Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Marcus Aurelius and Proximo

While alive, Marcus Aurelius is without question Maximus' trustee mentor. In the short conversations he and Maximus have in Germania, it becomes clear that Maximus's unable to see how ridiculous the Roman military campaigns have become.

But Marcus Aurelius points out that he's known only four years of peace in his reign. He's weary of the whole idea of the empire, and he gives Maximus a speech about the necessity of republican government.

Marcus Aurelius also talks to Maximus about what it's like to get old, and of the powerful desire to die knowing one's life has somehow made a different. While we can't be sure, it's not implausible that Maximus finds his purpose in honoring the wishes of Marcus Aurelius and restoring republican government to Rome (in addition, of course, to avenging the death of his family).

Once Marcus Aurelius dies and Maximus becomes a gladiator, however, it's all about Proximo. Proximo's an entertainer, but an entertainer who understands how a gladiator can win his freedom. Maximus's a pretty good entertainer, but Proximo underscores the importance of winning the crowd.

Some of the antics Maximus deploys in Africa (throwing his sword into the stands, for example) might not fly in Rome, and Proximo's little pep talk tempers Maximus' aggression but also shows him the path to freedom. Maximus takes Proximo's so seriously that he ends up winning Proximo too, who dies fighting to help Maximus escape.