About the tragedy of Caracalla.
This is only an opinion about my favorite character in the movie, based only on the events we see. (Spoilers ahead)
I remember when I saw this scene, I found it so tender and later I understood how sad it is.
This episode shows an unexpected and human side of Caracalla. Hiding under the table, in such a chaotic moment, seems almost a reflection of a child seeking refuge, completely overwhelmed, as if he were having a childhood regression. I get the impression that this act not only reveals his emotional fragility, but also speaks of how Geta's humiliation, by throwing the wine at his face and the insult to his beloved monkey, touched a deeper wound, perhaps related to his self-esteem or to the problems of their sibling relationship.
Then we have Macrinus. By intervening, not only calms the moment, but positions himself as someone who can influence Caracalla. That relationship of temporary dependence on Macrinus seems to me a reflection of how Caracalla needed control figures in his life. There is a contrast in that moment: an emperor under a table, estranged from his people, but also from the brother who once protected him from adversity.
Macrinus’ manipulation strikes me as the final blow to a mind already fractured by syphilis, lead poisoning, and years of family tensions. Caracalla was clearly deeply unbalanced, and I find it especially significant that Geta, who used to manage his mental state, was no longer there to act as an emotional buffer. Geta's death not only eliminates his political rival, but also the one who, on some level, still represented a protective figure for him.
In this context, the moment when Caracalla is stabbing Geta and, according to the original script, it seems that tears are welling up in his eyes is crucial to me. I think that during those seconds, there was a moment of clarity in his mind. Maybe, in the midst of the frenzy, he really heard his brother's words telling him that he loved him and had always protected him, even from their own father. This detail leads me to think that Caracalla, although manipulated and unbalanced, wasn't completely insensitive to what Geta meant to him. In that instant, he was not only eliminating a political rival and a traitor, but he was also destroying the deepest and most authentic bond he had ever had in his life.
The scene later (again, in the original screenplay), where Caracalla asks Macrinus about his brother as if he had forgotten his fraticide, seems devastating to me. It speaks of a complete disconnect with reality, possibly fueled by guilt and denial. When he says that “he would be so happy for me” I see a reflection of how, deep down, he longed for a different relationship with Geta, one in which they could support each other. But in the end, it’s all tinged with irony and tragedy.
This leaves me thinking about how family dynamics and the pressures of power can destroy even the deepest bonds. For me, Geta was the only one who understood Caracalla and managed his inner demons. His death wasnt only the result of political manipulation, but the ultimate collapse of a bond of love that had, at one point, been authentic. The tragedy of Caracalla is that, by eliminating Geta, he also eliminated the last connection to a version of himself that was not completely consumed by frustration, illness and dementia.
I also want to point out this moment.
Look at his face, he even stared at the spot where his brother had been sitting. It's very likely that Geta felt regret after that moment. From my perspective, Geta's emotional context in that scene is key to understanding his reaction. He is clearly under extreme stress: the tensions with his brother, the anger of the people, and the weight of his own responsibilities in a fractured empire. Throwing wine at Caracalla and mocking his pet seems like an impulsive outburst, maybe motivated more by accumulated frustration than by a genuine desire to hurt him.
The fact that Geta stands still, staring at the place where Caracalla had been, serious and unmoving, is very revealing. This gesture can be interpreted as an immediate sign of regret. Maybe, at that moment, Geta realized he had crossed a line. Calling Dondus, an "filthy ape" isn't just a mockery of the animal but also an indirect attack on something Caracalla deeply values. Despite their conflicts, Geta had been a protector to Caracalla in the past, and this moment seems to clash with that part of his identity.
On the other hand, that later silence might reflect a mixture of emotions, concern about having hurt his brother and a late introspection about the fragility of their bond. It's possible that Geta understood in that instant that his words and actions wouldn't bridge the distance between them but would instead widen it. This makes the moment even more tragic, as it shows that even amidst resentment, fraternal love was still present, albeit buried beneath layers of pride, anger, and external pressures.
So, I do believe that Geta likely felt bad. That outburst seems more like a reflection of his own vulnerability than a true disdain for Caracalla, and his subsequent reaction suggests he was aware of the damage he had caused, even if he didn't express it outright.
