Maximus is a farmer from Spain who has become emperor Marcus Aurelius most trusted general. He is loyal to his emperor which is why so many people respect Maximus. Marcus Aurelius has plans to name Maximus as his heir when he returns to Rome. Maximus doesn't really agree to this because he doesn't seem to like the trappings of power, but the only reason Marcus asked him was that he trusts Maximus and he is like a son to him. Which has made Maximus see him as a father and couldn't turn down this offer and because Marcus fears what will happen when Commodus becomes emperor.
Commodus is a spoiled powerful person who is the royal son of Marcus Aurelius. After Marcus told Maximus that he wants him as his heir, he tells Commodus. Instantly Commodus is stunned, upset and jealous. Commodus then tells his father that he is nothing of what his father's list has, which is "wisdom, justice, fortitude, and temperance", but he does have "ambition, resourcefulness, courage, and devotion." Marcus then tells Commodus how he is sorry for how he turned out and gives Commodus a hug and from there Commodus kills his father. …show more content…
Maximus is someone who is a good, caring, vitreous person who is suffering injustice, and he wants to be able to teach others to become good. For example, Maximus was suffering injustice when he got captured by a slave trader, and he basically had to fight as a gladiator in the games/tournaments and kill others in order to serve, he taught people to die with "strength and honor." One of Maximus honorable moments in the film, was when he killed Commodus. He didn't kill Commodus because he was jealous of all the power he had but he did it for the people of Rome, for Marcus Aurelius, and he also did it for the slaves to be freed, which is why people honored Maximus so