The Role Of Warriors In Frank Miller's '300'

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Frank Miller’s “300” is a powerful tale about the demise of the Spartan warriors. Throughout the graphic novel, the Spartan’s commit acts that are considered dishonourable. They take no prisoners on the battlefield and kill Xerxes’ messengers. Many people believe the warriors failed because their actions were selfish. Although it may seem harsh, killing messengers and having no mercy are strategies the Spartan’s use. Everything the Spartan’s do has a good reason behind it. They know what is right and choose to do it, making them great warriors. Their ability to unite and fight together is admirable. Despite their heartless methods, the Spartan’s are honourable because they fight for the collective and not the individual. P1: As the Spartan army marches, young Stelios stumbles out of line. For a punishment, Stelios receives a beating from the Captain. King Leonidas observes the torture and decides to stop it by knocking out the Captain. Leonidas hands the lifeless body to Stelios and says, “No food till journey’s end. For any of us” (7). Most readers agree that this demand is cruel. Even though Stelios was the only warrior to fall, everyone received the punishment. It is believed that the actions of one warrior should not …show more content…

In return, he asks Leonidas if he could be a Spartan warrior. Leonidas takes him aside and questions him about his fighting ability. The King asks Ephialtes to raise his shield above his head. Poor Ephialtes was only able to bring the shield to his shoulders. Leonidas replied, “We fight as a single, impenetrable unit. . .. A single weak spot – and the phalanx shatters” (38). The king denies Ephialtes his wish to be a Spartan warrior because of his deformity. He rejects a worthy warrior only because he cannot hold his shield above his head. Turning down Ephialtes can be perceived as a vicious act. Leonidas does not give the poor guy a chance to prove himself in

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