Portrayal of Women

When it all started film was just a short series of pictures that would rapidly progress in order to show movement. Then it started to become more than just a few pictures and it grew into movies that after time developed with plots and main characters who would dance across the big screen. Out of all of these developments none have grown as much as the sophistication of the female main character. Often they were just there in order to fill a spot in the story but they then grew into a main part of the plot and theme. Movies such as Ben-Hur, Spartacus, and Gladiator show how a woman’s role can grow into a major part of the work while still holding onto some of the traditional roles they used to play a part of in the movies. Women in these movies often are viewed as prizes to men, independent or reliant on others, and have changed from background characters to lead roles films. Women are often viewed as trophies for men to quarrel over and to be won over by a male role. In Spartacus, Varinia, a love interest to Spartacus is taken by Cassius and in a vain attempt tried to woo over in order for Cassius to feel empowered and strong. After Varinia is rescued by the Spartans, Spartacus develops feelings for Varinia and the fact that he is able to win over her allows for film makers to show the power a good male character can have over an evil nemesis. Gladiator also shows how women can be tried to be won over in order for a feeling of power when Commodus attempts to seduce his sister Lucillia in a similar manner to Maximus. While the previous feelings between Maximus and Lucillia are gone the fact that he was able to get her while Commodus wasn’t is an annoyance to Commodus. In order to have a feeling of strength like that of Maximus, Commodus feels the need to prove his strength by having Lucillia as his own. Ben-Hur also shows signs of women being seen as trophies to men even if they are relatives and not love interests. Ben-Hur fights for his mother