3,000-Year-Old Hero's Tale Resonates Today: 'Odyssey' Explores Complex Inner Lives and Hospitality

Christopher Nolan's cinematic reimagining of Homer's ancient epic, 'The Odyssey,' has captivated audiences, generating a phenomenon-like interest that extends to the literary world. Sales of related books, including five translations of the original 'Odyssey,' have skyrocketed, with many libraries reporting all copies on loan. Publishers are rushing to reprint, and authors are in high demand for media appearances and lectures.

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So he reached his own land, and saw his own people, and his own high-roofed house.

This resurgence of interest in a 3,000-year-old tale of a hero's arduous journey home after a decade of war begs the question: why does it resonate so powerfully today? The 'Odyssey' chronicles the trials of Odysseus, a man of many twists and turns, adept at improvisation and strategy, as he overcomes ten major hardships over ten years to return to his homeland, Ithaca, only to arrive in rags. Despite its fantastical adventures, the temptations, insults, and suffering Odysseus endures mirror the trials faced by many in their own lives. He is lauded as a "hero with a human face" and a "character who learns and changes through experience," possessing a complex inner life more akin to a modern novel protagonist than a purely mythical figure.

Lee Jun-seok, a professor at Korea National Open University, described Odysseus in his 2023 translation commentary as someone who becomes "increasingly cautious and somber, to the point where one wonders if he is the same person." However, his self-control and overall judgment become "incomparably more seasoned." The ancient Greek tradition of 'xenia,' or hospitality, also offers a surprisingly modern perspective in today's world, which is often characterized by exclusion and aversion. The law of Zeus, the god of hospitality and travelers, mandates unconditional welcome to strangers. Those who violate this law in the 'Odyssey' face retribution, while characters consistently emphasize the importance of hospitality.

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He is increasingly cautious and somber, to the point where one wonders if he is the same person. However, his self-control and overall judgment become incomparably more seasoned.

When Odysseus returns disguised as a beggar, his wife Penelope, though not recognizing him, instructs her maids to wash him and prepare a sleeping place, knowing that "welcomed guests" will spread the owner's reputation. Conversely, Penelope's suitors, who seek to usurp Odysseus's home in his absence, violate the rules of hospitality and ultimately face judgment. Jang Eun-soo, CEO of the Editorial Culture Lab, notes that "in the 'Odyssey,' civilization collapses when hospitality collapses, when the safety net disintegrates." He suggests this carries a profound message for an era like the "Trump era," marked by the collapse of a world order maintained for 80 years.

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In the 'Odyssey,' civilization collapses when hospitality collapses, when the safety net disintegrates.

Therefore, criticisms labeling the casting of Lupita Nyong'o as Helena and Elliot Page as Sinon in Nolan's film as excessive "political correctness" may stem from a misunderstanding of the epic's core spirit. The 'Odyssey' has seen multiple Korean translations since the first by Cheon Byeong-hee in 1996, with five full translations now available. This fervent interest is a welcome development for lovers of classical literature, as Jang Eun-soo puts it, "Classical works are meant to be read when the opportunity arises, whether through drama or film. When else will we get to read them?" The question of whether to read the original text or watch the adaptation first is a common dilemma, but for a work as complex and symbolic as the 'Odyssey,' reading the original first enriches the film experience.

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Classical works are meant to be read when the opportunity arises, whether through drama or film. When else will we get to read them?