody what you want to embody.
In Jungian Analysis and therapy you can heal wounds that prevent you from accessing inner resources.
Work with a coach to set goals, challenge yourself and someone to hold you accountable.
Find your knights of the round table. Avoid becoming the lone wolf.
