Anton Bruckner
Puritan Board Professor
I watched parts of this movie early this week and couldn't help but notice the ethics of Quintus.
When Commodus gave the orders for Quintus to execute Maximus, Quintus had no reservations in ordering his underlings to take Maximus out and execute him.
Maximus asked Quintus to spare his family to which Quintus replied, "They will join you in the afterlife".
In considering Quintus, he had no problems obeying Commodus. He even pointed out that Maximus's disobedience to Commodus was, "Unwise". Maximus on the other hand after realizing what a snake Quintus was in murdering the old Emperor behaved totally indignant and disrespectful towards him. "The days for honoring yourself will soon be at an end, highness", "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius......and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next".
What determination can be made on the behavior of Quintus? Was he simply a good soldier that followed orders? Or was he immoral in carrying out sinful orders? How does this relates to Romans 13? Is Maximus the bad guy and Quintus the good guy in light of this scripture or the contrary? Can Quintus be likened to a soldier in the Nazi army? How are we to evaluate subordinates that carry out dastardly deeds of their master whether ignorantly? Can they hide under the cloak of duty?
When Commodus gave the orders for Quintus to execute Maximus, Quintus had no reservations in ordering his underlings to take Maximus out and execute him.
Maximus asked Quintus to spare his family to which Quintus replied, "They will join you in the afterlife".
In considering Quintus, he had no problems obeying Commodus. He even pointed out that Maximus's disobedience to Commodus was, "Unwise". Maximus on the other hand after realizing what a snake Quintus was in murdering the old Emperor behaved totally indignant and disrespectful towards him. "The days for honoring yourself will soon be at an end, highness", "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius......and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next".
What determination can be made on the behavior of Quintus? Was he simply a good soldier that followed orders? Or was he immoral in carrying out sinful orders? How does this relates to Romans 13? Is Maximus the bad guy and Quintus the good guy in light of this scripture or the contrary? Can Quintus be likened to a soldier in the Nazi army? How are we to evaluate subordinates that carry out dastardly deeds of their master whether ignorantly? Can they hide under the cloak of duty?