The Princess Bride

[ The Dread Pirate Roberts (Carry Elwes) in black has just climbed the cliff.  Inigo Montoya and Roberts just had a heartfelt conversation about Inigo's past to give Roberts time to rest before the sword fight. ]

So this is just another fun fight scene right?  Well, yes, but it is far more than that.  So Roberts (the man in black) is pursuing these people who have have captured Princess Buttercup.  Inigo is there to stop him, but they begin with pleasantries which is odd concerning they are going to a fight to the death soon.  So why do you think that Inigo gave Roberts time to rest?  We have multiple answers.

The first answer is that Inigo is a sportsman, he believes in fair play.  This is something that is sorely needed in our culture today.  So many people play sports and other games for the soul point of beating their opponents mercilessly.  Inigo knows he himself is an excellent swordsman so he wants to give Roberts as much time to rest so that Roberts can give his full effort back.  Inigo wants a good match all around.  This is how my dad taught me to be at sporting events.  I have always wanted hard fought, good matches of strength and skill.  When one team is amazing it doesn't make for a fun event for anyone involved.  This is one of the reason it is never alright to run up the score on a team.  

The second answer is that Inigo wants to challenge himself.  It is no fun fighting against an opponent that you could dispatch easily.  Where is the honor, or glory in that?  We should seek to push ourselves to ever greater endeavors, which is why Inigo and Roberts both start left handed.  They fight hard with there left hands, and then switch to their dominant hand.  They start with their weaker hand to try and make it fair contest as stated above. 

Notice that they compliment each other as they fight as well.  This is the sign of a noble man, a man who pays credit where credit is due.  Notice they never say anything negative to each other.  They do not boo, or even make jeers.  This is something that our sports culture very much needs to learn.  In any event it does nothing other than detract from the game when you jeer or boo an opponent.  They are there to compete just like the other team.  

And at the end of the scene they are left with respect for one another.  Roberts does not kill him because he finds honor, and dignity in the way that he fights, and carries himself.  And who knows what tomorrow could bring.  When we approach with a rational and open mind and close on the facts we have unexpected fruits later.  Roberts and Inigo become friends by the end of the movie.