The ODYSSEY as Masculine Excellence, by Geoff Jackson

I believe Christopher Nolan's new film THE ODYSSEY presents a healthy dose of classical, positive masculinity in the form of Matt Damon’s Odysseus.

There is a lot of material floating around in the "manosphere," that expansive area that includes the internet, podcasts, and swaths of American culture that seek to define and advance the interests of regular, everyday men. Much of it is rather banal, such as those who give advice on how to “dress for success” or “pick up hotter chicks." Much of this masculinity can also be toxic –- people like Andrew Tate and his ilk come to mind.

But there is also academic, reflective work on the subject of manhood that I find rather insightful. Much of it identifies positive, life affirming archetypes that men should strive for (referred to by some as the mature masculine). I've learned much from Jack Donovan’s A FIRE IN THE DARK, in which he presents a Nordic interpretation of manhood to strive for, as seen through three lenses: The Father (a man who orders his world), The Striker (one who protects his world from threats), and The Lord of the Earth (one who seeks to peacefully perpetuate his achievements in shared ways with others).

Then there is the work of Jungian analysts Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette in their influential book, KING, WARRIOR, MAGICIAN, LOVER. They separate positive male archetypes into those four self-explanatory categories. 

In a way, Donovan’s three archetypes of worthwhile masculinity overlap with Moore and Gillette’s four categories: The Father is the King, The Striker is the Warrior, and the Magician and Lover are more or less combined into a composite, third persona akin to The Lord of the Earth.

And beware: there are also toxic, shadow incarnations to be found in both writings.

In the film, Odysseus seems to wind his way through all of the archetypes.  He is obviously a warrior king, enlisted to be a top ranking general under the military forces of King Agamemnon of Mycenae, and is the wise leader who comes up with the cunning Trojan Horse. But he also cares for his men, and devotes himself to their safe return home after the battle is won. He also shows himself to be kind, enlightened, and connected to others -- family and stranger alike -- as he navigates through difficult bodies of water and land, saves his men from witchcraft, and is first to recover his senses after eating too many lotus blossoms with the beautiful-but-destructive Calypso. His travails culminate in an epic battle to save both his kingdom of Ithaca and his wife and son from malevolent squatters. These men, led by Robert Pattison’s character, Antinous, believe Odysseus to be dead and seek to be the one to replace him.

Gillette and Moore echo claims made by the myth-based men's movement leader, Robert Bly, that patriarchy is not the evil force it’s made out to be. Rather, social ills come from fratriarchy: the rule of boys and brothers, immature and unenlightened males who have not been properly raised by mature men or initiated into adult rituals by positive male role models. I propose that the suitors and squatters in the film perfectly represent the rule of boys –- immature, destructive, power-seeking, and selfish. They get their clocks cleaned and their asses handed to them when a "real man" returns in the form of a revitalized King Odysseus.

Watch the film and you will be enthralled! It’s epic, it’s spiritual, and it’s ultimately -- I believe -- a master class on how best to be a man.

Then I recommend that you introduce yourself to the works of Donovan, Moore, and Gillette. There’s a lot to be learned about proper male role models (along with their toxic brethren), and you would be best served by referring to the original material. If you find anything interesting there, and would like to dialogue about it further, hit me up with a DM or leave me a comment below.