The Gladiator Research Paper

Words: 878
Pages: 4

There are multiple ways to reach a target audience and pass on knowledge, some learn sharing stories and experiences, others read books and other texts alike, yet others can learn from films or theater. Although movies are generally made for entertainment and majority of them are fiction, but to provide realism, writers go in great detail to develop characters, which can be not only entertainment, but a learning experience as well. Two such movies are The Gladiator (2000) and 300 (2007), both movies show some great leadership qualities in their lead roles, that are applicable to all leaders, regardless of profession.
The Gladiator is a fictional story that focuses on how Romans entertained themselves during the Glory Days of the Empire.
…show more content…
It is Miller’s interpretation of the Battle of Thermopylae. Unlike the movie Gladiator, 300’s focus more on the Spartan warriors rather than just King Leonidas. The movie begins by explaining the trials and hardships that a Spartan boy goes through before they can become a Spartan warrior and it this case, it is the trails of King Leonidas. After the trails movie forwards to the time where Leonidas is already a King and a messenger of Xerxes arrives to ask for the Spartan surrender. King Leonidas declines the request and kicks the messenger and his entourage into a pit. Based on the conquest of Xerxes and the Persian Empire, King Leonidas take 300 of his best warriors and advances to an area called “the Hot Gates”. At that location, the Persian Empire would have to bottle neck due to the narrow movement corridor and the Spartans can use it to slow them down. During the battles at ‘the Hot Gates”, Spartan warriors lay waste to the assaulting Persian empire, with King Leonidas at the front line. Eventually, the Spartans are betrayed and the Persian empire flanks them, to where the Spartans can no longer hold the line. Even at the end after the Spartans are overwhelmed, King Leonidas refuses surrender and launches a spear at Xerxes, the spear misses and King Leonidas is killed by Persian