Homer’s Odyssey is filled with terrifying monsters; Cyclops, Scylla, Charybdis, the Sirens.
But the one who steals the most time from Odysseus is Calypso.
She doesn’t threaten him with death. She offers comfort, safety, love and keeps him from Ithaca for seven years.
Maybe that’s Homer’s deepest lesson: the greatest obstacles in life don’t always look like monsters. Sometimes, they look like comfort.
Hardships test our courage. Comfort tests our purpose.
Maybe real monsters in life don’t look like monsters !!
The brilliant thing about the Cyclops scene in THE ODYSSEY is how utterly terrifying he is when he first appears, yet by the end you feel pity for him. Odysseus and his men violate his home and steal his food without consent, they mutilate him and never even attempt a dialogue. In this scene, they are the monsters, not the Cyclops, whose rage and helplessness at the end with the boulder are truly heartbreaking. Having Odysseus never speak with the Cyclops is a brilliant choice from Nolan, as it highlights this barbaric, ruthless side of humanity confronting a creature that simply wanted to live in peace.