Gladiator · Theme
Society's Rejection of the Exceptional
How Gladiator develops Society's Rejection of the Exceptional.
Society fears and resents what it cannot understand or control. Hugo's strength makes him a target of envy, suspicion, and hostility, whether in the steel mill, at college, or in politics, illustrating how communities punish those who deviate from the norm.
Where it surfaces
- Arrival at Webster
Hugo's exceptional abilities are met with disbelief and scrutiny, and he must carefully manage his performance to avoid being seen as a freak or diseased.
- XVIII
Society, represented by the police and the bank, cannot tolerate Hugo's exceptional nature and seeks to control or eliminate him.
- Chapter XIX
Hugo's superhuman abilities are hidden; he is treated as a mere laborer, and his strength is exploited without recognition.
- Chapter XXI
Hugo's attempt to single-handedly change society is met with resistance and doubt, highlighting the tension between individual power and collective will.