Analysis of Stanley Kubrick's Classic Film Spartacus

Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus is a movie people embrace not only because of its historical accuracy and portrayal of ancient Rome, but because of its timeless messages and lessons that transcend generations and eras. The movie was created to depict the brutal and unforgiving Roman Empire and the hardships the average slave could endure every day. It is also supposed to be a strong piece of anti slavery propaganda and a story of an average man rising to overcome insurmountable odds.

The film takes political lobbying and positioning into strong consideration, examines sexual orientations and situations, and has fast paced and gory fight scenes; everything the movie go-er wants to see, while at the same time maintaining a connection to the world of Ancient Rome. Kubrick wanted to show modern people how Rome's republic and citizens were much more cutthroat and bloodthirsty than our own, but at the same time not that dissimilar to the average modern movie audience. Some people may view Spartacus and frown upon the savage slavery and brutality of the ancient world, but the fight for freedom from oppression and the common man rising to greatness through bravery is something that will forever be remember and celebrated by all cultures, our own and the Romans.

The goal of Spartacus is not to slander ancient Rome or to make the characters appear as barbarians without class; rather it is a glimpse into one of the greatest empires of all time and the intricate system of civilization that was Rome. The film first makes clear that slavery is an institution that was common in the Roman Empire, and then by casting the heroic Kirk Douglas as Spartacus the film takes a clearly anti slavery stance. The Roman world was becoming bloated with slaves and servants taken from conquered lands such as Spartacus' homeland Thrace. Some Senators in the Roman Republic were beginning to realize the dangers of having more slaves than citizens, and in 133 B.C. Senator Gracchus proposed the redistribution of land to the plebian population to keep the lower classes appeased, although he did not suggest freeing the oppressed slave class (Bradley 103).

The majority of the Senators, including Crassus, regarded Spartacus as no more than a moronic barbarian with no brain or, and others such as Diodorus of Sicily also considered him no more than a barbaric thug (Yavetz 91). Rome underestimated the power of a courageous slave turned rebel turned gladiator, and this slave versus oppressor theme is what Spartacus says about the ancient world. The power of Rome's ancient Empire is also made clear to us in the movie, however, as Spartcus' slave revolt is put to a bloody end by the Roman Garrison and Crassus. In the movie Spartacus meets face to face with Crassus, but our modern historical references tell us this is not the case as Spartacus actually perished on the battlefield with his men (Yavetz 105). The ancient world had men of virtue and courage, but in the end the government and power of Rome prevailed over all men of the time.

Our view of the ancient world is definitely skewed from how things actually occurred and happened. The movie glorifies Spartacus' wife Varinia as a love story romantically written in the stars, while in reality Spartacus probably took a wife from one of the towns his slave army raided. In any regard Spartacus' wife was not a major factor in his lifetime as the movie shows, and she only receives mention due to her husbands infamous nature (Bradley 112). Our view of Spartacus in the movie is one of the glorified hero, while this may not have been truly the case when he was actually alive. Spartacus ravaged the Italian countryside for months, looting and pillaging towns as he went and probably murdering innocent Roman citizens, but we never vilify him for this (Yavetz 92).

From a modern perspective we also analyze political relationships and manipulations of the Roman Senate as a key part to Spartacus' slave rebellion, such as Gracchus versus Crassus in the senate in a battle of "plebian," versus "patrician." This be described from our modern view more clearly as "democrat," Gracchus, a man of the people, versus "republican" Crassus who supports the aristocracy and institution. As Americans we are always rooting for the underdog, the working man, the oppressed, and Spartacus is the ultimate example of coming from the bottom and rising to lead.

Bradley, Keith R. "Slavery and Rebellion in the Roman World, 140 B.C. - 70 B.C." Indiana University Press, Bloomington and Indianapolis. C. 1989

Yavetz, Zvi. "Slaves and Slavery in Ancient Rome." Transaction, Inc. New Brunswick, NJ. C. 1988