More thoughts on Homer’s and Nolen’s Odysseys
Homer’s Odysseus is a hero in the Ancient Greek sense of being larger than life and achieving his goal. He is wise, strong, brave, and handsome. He is also cunning and full of hubris. The gods play a major role in his life and his outcome, as well as everyone else’s. Humans and supernatural creatures inhabit one indivisible world.
In director Christopher Nolen’s film, the only goddess-like figure – presumably Athena played by Zendaya – acts as Odysseus’ conscience personified and has the face of a real human priestess of Athena we see killed at the temple in Troy. Interacting with her is like having an inner conversation rather than dealing with an individual supernatural being with agency. Zeus’s law is for all practical purposes the biblical golden rule. Nolen’s Odysseus recognizes economic interests as the forces that shape human behavior and societies, which is basically Marx’s historical materialism. He is also a faithful and loving husband and father, with strong moral sense, struggling with guilt and remorse. He is a materialist with Christian values. All supernatural creature and elements seem to me simply good visuals present only because they are familiar to the audience and provide exciting episodes.
What I see in Nolen’s Odyssey is an honorable, moral, and brave man coming to terms with the flaws of the world he loves and with the decline of his culture. I feel surprised it took me some time to realize this, especially since I’ve been talking about decline and decadence already.
In Homer’s conclusion, the hero returns and reclaims his throne while some of his subjects attempt a new war against him. The goddess Athena finally intervenes and commands peace. In Nolen’s finale, the hero returns and reclaims his throne, but because of the bloodshed he has done, he abdicates, establishes his son as the rightful heir, and goes into exile.
I have to admit by this point of the film I was exhausted of the jerky and unbalanced storytelling and was halfway checked out, but I do remember something in the dialogue of the farewell scene between father and son that sounded like a new beginning. Odysseus – and I think Nolen – recognizes the decline and death of his culture but is optimistic of a rebirth. My question is: does the rebirth stem from the same root, or is it something else, entirely different, that takes over the emptied space? Since the son is enthroned, I’m inclined to think Nolen is hopeful for a rebirth from the same root. He may also not believe that there is a different or opposing option available and any human destiny is simply the next one. To this second thought my response is: why, then, is humanity so obsessed with its continuation and so fearful of its demise?
