GASTKOMMENTAR - The Long Road Home – Why Odysseus Is More Relevant Than Ever for Men Today

In a commentary for Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Michael Klein suggests that the ancient hero Odysseus is more relevant than ever for modern men, particularly young males, who often grapple with self-doubt and a lack of clear role models. Klein argues that while contemporary society offers men immense freedom, to change careers, redefine family structures, express emotions freely, and explore identities, this very liberty can lead to a crisis of orientation and meaning.

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The modern man lives in a strange time. Never before has he possessed so much freedom. He can change careers, reshape family models, show feelings uninhibitedly, live out sexual orientations and identities, be a single parent or consciously forgo all of this and live as a single person.

Old gender roles have lost their certainty, and societal expectations for men are more open than ever. Yet, many men feel a void, not of freedom, but of direction. This lack of inherent orientation, which was once provided by upbringing and education, now requires an active search. Klein observes that young men today rarely speak of positive role models or heroes; instead, self-doubt and uncertainty are common themes. He stresses that a stable, mature identity cannot form in a vacuum but requires positive models and cultural narratives about successful lives and gender roles.

Klein contends that the current era makes it particularly difficult for young men to find themselves, as they may learn less from fathers and teachers who are often absent. This can result in disorientation or the formation of problematic, either radicalized or overly diffuse, male identities. The ancient epic of the Odyssey, he proposes, offers precisely what modern individuals in a crisis of meaning need: courage, resilience, and wisdom.

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If you listen to young men today, you hardly encounter stories of male role models or even heroes anymore. Much more often, self-doubt and uncertainty emerge. However, for the development of a stable, mature identity, boys need such positive models. Because identity never arises in a vacuum.

By embracing timeless archetypes like Odysseus, Klein believes men can find pathways to successful manhood and deeper maturity. The "Odysseus mania" he observes suggests a cultural hunger for these ancient stories. Odysseus, bound to his mast to resist the Sirens' deadly allure, can become a contemporary companion, offering profound messages that help guide men toward a more grounded and mature sense of self in today's complex world.

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The ancient narrative of the Odyssey offers precisely what modern people in a crisis of meaning and life can need, above all courage, resilience, and wisdom.