Odysseus the destroyer? Christopher Nolan’s new Odyssey adaptation revives an ancient moral question
The Conversation••entertainment
Key Points:
- Christopher Nolan’s upcoming 2026 film adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey may challenge traditional views by exploring the consequences of Odysseus’s actions, particularly the impact on characters like Polyphemus, the cyclops traditionally seen as a monster.
- The article reexamines the episode where Odysseus blinds Polyphemus, suggesting the cyclops is a victim defending his home against intruders rather than a villain, highlighting how heroism often ignores collateral damage.
- This reinterpretation questions cultural narratives that glorify protagonists while dehumanizing their enemies, a pattern seen historically in imperialism and modern conflicts where the "other side" is demonized to justify violence.
- By shifting perspective to those harmed in heroic tales, the piece
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