1. MARCUS VS. CAESAR

This Summer Day, an overpowering silence filled the crowded ampitheatre, for Marcus Petronicus, Rome's greatest gladiator was to fight his son, Mentis.

The battle was long. Each fought with eyes filled with tears. The older began to show his supremacy and experience. Finally Mentis found himself pinned to the earth by the point of his father's sword trembling an inch above his throat.

Macrus gazed up for a long time at Caesar sitting on his lofty throne. The agonizing seconds slipped past.

“What kind of inhuman brute must he be to torture us so”, he rasped to himself.

Suddenly Caesar's arm flashed downward.

“Kill him!”, he roared.

But Marcus bent down and kissed his son, and when he stood up to walk away, a hail of assassins' arrows ended his life.

2. THE WITTIEST MAN ON EARTH

The heart of his opponent stood out for all the world to see: exposed, naked, helpless, unable to wriggle free from the steel tight intellectual grasp that held it pinned like a mountain butterfly.

“I've won”, thought he. I shall be the champion of the whole world. History will call me the wittiest man of the Year 2006.”

In front of all these millions of viewers watching, hiding behind the video cameras, his opponent looked like a deflated balloon.

A smile played across the victor's lips.

“Well Mr Balloon”. The audience laughed.

“What would you like me to do for you? Show you my mercy?” They laughed again. “...by letting you crawl back into your mothers womb? Eh, Mr Balloon?”

Everyone screeched with laughter, even the cameraman. “The rules forbid the use of physical violence against your opponent, but even if one could use it, it would do no good”, thought the vanquished competitor, for he knew he was totally beaten.

“I resign”, he croaked.

The audience went wild and gave the new world champion a standing ovation which left the victim enough time to slink away, unnoticed, by the side exit.

QUESTIONS AND STUDY

1. Why did the gladiator sacrifice his life for his son?

Is it because:

1. he wanted to give his son a chance to be like him?

2. He was too old to go on much longer?

3. He wanted to die like a hero?

4. He hated Caesar?

5. He loved his son more than himself?

6. He lost control of his mind?

7. He could no longer live with himself if he killed his son?

8. He lost faith in his leader?

9. He asked the question: Why?

   Choose the reason you think most plausible, and justify it in a few lines.
   
   
   

2. The world champion wit of the year 2006 is even more savage than some of our early ancestors.

Why is it virtually impossible for him to show mercy?

Choose what you think most plausible, and justify your choice.

1. The society in which he lives has no real conception of the word.

2. His heart is nothing more than a machine.

3. He wants to be the world champion.

4. He thinks:”If I don't get him first, he will get me.”

5. He confuses mercy with hypocrisy.

6. He believes he is right.

7. He is afraid.

3. Which do you think is the most horrible? The World Champion Wit? The audience? Or the loser? Why?
   
   
   

4. In the positions they occupy, what different shades of fear are felt by:

1. the gladiator?

2. His son?

3. Sean Reilly?

4. The young man?

5. The World Champion Wit?

6. The loser?

Choose one of the above and write a few lines on it.





3. Fear is the great unifying factor of all these people.
   Which is stronger in them, and why?

1. The fear of killing?

2. The fear of being killed?

3. The fear of losing?

4. The fear of winning?