The movie by Shaw titled Spartacus was documented and mentioned to showcase the lives of the slaves as early as the time and period of 73rd BC. It included the slave trade and the kind of life that the slaves were subjected and exposed to in Athens and Greek region as a whole. The irreducible and indisputable minimum was the right of the Romans to own slaves. On the contrary, what was up for debate or negotiation was the aspect of how to treat the slaves. Most of the people, especially the slaves, were captured or defeated soldiers, who were brought in by the victors who won the wars. It was for this reason that the slaves were casually referred to as the walking dead under the assumption that their living was purely a favor, and thus they ought to have showed gratitude to their masters. In this line of thought and reasoning, the slaves in an effort to articulate for their rights and privileges led several revolts one of which was documented and filmed as a movie. Thus, this paper will discuss and analyze in details the aspects covered in the movie Shaw’s Spartacus and the Greek Slave wars, pointing out on the strengths and weakness of the film.
During this period, the Roman General, Marcus Crassus visited the school of military training with his protégé Draba, an Ethiopian warrior and fighter and orders that Spartacus and Draba fight to death. The skills of Draba are so refined for Spartacus and Draba emerges victorious but refuses to finish off or kill Spartacus. Instead, the Ethiopian warrior Draba turns against his master, Marcus Crassus, who then kills him. In this aspect and line of thought, the rendition and documentation of the movie by Hollywood were right. It is needless to mention and stress the fact that the life and dignity of the slaves were not important, and that was why they were regarded as expendables-easy to dispose of and discard. This is the reason as to why the slaves were usually put in fights to death. And in any case they did not finish the “game,” then all of them were killed (Burgan, 9). This is true because it articulates the principle and the line of thought that the slaves were in actual life exposed to inhumane and second-rate. Living to the point where death could be meted on them for failure to follow instructions.
As time progresses, Spartacus accumulates skills and experience in the battle fronts and decides to leave the masters and fight for their place and life. He then rises to the position of army leader and together with his companions, wife and Antonius, who was a servant of the Roman general leave their masters’ home. In the course of time, they raid, attack and conquer smaller armies of the Roman Empire, therefore, spreading their military might and strength. Spartacus grew in might and stature to the point where he hired ships from one pirate Trigrams who was notorious in his craft of hijacking ships. As all these developments were happening pressure and tension did accumulate to the Roman authorities to do something in order to stop and quell the rebellion by the slaves. The Roman general, Marcus Crassus is however caught in power struggles as he waits for his opportune moment to seize power rather than stop the slave rebellion and uprising.
As a matter of principle, the articulation of the aspect of the power struggle and calculations for the state power is evident because the slave trade was one lucrative business. Thus, the ruler had huge human capital base in terms of slaves. This logic and argument explains the reason as to why there was a huge interest by the generals to conquer enemies and capture slaves from their fields. Thus, it is no surprise when the Roman general Crassus was involved in power struggles. Because if he was at the helm, there were immense benefits and advantages that the slaves could have brought to the nation under his rule and command.
During the maneuvers and scheming of Spartacus, he seemed to have enlisted the services of the ships of the pirate, Triangles, but which were later withdrawn when the Romans bribed him. At first, he had agreed to give Spartacus the ships for them to be used for military purposes and conquests. Given the belittled status and position of a slave, it was highly unlikely that Spartacus stood any realistic chance while betting on military support from Trigrams against Marcus Crassus. It is notwithstanding the fact that he was the first to hire and pay for the services of the pirate and that the Roman general Marcus Crassus only bribed him. This scene and rendition in the movie is critical since it explains how the status and the very aspect and presence of the slaves were not worthy in the society. The scenario would have been different if Spartacus had a different status in the society, relative to that of a common Roman citizen. Comparatively, the very status of a slave was by far lower than that of a free Roman citizen even if the slave was right on a circumstance.
Later on, the army of the Romans led by Marcus Crassus surrounds and captures the slaves including the leaders Spartacus and Antonius. These two are ordered to fight to death and in the process all of them die (Kier, 7). This logic and reasoning points to the direction that the life of a slave was not so precious or worthy, and that is why they could be easily killed.
Subsequently, there are some mishaps that may not find their true meaning and value from the empirical evidence of history. For instance, the movie is based on romantic fallacy and fantasy of the things that happened in the actual life. It is an allegory that strives to articulate the social excesses and ills that happened in the past society. There is an overt theme of profanity where the costumes used border on nudity, which may not have been realistically accurate or true. It is to say the costume used in the whole movie may not have represented the changes in climate or seasons thus, could have been inaccurate.
Works Cited
Burgan, Michael. Empire of Ancient Rome. Infobase Publishing, 2009.
Kier, David B. Pathways of Learning. Trafford Publishing, 2011.
