The tragic hero is the main protagonist of a tragedy generally.In Aristotles poetics we learn that the tragic hero needs to be not better or worse morally than the normal person so it is someone the audience could identify with and can evoke pity or fair from the audience.Maximus is a tragic hero by roman and greek definitions.Though the roman and greek definitions for a tragic hero slightly there are common characteristics or plot lines that the tragic hero generally allows in both genre of tragedy.

The hero must be noble in nature ,but imperfect so the audience can see themselves in it.Maximus is a noble man he has and shows fine personal qualities or high moral principles, he was a man of noble rank he was the commander of the the emperor Marcus Aurelius’ army especially in former times.However he also has imperfect qualities about him