THE LUST FOR BLOOD

 Alecia Dager, Foothill College:  "Brutality and Death Entertainment."

Brutal Entertainment
In every society, some form of entertainment is present. From board games to athletic events to theatrical spectacles, people throughout time have sought ways to occupy their leisure time. Forms of entertainment also tell us a lot about the values of society. In all of the ancient societies I have studied, none has enjoyed a form of entertainment as brutal as the glatiatorial games of ancient Rome.

The Games Are Barbaric
As Westerners, we look to the Romans as being one of the greatest civilizations in history. They achieved new things and influenced modern society. Yet in all of our praise of the Romans, we seem to overlook the fact that one of the most basic aspects of their life was the enjoyment of the gladiatorial games. These games, which consisted of fights to the death between humans, animals, or both, were the highlight of Roman entertainment. These bloody, barbaric rituals would hardly be considered part of a civilized society today, yet we continue to view the Romans as one of the greatest civilizations of ancient times. Why do we seem to overlook these brutalities? Do we accept death as a form of entertainment because it existed in society so long ago? Before studying ancient Rome, I had no idea that the Romans killed each other and wild animals for fun! Do most people, like me, simply not know about the brutality that was experienced?

Why Was Death Entertainment?
The idea that people would flock to huge stadiums to cheer on the gruesome gladiatorial games disgusts me. How could people possibly view death as a form of entertainment? And yet the more they saw, the more they craved. I wonder how these "games" began, and why they became so popular.

Games Serve as Outlet For Evil Tendencies

There is a theory that assumes that people are born evil, and that society forces people to suppress their evil desires and behave themselves. If left without rules, people will revert back to their savage instincts. This theory is explored in the novel Lord of the Flies, in which several young boys are abandoned on a deserted island. Without adults to guide them toward civilized behavior, the boys revert to killing each other and wild beasts for fun. This theory of instinctual savagery may help explain why Romans were so interested in the gladiatorial games. Perhaps these games helped to fill the need to revert back to savagery.

Americans Also Enjoy Violent Entertainment
However, reverting to the point of filling arenas with citizens screaming for more blood and more death seems so unlikely. Perhaps the Romans began with less extreme measures, but continued to need more as their addiction for gore grew. After all, violence has been a public spectacle for centuries. From public stoning, hanging, and burning of criminals to violence on TV, society has always had a yearning for gore. In modern society, violence on television used to be nonexistent. But now blood and death is seen on TV and in the movies all the time. Are people today, like the Romans, just becoming more tolerant? Does this mean that, if we continue at our current rate, Americans will one day be filling arenas, screaming for blood and death? It seems we are already part-way there. I have heard that many people watch ice hockey not for the actual game, but simply for the bloody fights between players. And boxing is certainly not declining in popularity now that fighters are biting chunks out of each other. It seems that we are not so above the Romans after all!

Games Are Cathartic
The gladiatorial games could have also been a way for Romans to get out their frustrations. Rather than taking out their anger on other people, they would go to the games to "let it all out". The games were cathartic, as well as a way for Romans to forget about their own problems and "escape" from life. And

Games Lessen Fear of Death
The games may have also served as a way to condition people not to fear death. In a society in which huge armies were busily conquering and maintaining new territories, people needed a way to learn to tolerate death. Or perhaps the fact that they were surrounded by death led to their tolerance, which was reinforced by the games. It is easy to see who was valued and praised in Roman society: criminals were quickly sent to be ripped apart by wild beasts, but champion Gladiators, like successful members of the military, were cheered as heroes.

Games Keep People Busy
The emporer encouraged the games because the games kept citizens busy all day. And citizens who are busy and happy watching games are not plotting against the government. The government knew that they had to keep the masses happy, and the gladiatorial games served this purpose.

What Would I Have Done?
I would like to think that if I lived in ancient Rome, I would not have gone anywhere near the gladiatorial games. But perhaps this idea is a little too close-minded. The games may seem brutal to me simply because by today's standards they are considered barbarian and strange. However, the games were such an accepted part of Roman society. So if I lived back then, I may not have had any objection to them. And although I also must admit that a lot of the violence on TV and in the movies doesn't bother me, I think it would be much different if the spectacles were real, rather than acted out.

Reasoning That The Games Are Okay
I also think that people have a way of dissociating themselves from things like mass murder if they want to. They no longer think about what they're really doing-taking a life away. And we often think it's okay to kill people in war because their policies don't agree with ours, or to even to electrocute a rapist or because "he deserves it". The Romans thought it was okay to kill the criminals, weak warriors, and slaves of their time. But what about the innocent people, and the animals? I don't think I could ever enjoy their destruction, no matter what society told me.

Not Everyone Liked the Games
Although most people readily went to and constantly talked about the games, not everyone agreed with the idea of such slaughter. Seneca publicly expressed his disgust with the games, and many citizens agreed with him. So I would not have been alone in my objections. However, on the whole, most people lived for the games.

Games Were Just Entertainment
Whether they served mostly to appease the masses, provide a cathartic form of entertainment, or even condition people against death, the gladiatorial games were an integral part of ancient Roman society. Huge amphitheaters, hundred- day festivals, and thousands of sacrificed humans and beasts were dedicated to the games, and provided almost endless entertainment for the people of Rome.

March 1998, By Dr. K. Feig

LUST FOR BLOOD