In the film Gladiator, the director Ridley Scott describes sets out the plot in a way which enhances Aristotle’s theory of tragedy. Within the storyline, the scenes in which help to deepen our understanding of Aristotle’s theory are the Reunion of Maximus & Commodus, and the attempted escape of Maximus. The film techniques of music and shot types display the plot to follow Aristotle’s concept of tragedy.

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist that wrote many manuscripts and poems in regards to his own beliefs and ideology.  His manuscripts explored the concept of story making and retell us what he believed a tragic plot looked like. Within these poetics, Aristotle regarded to tragedy as “An action that is serious and of great magnitude complete in itself, in a dramatic form with incidents arousing pity and fear to accomplish a catharsis”. This quote meant the use of a turning point to engage the audience with the character. The Climax and the final moment of suspense within the film are the two main scenes I focus on with in the film Gladiator.