GALICIA, Julia Ashley A.

BSBM – 1B

Reflection Paper on Alexander

What’s with power? Why do people hunger for it? These questions were running on
my mind while watching the movie, Alexander. Right now, I still wonder for an answer. The
movie featured the life of Alexander the great that was narrated by Ptolemy. Throughout the
film, Alexander left a lot of remarkable statements that showed his visions in life. It was also
evident in the movie that “with great power comes great responsibility” just like the notable line
of Spider-Man. With that, a king like Alexander has to be ready to sacrifice and give everything
that is called for his duty.

The way Alexander was raised by her mother Queen Olympias, by his father King Philip
or by the guidance of Zeus, the stories that were told to him, and his surroundings allowed
him to bloom into a man that is capable to lead his path and the world. Without any of those,
Alexander will not be ambitious and courageous in achieving everything he has done.

To discuss, this paper will focus on his visions in politics, slaves for instance, and its
effects on his life. This will also indicate his views on fear, education, women, and honor.

On their first war, Alexander mentioned to his soldiers that they are there as
Macedonian freemen and not like their opponents who are just paid to fight. For him, assuring
them that they have just reason to fight will encourage them. He even mentioned that “the
greatest honor that the man can achieve is to live great courage and to die with his countrymen
in the battle for his home”. In this scene, I am amazed by his ability to speak on his citizens.
However, when he executed Cleitus for judging the freedom that his people have which is to
bow before and serve him, I feel troubled. Cleitus could be right. That is the time when
Alexander went too much for aiming more than they could attain that he forget the welfare of
his people.

With this, one can assert that the comfort and payoff to the soldiers who fight for their
country is a must. The assurance they have been holding for so long left them. This act of
slavery to the soldiers is no longer just. In line with this are its effects on his visions in life. He
was able to declare remarkable thoughts about fear.
I was astonished when Alexander mentioned his perspective on fear. According to him, fear
of death causes all our misfortunes and it drives all men. He also said that fear men fight better
but to conquer fear, one will be able to conquer death. Alexander is right. Having a stronghold
on what you believe will lead you for whatever it is that you want. This is one of the positive
effects of his visions in life.

It was also noticeable that during their time, education is important for him. He paid the
debts of the Indians, gave dowries for the women to have husbands, and gave the children a
proper education and military training. Alexander wanted to educate them against believing in
anything. This may be a result of his realization when Aristotle was his teacher. Alexander saw
the importance of learning. The tax system was already imposed by this time. His leadership
is great that the civilization they have is advanced.

On the other side of everything, there are cons, the negative effects. Alexander also
had to marry a barbarian woman with no political significance. I felt really sad watching the
pain of Hephaistion. Their partnership was the first love team of not a straight relationship that
I felt the “kilig”. I thought Alexander loved Hephaistion so much but his duty in allying with
different leaders around the world is more important for him. Here, being able to sacrifice your
feelings for your duties shows Alexander’s stand. There is a line on the movie that says “You
must never confuse your feelings with your duties. A king must make public gestures for the
common people.” When Alexander aimed for too much and took his common people for
granted is the time that I did not feel good for what is about to happen. The film also showed
Alexander’s view on women, wherein for him women are far more dangerous than men. At
this point, I wonder why Alexander is afraid of women. Maybe it is because of his mother or
his learnings from the past.

Alexander also has visions regarding honor. He said that to strive for honor is the
highest purpose of all, to follow reason, to love excellence is truly to love the gods. His passion
for education can be reflected here. He thought that through education one can attain
excellence and he holds on to that. Also, for him all greatness comes from loss and success
is as corrupt as a failure. I agree with his statements. Nothing has nothing and everything can
give you everything.

Alexander the great is a human too. Even with his greatness, he feels, he experience
pain, and he dies. With Bucephalus, his horse, I realized that we all need a companion, not a
lover, wife or husband, but someone who will be there for us always. One who will be there to
join us in every battle we may face and that is important. The nature of humanity was also
shown in the ways of his generals. Betrayal. They killed Alexander by giving him poison on
his drink. They were afraid that Alexander will do more and he will also kill them for not liking
and joining his path. Is this really our nature? When the titan’s ashes were mixed on us, we all
have this dark side in our lives? That could be, but serving the true good purpose of your vision
is more beneficial than to let this titan inside us take control.

They all have their flaws and faults. But indeed what Alexander has done is great. Yet,
a lesson this left on us is that everything has opposites and we have to be ready for it. Positivity
and negativity, peace and war, too much and nothing, educated and a fool, feelings and duties,
and powerful and powerless. All of us can be separated by these. To answer the question,
what’s it with power? What is it for taking the lead and be a king? As I contemplate, I realized
it is to sacrifice what you could do for the common good of all. People may not fully understand
you, your visions and missions, but as long as you do what you should all you need is to be
courageous, just like Megas Alexandros, the greatest of them all. “For the glory and the
memory of man will always belong to the ones who follow their great visions.”