| Commodus' father, Marcus Aurelius, is dying - and the Emperor of Rome. So...Commodus is his heir, right? Wrong, according to the old emperor who is evaluating his legacy and the future of Rome. He sees that Rome needs to return to a Republic and that means he wants to designate his victorious and humble general Maximus to be Emperor in trust until the Senate is ready to rule the empire on their own. Father and son have always been estranged, no doubt due to Commodus' "virtues" not going along with Marcus' "wise" teachings. He has "ambition...resourcefulness, courage, devotion". Oh well. So, Commodus doesn't react very well to hearing this especially since he is not being replaced by a "wiser old man" - no doubt he is jealous of his father's love for Maximus. Obviously this father/son relationship is a case for a therapist, but since Commudus smothers daddy to death instead guess we'll never get to hear about that session. This underlying feelings of rejection are what conflict Commodus and keep him from being cut and dry evil. He is scarred - afraid of not being loved since he felt this from his father. "I would butcher the whole world, if only you would love me..." He remarks that Lucius sleeps so peacefully because "he is loved" and doesn not he crave his sisters love...and more. I say poor pityable Commodus! I'll cheer his name in the end. |
