Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey takes place in a world where the wrath of the gods may lay siege to thousands, monsters roam unchained, and witches can turn humans into animals. But despite the many fantastical dangers haunting civilizations, there is a human threat that causes more fear than the others.
Nobody knows who the People From the Sea really are in The Odyssey, with Telemachus (Tom Holland) even claiming that they are nothing but travelers' tales. However, Ithaca and Sparta both prepare for a devastating war against this mysterious group throughout the movie. It isn't until the ending that the truth is finally revealed, and we learn that the main character, Odysseus (Matt Damon), and his crew are actually the People From the Sea. It's a very unexpected twist that may leave audiences confused when they walk out of theaters.
Why wouldn't the Greeks know that a small group of their own are the People From the Sea? How come entire legends about this infamous group would be spread across entire civilizations if Odysseus and his crew only laid siege to Troy and a a few islands from which they stole supplies? Is there more to the story than meets the eye? It's time to shed some light on this lingering mystery.
The People From the Sea are anyone who breaks Zeus' law, Odysseus included
A concept that's integral to the plot of The Odyssey is Zeus' law. From the beginning of the movie, it is established that the basis of every civilization is that people should treat each other with respect. This basic principle is treated as an unbreakable law that's best explained in Telemachus' words:
"Zeus' Law tells us to treat strangers as we'd be treated because they may be gods in disguise."
The reason why Penelope (Anne Hathaway) doesn't immediately kick out the suitors invading her husband's palace is that she must respect Zeus' Law and treat these uninvited guests with respect, regardless of whether she wants to or not. It is the same reason Menelaus (Jon Bernthal) receives Telemachus with open arms in Sparta, even after the war had already ended.
Breaking Zeus' Law is a pretty dire offense in the world of The Odyssey, which is why some characters try to honor it even to their own detriment. However, some say rules are meant to be broken, and that's exactly what Odysseus did on multiple occasions.
Odysseus was the one who came up with the idea of building a wooden horse and offering it as a gift to the Trojans to end the war, only to end up using it as a vehicle to invade their city. This very act violated Zeus' Law in a big, unprecedented way. Audiences themselves witnessed through Odysseus' eyes how the Greeks mercilessly killed the Trojans in all manner of gruesome ways. The Trojans' homes were destroyed, statues were broken down, and there wasn't a drop of respect for their lives. Odysseus eventually mentions that the Greeks "violated all that's ever sacred between people."
At that very moment, Odysseus and his crew became People From the Sea: a group of barbarians who could do anything they wanted without fear of repercussions. This idea is further exemplified when they burn a village in their mission to "find supplies" for the naval trip, or when they blind the Cyclops named Polyphemus only to steal his sheep.
Since the People From the Sea know no respect, they are capable of starting a war with anyone who dares stand in their way. That's why Sparta and Ithaca fear that this group of outlaws may show up at their doorstep and start a confrontation. However, it is important to clarify that Odysseus and his crew aren't the only members of the People From the Sea.
During the third act of The Odyssey, it is explained that the Trojan War was simply the match that ignited the fire. If the Greeks could break Zeus' Law and walk away unpunished, why wouldn't others do the same? The war had a domino effect that resulted in chaos absolutely everywhere, as Odysseus himself explained:
"To burn the walls of Troy was to burn the world entire (...) The breaking of Zeus' law spreading like plague. Our age of bronze, collapsing."
The People From the Sea aren't an organized collective looking to accomplish a common goal. Instead, they are everyone who breaks Zeus' Law and fails to treat others with respect. Their tales are heard across the seas only after the Trojan War because Odysseus and his men set an example for others to follow. This idea is only reinforced by the fact that the closer Odysseus gets to home, the more dire the stories about the People From the Sea sound.
Unknowingly, Odysseus became his worst enemy. It was due to his actions that Penelope felt like she had to get married once again so that Ithaca's new king could raise an army to fight the People From the Sea. This is part of the reason why Odysseus wasn't ready to come home just yet after the Trojan War. It's poetically fitting, and yet heartbreaking nonetheless.
The Odyssey is playing now in theaters.
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