Game of Thrones Advent Calendar - 26

And, because this advent calendar goes up to the end of December, door number 26:

Speech-wrecker (Part 8) - Mercorabilia

Continuing the twist on the speech-wrecker theme today with a fresh look at Russell Crowe's speech in Gladiator.

Maximus: Three weeks from now, I will be pushing up the daisies. Imagine where you will be, and it will be a nice image in your head while you die. Hold the line! Stay still for pity’s sake! If you find yourself hallucinating, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, don’t worry. 'Cause basically you’ve had it! Brothers, what we do in life... is all we do in life. Roma Victor!

From the Mind of Merc - Javert and the Scarlet Pimpernel

Today’s post is a little earlier than usual but once again I won’t have internet access this evening. 

Short one today but it occurred to me the other day that there have been countless revolts, episodes of unrest and complaints about the rich living it up at the expense of the poor. The French Revolution was one of the greatest uprisings in support of this cause yet the man who endeavours to save the privileged aristocrats (i.e. The Scarlet Pimpernel) is the one who is lauded and praised. Surely it is Chauvelin who is the hero of the people – seeking to bring down this opposer of the people’s justice – rather than the masked ‘vigilante’ who instead seeks to save his upper class fellows. 

I’m not saying I’m in favour of the death penalty (in fact the opposite) nor that the Revolution didn’t get carried away (as perhaps demonstrated by the fact that one of its chief perpetrators – Robespierre – ended up as a victim of the mob and his own prized machine Madame Guillotine) but maybe those cast as villains are in fact the true heroes & those who would be seen as the saviours are in fact the sinners.

 

The character of Javert in Les Miserables also seeks to maintain the inequality that exists in society and bring about the destruction and downfall of those who rebel against it – yet he is cast as the villain. 

 

Both Javert and the Pimpernel seek to maintain or encourage the status quo, both are against the revolution, both are powerful figures in the their own right but where one is acclaimed the other is accursed – isn’t perspective an interesting thing?