As Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey arrives in cinemas, author Holly Price explores the timeless story at its heart. Looking beyond the epic battles and legendary adventures, she uncovers a powerful message about faithfulness, disappointment and the King who never breaks his promises.
Faithfulness is hardly the most glamorous virtue. Yet this summer, from Taylor Swift’s wedding to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, stories of enduring love seem to be everywhere.
Nolan’s ambitious adaptation brings gritty realism to a story that has captivated audiences for centuries. Travelling with Odysseus is a visceral experience – we too feel blinded by the lightning, battered by the wind, and deafened by the cries of war. No idyllic Mediterranean postcards in sight! Yet, in a story full of heroic exploits, Nolan shines a light on a different kind of courage: the strength to remain faithful when the waiting seems endless.
Nolan shines a light on a different kind of courage: the strength to remain faithful when the waiting seems endless.
In Homer’s original tale, Odysseus is introduced as “the man of many ways”, renowned for his cunning and endurance. The pinnacle of his success is the Trojan Horse, which finally ends a ten-year war.
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But where the ancient poet celebrates the trick, the modern auteur questions the cost. Odysseus (played expertly by Matt Damon) is a weary, war-torn soul, burdened by memories of Troy. Although his adventures dominate the running time, the story’s centre of gravity remains in Ithaca, thanks to Anne Hathaway’s powerful performance as Penelope. A kingdom with no king. This has been Queen Penelope’s reality for 20 years.
Bound by Zeus’ law of hospitality, she hosts dozens of suitors who have effectively occupied her home. Yet through wit, patience and determination, she repeatedly postpones the day she must choose between them.
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Patience, however, should not be mistaken for passivity. “I saw her as this incredible, active, ride-or-die partner,”
Patience, however, should not be mistaken for passivity. “I saw her as this incredible, active, ride-or-die partner,” Hathaway said. “She genuinely loves [Odysseus] with her whole fiery soul.” (Empire) While Odysseus often appears to choose risk over responsibility, Penelope continues to choose him. Not simply out of duty, but out of a fierce and enduring love. That makes her surprisingly counter-cultural. Surrounded by voices urging her to move on, she remains steadfast without becoming bitter, naïve or weak.
Penelope is said to have eyes like Athena’s: the wisdom to see through appearances. Before Odysseus leaves for Troy, Penelope makes this request: “Promise me you will come back.” His response is painfully human: “What if I can’t?” Later, he warns: “Don’t look for gods in men. You’ll just be disappointed.” It is a warning Penelope understands better than anyone. Throughout the film, the heroic king is revealed to be far more human than legend suggests. The question hanging over the story is not simply whether Odysseus will return, but whether faithfulness can survive disappointment.
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History tells us of a King without greed, pretence or self-interest. He understands waiting, loss and faithfulness better than any of us. Before leaving those closest to him, Jesus said: “The time is coming – indeed it’s here now – when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32–33, NLT) This King made promises to us, and we can trust that he will remain faithful to them, even though we are often far more like Odysseus than Penelope.
How does he respond to our wandering, our pride and our many failures? With hospitality beyond anything Homer imagined. He welcomes us to his table. He calls us members of his family and shares his inheritance with us. He promises never to leave us. Jesus went to the cross to overcome our faithlessness. He keeps his promise even when we break ours, carrying our side of it as well as his own. This is the kind of enduring love we long for.
Perhaps that is why stories like The Odyssey still capture our imagination. Beneath all the battles and adventures lies a deeper yearning: for a faithfulness stronger than our failures.
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