It is not uncommon for modern literature and movies to be based on a classical work. For example, O’Neill’s, Mourning Sings Elektra is based on the Greek set of plays, the Oresteia by Aeschylus. Joyce so famously wrote his most popular novel Ulysses set on Homer’s Odyssey. I have also used this in my novels. For example, Pietas is based on Virgil’s Aeneid, and Bloodhound is a retelling of the ancient myths of Hercules and his twelve labors.
The Movie
The 2010 Christopher Nolan movie Inception relies heavily on the myth of Theseus. The main character, Dom Cobb, has the ability to enter a maze of dreams and implant ideas in other people’s minds. He is hired for such a task, but he needs someone who can bring him back up to the world of the living. He hires Ariadne for that. Her name is a dead giveaway! It’s such an unusual name, it draws attention to the myth it’s based on.
The Myth
In the old myth, Athens is subject to Minoa. Part of the required tribute demanded Athens regularly offer up the best and brightest of their youth. They are set loose in a circular maze called the labyrinth. Inside the labyrinth lives a half-man, half-bull called the Minotaur, who would attack and devour those offered. The Athenian prince Theseus volunteers to go and kill the Minotaur. He meets the Minoan princess Ariadne (see, I told you) and the two fall in love. She supplies him with a sword, but more importantly with yarn. With these two, not only is Theseus able to kill the Minotaur, he is also able to find his way out.
The Message
In Inception, Ariadne serves the same roll for Cobb as the mythical Ariadne did for prince Theseus. There is no way that the hero can implant the memory or slay the Minotaur if he cannot safely leave the mazey dreams of the unescapable labyrinth. Being stuck makes their success superfluous. To bring this all home for the writer, I want to encourage you to take total advantage of the wealth of Greek and Roman myths and epics and use them to inspire stories for you to write. O’Neill, Joyce, myself, along with so many great writers, are waiting for you to join us.
A WORD FITLY SPOKEN 