Why is Homer The Odyssey still relevant? || Analysis Summary || Highschool Reading

 

The Odyssey (2026) Warner. Bros.

Why is Homer The Odyssey still relevant? || Analysis Summary || High School Reading

  More than 2,700 years after it was first composed, Homer's The Odyssey has found its way back into popular culture, fueled in part by Christopher Nolan's adaptation.  For many, the first reaction is simple: Why this, of all stories?  A book many of us probably read in high school and haven't thought about since, The Odyssey really isn't just another dusty classic. 

Besides the fact that this its status as one of the earliest surviving works of Western literature, The Odyssey continues to resonate because of its timeless themes. It still raises so many relevant questions through the exploration of human nature, morality, identity, and the relationship between mortals and the divine.

Summary 

To first briefly understand why The Odyssey has endured for thousands of years, we must look back at 

the journey that started it all. 

Character Lineup:

Odysseus: The king of Ithaca and the hero of the epic. After the Trojan War, he spends ten years trying to return home, relying on his intelligence, courage, and perseverance to overcome countless obstacles.

Penelope: Odysseus’s wife and queen of Ithaca. She remains loyal to him during his twenty-year absence and uses her own intelligence to delay the suitors trying to marry her.

Telemachus: Odysseus and Penelope’s son. He begins the story as an uncertain young man but matures as he searches for information about his missing father and learns what it means to become a leader.

Athena: The goddess of wisdom and Odysseus’s greatest divine supporter. She guides and protects him throughout his journey because she admires his intelligence and resourcefulness.

Calypso — A nymph who keeps Odysseus on her island for years, offering him immortality and a comfortable life, but he longs to return home.

Circe — A powerful enchantress who initially challenges Odysseus but later becomes an ally and helps guide him on his journey.

Polyphemus — A Cyclops and son of Poseidon. Odysseus blinds him to escape captivity, causing Poseidon’s anger.

The Suitors — A group of arrogant men who invade Odysseus’s home, consume his wealth, and pressure Penelope to marry one of them while Odysseus is away.

Poseidon, Zeus, The Sirens and too many more to list

The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, as he struggles to return home after the Trojan War (aftermath of another Homer Epic, the Illiad). His journey, which should have taken only a few weeks, quickly becomes arduous across ten years as he faces mythical challenges, including monsters, gods, and temptations that test his intelligence, courage, and perseverance. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus wait for his return while dealing with unwanted suitors competing for the throne. Ultimately, Odysseus must overcome both external obstacles and personal flaws to reclaim his home and identity. 

Finding Humanity Among the Gods

One of the things that makes The Odyssey so remarkable is how Homer portrays the relationship between humans and the divine. In many Greek myths, gods possess unimaginable power, but they are rarely the true heroes of the story. Instead, they often serve as obstacles, forces that humans must navigate, challenge, or even outsmart.

That is what makes Odysseus such a fascinating character. He is not heroic because he is stronger than the gods—he is heroic because he is human. He is vulnerable, flawed, and limited, yet he continues to push forward despite forces far beyond his control. His greatest weapon is not strength, but his intelligence, resilience, and unwavering desire to return home.

What amazes me is that Homer explored these deeply philosophical questions over 2,700 years ago. The idea that humanity can find meaning in struggle, that people can challenge the limits placed upon them, and that perseverance itself can be a form of heroism feels incredibly modern. The Odyssey is not simply a story about overcoming monsters; it is a story about humanity trying to find its place in a universe much larger than itself.

Why do we care today?

At first glance, The Odyssey seems like a story from a world completely removed from our own—a tale of ancient warriors, mythical creatures, and temperamental gods. Yet beneath the fantasy lies something deeply familiar: the human experience.

Odysseus’s journey is not simply about returning to an island thousands of miles away. It is about facing uncertainty, overcoming hardship, and searching for a place where we truly belong. His struggles with temptation, pride, loss, and perseverance are challenges that still define the human experience today.

In many ways, we are all living our own odysseys. We encounter obstacles we cannot control, moments where we must choose between comfort and growth, and periods where the destination feels impossibly far away. Homer’s genius was recognizing that the details of our struggles may change, but the emotions behind them remain timeless.

How should I watch this movie?

Should you read the book before watching it? Absolutely. The Odyssey has survived for nearly 3,000 years for a reason, and experiencing Homer’s original story gives you a much deeper appreciation for the characters, themes, and ideas behind the film.

Should you find the nearest IMAX theater, travel hundreds of miles, and treat it like a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage worthy of Odysseus himself? Maybe. (Just make sure your journey home is shorter than his.)

But whether you read the epic beforehand or walk into the theater knowing nothing beyond “Greek guy has a really bad trip home,” the most important thing is to approach it with curiosity. The Odyssey is not just an ancient adventure story, it is a story about humanity, resilience, and the search for home.