Spartacus Character Analysis

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Andrew Richards Spartacus Character Analysis Spartacus was a 1960 historical film that was based on a novel by Howard Fast. It is set in 73 B.C. in the Roman Empire. It is based on true events of the Third Roman Slave Revolt led by the Thracian slave, Spartacus. Spartacus is the protagonist of the film and shows strong characteristics of bravery, leadership, and a passion to be free. Spartacus is a very likeable character due to these characteristics. In the end there are not many good reasons to not enjoy his character because of the traits he has and the way he lives a life of pure drive and passion to be free. Spartacus is in every way the protagonist. He is a major character and the whole story consists of his want for freedom of the brutal and unjust life of a slave. His bravery makes him a very heroic type character. He shows heroism in the way that he frees other slaves in Rome and puts them under his wing and leadership as he pushes to make an escape from Rome and from slavery. He can be seen as the “hero” who rescues the “innocent civilian” from the “mugger” who is taking advantage of the innocent people and putting them through a life of hardship, struggle, and death. He is a very round character in the fact that he can be very soft spoken and show joy and love to his wife, Varinia, and his very close friend, Antoninus, but in battle and pre-battle pep-talks he is stern, loud, and fierce. He is foils with the major antagonist, Crassus, who is twisted, slimy, and sometimes cowardly. Spartacus is a very static character. From the very beginning to the very end he does not give in to any Roman authority. All he is ever after is his freedom from slavery at whatever cost it may take. Spartacus shows extreme bravery throughout the film, and it makes him a very likeable character and someone that you would want to root for. This trait is extremely
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