Hamlet Blog Post 2

"At my signal, unleash Hell" -Commodus The film Gladiator, although loosely associated with the theme of Hamlet, does resemble the same key aspects of revenge, espionage, and family. The film is about. Roman general, Maximus, who is chosen by the aging emperor to take his place. In this decision, the emperor is betraying his own son, Commodus, who resembles I, Claudius. Perhaps I should be remorseful for killing my own brother, and marrying his wife. However, I was jealous , power-hungry, seeking to know what power would have in store for me and my family, much like Commodus. Many would consider us the bad guy, but simply carried out the same deed Hamllet has planned for me. I believe in keeping the enemy closest, so I agreed to spy on Hamlet with Polonius, as we plan to "hide behind the arras and watch what happens," (2.2) between Hamlet and Ophelia. A key component to my compliance with the plan is the trust he puts in Polonius.Allowing him to believe I am trust worthy gives me room for more intellegence, I will be able to investigate more on what Hamlet's exact plan is. Polonius had asked me if he had ever led the king astray, to which I to responded, "Not that I know," (2.2). By establishing this trust, the I was conceding, just as Commodus does, that I "knows his people," (Gladiator). After this is established between the two of us, I agree to "try what [Polonius] suggests," (2.2), which potentially could give me a scapegoat for what my intentions were for Hamlets' future. Alongside my plan with Polonius, however, I also created my own plan, calling Hamlets best friends. I asked them to distract Hamlet, to "draw him on to pleasures and to gather, so much as from occasion they may gleam," (2.2). I command them to pledge their loyalty to helping their friend, as well as to me. By extending this invitation to help, I am asking them to "take [his] hand, [he] will only offer it once," (Gladiator). In other words, it is their chance to do their duty to me and the kingdom, by helping their friend. By creating this sense of urgency, I was able to make it seem as if I am helping my nephew move on from "more than his fathers death," (2.2) without making "a martyr out of him," (Gladiator). I have planned it specifically so that it appears that I have my nephews best intentions in mind, though my plans for him lead to his demise.I can easily relate to the film Gladiator, as the ideas of power, family, and revenge create the stories. I am not a 'bad guy' I am simply a man in search for the power that so many others are searching for. The difference between them and I? I am willing to go much further than anyone else to keep my power.