Editing Commodus (Gladiator) (section)

== Personality ==
Commodus is defined by his narcissism, insecurity, and unquenchable desire for validation. Deeply envious of Maximus's strength, loyalty, and the love he receives from others, Commodus masks his feelings of inadequacy with cruelty and theatrics. He is a cunning manipulator, skilled in exploiting others' fears and weaknesses to maintain his grip on power.

While he craves love and admiration, his methods—ruling through fear, orchestrating spectacles in the Colosseum, and displaying a ruthless disregard for human life—undermine his quest for genuine connection. His obsession with control extends to his unhealthy fixation on his sister, Lucilla, whom he tries to dominate emotionally and politically.

Beneath his tyranny lies a fragile man consumed by paranoia and a need to prove himself. His cowardice is starkly evident in moments of confrontation, such as when he secretly wounds Maximus before their duel. Ultimately, Commodus’s personality is a tragic blend of ambition, weakness, and a hunger for power that alienates him from the love he so desperately seeks.