What is epic?
Epic is a musical version of the Odyssey that is unique in the way that anyone was allowed to audition and it was entirely online. In epic Odysseus is forced to go to war and leaves behind his infant son and wife. Ten years later he wins the war without losing a single member of his crew. But his journey home is interfered with by several of the Gods. on his way home between poseidon the cyclops scylla and zeus he loses every single one of his men. He is then trapped on Calypso’s island for seven years.But he survives to make it home. He was at war for ten years, sailed home for three and was trapped for seven, his infant son was twenty by the time he made it home.
Odysseus Reluctance to kill
In Epic the musical Athena tells Odysseus to kill the cyclops but instead he tells the cyclops to remember Odysseus of Ithaca next time he has a choice to end a life. He also tells Athena that mercy is a rule more of this world could learn to know. could learn to know. Throughout the story he shows mercy and kills at a minimum. In the first song he is told he has to murder an infant because the infant will grow up to avenge his father and kill Odysseus’ family.
The Monster
In one line of an animatic (by gigi on youtube) of the musical during the song “Just a man”, when he is told to kill the infant Odysseus, reflection becomes a monster, But this monster represents Odysseus internal struggle . But every time in that song he shoves the being out except for the last time where he finally kills the infant.
The internal struggle
Throughout the song he is fighting this monster. But in the song Monster where a key change takes place Odysseus’s shadow turns into the monster the monster holds out a hand and Odysseus takes it. After “monster” in the song “different beast”, Odysseus kills a pack of sirens that represents the first life Odysseus takes willingly, as his sword comes down on the siren, Odysseus changes to this monster and continues to kill the entire pack of sirens.
The Key Change
When Odysseus is in the underworld he finds a prophet. The prophet tells Odysseus’ future he says “there is a world where I help you get home but that is not a world I know.” Odysseus rages and promises his men that “if I have to drop another infant of a wall THEN I’LL BECOME THE MONSTER” he then kills his way home.
Mercy
Mercy plays a huge role in The musical because Athena and Poseidon both are against mercy. When Athena tells Odysseus to kill the cyclops he replies mercy is a skill more of this world could learn. Throughout the musical Odysseus has an internal struggle because of two traits: ruthlessness and mercy.
Ruthlessness
The main enemy in Epic the musical is Poseidon the god of the sea. Poseidon is trying to teach Odysseus ruthlessness. In the song “ruthlessness” Poseidon says “I mean you totally could have avoided this if you had just killed my son.” Poseidon’s son The cyclops that Odysseus shows mercy upon was left in pain, so Poseidon tells him that “ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves.” he also says “ you are far too nice, mercy has a price!” These two lines are showing how mercy is frowned upon.
Who Odysseus kills.
The first person Odysseus kills is the infant; he did it very reluctantly. Odysseus spared the cyclops even after it killed his best friend. He doesn’t let any man be left behind at Scerees island. After the song Monster Odysseus kills an entire pack of sirens, sacrifices all of his men’s lives, slaughters a monster named charybdis, and shows no mercy upon Poseidon.
For Penolope and Telemachus
He only ever is convinced to kill when he is told his wife and son will die if he doesn’t.Zues tells Odysseus that the infant will grow to kill his wife, that infant is now dead. Poseidon threatens to “Raise the tides so high all of Ithaca will die” after saying that Odysseus can’t kill him so Odysseus stabs Poseidon with his own trident until he is unable to even speak.
