In the realm of mythology, there are few stories that capture the excitement as that of Homer's sequel to "The Iliad," which is the more popular "The Odyssey." How could it not be considered at least more exciting, especially given that it features some of Greek mythology's most iconic archetypes, such as the sirens, the cyclopes, and several iconic Gods creating mischief for Odysseus' simple trip back home. For a story that's over a millennia old, it manages to convey a lot of the familiar beats that influenced modern literature. It's the hero's journey, and done so through 24 books that manage to show that one journey home from battle can be more interesting than a simple journey across the sea.
For those worried about having to read "The Iliad" ahead of "The Odyssey," just know that the story is embedded well enough into the plot that it doesn't necessarily matter. There is a brief glance at the triumph of Odysseus against his enemies in a bloody battle that sees him come back a victor. However, the story cannot be that simple. A series of Greek gods decide to make his journey home a lot more difficult, shifting the seas and creating temptresses along the way. What's incredible is that the story has the foresight not just to tell the story from Odysseus' perspective, but from multiple that includes a conversation among the gods, as well as his own family that eagerly await his call. They are tired of having suitors loiter around Odysseus' home, waiting to take his wife as their own. It creates a new journey, and one that's full of mystery. Can Odysseus get home in time to save his wife from the foes that took advantage of his absence?
What's most striking about this story isn't so much the effective use of Greek mythology, but that it was originally never written down. It was constructed by Homer, a blind man who told the story orally among his peers, who would continue to share it until centuries later when it finally made it to print. It's impossible to tell what's changed in the drafts since, but the story remains compelling just the same. For as rudimentary as some of the passages can be, the story inevitably has an emotional struggle in each of the characters that drives the plot forward. It becomes easy to root for Odysseus' journey in part because the peril that lies ahead seems greater than any supernatural foe. His wife and family are of greater importance than the choppy seas. For a story that was written before plot twists and several archetypes became the norm, it's incredible to think of how innovative Homer's storytelling skills are. It isn't just fantasy, but a journey that's rather human, pitting Odysseus against unfathomable foes. It's almost more interesting because of that.
If "The Odyssey" has any fault, it's how familiar it is to modern pop culture. The story has been referenced and lampooned enough that basic character struggles are understood and even predictable within the text. The battle against temptresses and cyclopes also have become the norm for modern fantasy, and create simple enough struggles that produce simple results. With that said, "The Odyssey" is full of tension and struggle to return home safely. Considering that battle would've been perceived as the worst of it all, it's fun to see a story that turns the popular characters of the time against Odysseus and force him to confront a danger in nature that's worse than any mankind struggle. If it lacks appeal because of how familiar it is, it compensates for how effectively well it sets up these later tropes and makes a story that contextualizes mythology in a way that's savage and intriguing at the same time.
Homer couldn't guess how popular his story would be centuries later. Yet there's a reason that it has managed to endure longer than most stories that came after. It isn't just because of the journey home, but that it created a story technique that many audiences, no matter what their genre preferences, could enjoy because of how human the central conflict actually was. It set the bar for whatever was to come, forcing its DNA into any story no matter what shape it took. It's easy to think of the story as dull, but it's definitely rich with excellent writing technique and suspense that has aged very well. It may play like a story of pop icons attacking the lessers, but it still is compelling because it isn't about how well you know Zeus as a character. It's how much you'll go through for love.
No comments:
Post a Comment