Leon Revisited: A Modern Day Shakespearean Tragedy.
Leon: The Professional: a timeless masterpiece that explores many of the themes found in Shakespearean tragedies.
Having an older brother is great for getting exposed to super-violent films at a young age. In my case, I was about 12 years old when I was witnessed Leon for the first time. It has been nearly three decades since this masterpiece of cinematography and storytelling Leon the Professional was released. It is one of the very few movies that I can re-watch again and again without getting bored. And I realized why this is the case. I have always admired this movie for it’s cinematic brilliance, the cinematography, the acting, the characters and the there are two loners in the movie. Rarely is it analyzed for its emotional resonance, and I dare say profound spiritual themes. From a spiritual and personality perspective, the movie offers a unique exploration of connection, and redemption that makes it resonate deeply with people even if they don’t know why. The movie’s exploration of human complexity and its emphasis on emotional growth make it a timeless tale of the soul's capacity for healing and transcendence.
Like many Shakespearean tragedies, Leon explores profound emotional connections amidst a backdrop of violence and chaos. The bond between Léon and Mathilda is pure yet tragic, echoing relationships like Romeo and Juliet, where love blooms in an environment destined for heartbreak. e
Leon: The Tragic Hero
Léon, is a Shakespearean tragic hero, a complex character with noble qualities and fatal flaws. His isolation, naivety in emotional matters, and violent lifestyle ultimately lead to his demise.
Much like Hamlet, Léon is a man torn between his personal morality and the violent world he inhabits. His life as a hitman has left him emotionally isolated and socially stunted, evident in his childlike habits, such as caring for his plant and adhering to a regimented lifestyle. However, Léon's growing bond with Mathilda awakens his humanity, transforming him from a solitary killer into a protective guardian willing to sacrifice his life for her safety. This selflessness mirrors the nobility often found in Shakespearean heroes like Hamlet or Othello—flawed individuals whose honorable intentions drive their actions, even as they face inner and external turmoil.
Mathilda's Journey: Innocence Lost and Hope Gained
Mathilda's journey mirrors a Shakespearean tragedy, marked by loss, complex relationships, vengeance, and her role as a symbol of hope and redemption in a bittersweet resolution.
Mathilda's Journey: Innocence Lost and Hope Gained
Much like Shakespearean characters who experience profound loss, such as Hamlet grieving his father, Mathilda's story begins with tragedy. The brutal murder of her family acts as a catalyst for her journey, thrusting her into a world of violence and forcing her to navigate complex emotions far beyond her years. Like many Shakespearean characters, Mathilda is defined by her complex and morally ambiguous relationships. Her bond with Léon, though rooted in genuine care and need, blurs the lines between familial love, dependence, and a deeper, misunderstood connection, much like the layered relationships in Shakespeare’s plays (e.g., Desdemona and Othello or Hamlet and Ophelia).Mathilda's quest for vengeance against Stansfield mirrors the thirst for retribution seen in Shakespearean figures such as Hamlet or Laertes. Her need to avenge her family’s death becomes a driving force in her character arc, highlighting the destructive nature of revenge and its emotional toll.In Shakespearean tragedies, young and innocent characters often symbolize hope or redemption for the flawed heroes around them. Mathilda serves this role for Léon, helping him rediscover his humanity and ultimately giving him a purpose greater than himself, much like Cordelia’s impact on King Lear.Mathilda’s fate at the end of the film is not entirely tragic, as she is given a chance to start over, but it carries the bittersweet weight of loss and hardship. This mirrors Shakespearean endings where surviving characters, like Fortinbras in Hamlet or Malcolm in Macbeth, must carry forward the legacy of those who have fallen.
The film juxtaposes innocence (Mathilda’s youth) with corruption (Stansfield’s abuse of power) and explores how violence and trauma erode innocence.
The Exploration of Morality
Shakespearean tragedies are rich in moral exploration, delving into the consequences of human ambition, ethical dilemmas, and the struggle between virtue and vice.
The movie challenges traditional notions of right and wrong. Leon, a hitman, and Mathilda, seeking revenge, operate in morally gray areas but are portrayed with deep humanity. This ambiguity prompts viewers to reflect on the nature of morality and the complexities of human behavior. People act depending on the nature of their circumstances and may not also have the option to do the morally virtuous thing.
Shakespeare frequently blurs the lines between good and evil, highlighting the complexity of human morality. Characters often grapple with conflicting loyalties, personal desires, and societal expectations.
The film juxtaposes innocence (Mathilda’s youth) with corruption (Stansfield’s abuse of power) and explores how violence and trauma erode innocence.
Léon’s willingness to protect Mathilda, even at the cost of his own life, represents a shift from self-interest to altruism, suggesting the possibility of moral redemption even for those with a dark past.
Themes of Revenge and Justice
In Shakespearean Plays: Revenge is a recurring theme, often tied to personal loss and moral dilemmas. Characters seeking vengeance grapple with the cost of their actions. Hamlet’s quest to avenge his father’s murder drives the play’s moral tension. Similarly, in Titus Andronicus, the pursuit of revenge leads to a cycle of violence and destruction. In Léon: Mathilda seeks revenge for her family’s murder, and Léon becomes her protector and avenger. The film, like Shakespeare’s plays, questions whether vengeance can restore balance or merely perpetuate further loss and suffering.
The corruption and moral ambiguity of authority figures.
In Shakespearean tragedies, figures of authority frequently embody moral corruption, exploiting their power for personal gain or succumbing to greed and ambition. This corruption destabilizes the social order and drives the tragic narrative.
Themes of Sacrifice and Redemption
Léon ultimately redeems himself by giving Mathilda a chance at a better life, mirroring the self-sacrifices seen in characters like Hamlet or King Lear.
Leon’s willingness to risk his life for Mathilda’s safety marks his ultimate redemption. It’s a spiritual act of selflessness, transforming him from a taker of lives to a savior. His death is not in vain; it ensures Mathilda’s survival and symbolizes the spiritual concept of finding peace through acts of love and sacrifice. For Léon, his death is also a form of freedom. His life as a hitman had trapped him in an existence of violence and isolation. In sacrificing himself, he not only liberates Mathilda but also frees himself from a life that had little meaning or joy until their bond formed.
Final Thoughts
The essence of a Shakespearean tragedy, if boiled down to one thing, is the exploration of human flaws and the inevitable consequences of those flaws, often leading to personal and societal destruction. Shakespearean tragedies focus on the tension between individual choices, fate, and moral responsibility, highlighting how a character’s inner conflict drives their downfall while also reflecting universal human experiences.
The Core Connection: Human Flaws and Redemption
At its heart, both Léon and Shakespearean tragedies explore the duality of human nature—the struggle between flaws and virtues—and how these define one’s fate. Léon’s transformation from a detached killer to a selfless protector mirrors the emotional depth and moral complexity of Shakespearean tragic heroes, making the film a modern reflection of timeless themes.
Symbolism in Leon’s Houseplant
The plant symbolizes Léon’s own existence: rooted but not truly grounded. Like the plant, Léon lives a transient life, confined to his small apartment and the narrow parameters of his job as a hitman. Both Léon and the plant are resilient but lack freedom to truly grow. Léon cares for the plant with tenderness and dedication, reflecting his hidden capacity for nurturing and innocence. While he lives in a world of violence, the plant represents a part of Léon that remains untainted and gentle. At the end of the film, Mathilda plants the houseplant in the ground, fulfilling a symbolic transformation. By doing so, she roots the plant in soil, giving it a chance to grow freely. This act represents hope, liberation, and new beginnings for Mathilda, as she carries forward Léon’s legacy and love. The plant embodies a spiritual message about the fragility and resilience of life. In a world filled with death and destruction, it stands as a reminder of the enduring potential for growth and renewal.