Source: ‘Would You Fall in Love with Me Again - EPIC: The Musical / Animatic’ by Nya Tyan (YouTube)

What is love? Is it when someone accepts who you are, all your mistakes and flaws, and is patient, trusting, and devoted? The love story of Odysseus and Penelope is a testament to this kind of love. Their tale of loyalty and unwavering devotion, originally written in Homer’s The Odyssey, has always been an outstanding point of the story. In EPIC: The Musical, this iconic love story is reimagined with a modern twist while maintaining the emotional depth of their timeless tale. 

Odysseus and Penelope are important figures in ancient Greek mythology, with Penelope as Odysseus’s wife and Queen of Ithaca, and Odysseus as a Greek hero and the King of Ithaca. He played a crucial role in the Greek victory during the Trojan War, a war with its famous strategy of the Trojan Horse that led to the fall of Troy. Later, on his way back to Ithaca after winning the war, he faced numerous trials from gods, monsters, and his own fleet. As a result, the couple was separated for two decades– ten years due to the Trojan War and another ten years of his journey back to Ithaca, which was filled with challenges, temptations, and adventures.

[PENELOPE] How long has it been?

[ODYSSEUS] Twenty years.

(‘Would You Fall in Love with Me Again’ - EPIC: The Musical)

Despite it all, the two still hold on tight to their trust in each other. Despite facing tough challenges, from battling mythical creatures to resisting temptations from goddesses such as Calypso and Circe, his heart remains with his wife, Penelope. His longing for Penelope was portrayed through lyrics throughout the whole album, capturing his unwavering devotion and strong yearning to reunite with his beloved. This highlights how true love can endure even in the most difficult trials.

[ODYSSEUS]

I'm just a man, who's trying to go home

Even after all the years away from what I've known

I'm just a man who's fighting for his life

Deep down I would trade the world to see my son and wife

(‘Just A Man’ - EPIC: The Musical)

This lyric highlights his strong commitment to his family as it serves as his reason to endure hardships, fight for his life, and reunite with his family. His love for his family is the emotional core of his journey, fueling his resilience through every trial and underscoring his role not just as a hero but as a husband and father. It shows how his reason, goal, and way back home are Penelope and Telemachus, his wife and son. 

[ODYSSEUS]

Back at home, my wife awaits for me

She's my everything, my Penelope

(‘There Are Other Ways’ - EPIC: The Musical)

This clip of lyric also shows his unwavering devotion and commitment to his wife as the goddess Circe attempts to seduce him. However, he declares that Penelope is his “everything”, emphasizing her role as his anchor and ultimate destination.  His love for Penelope remains unshaken. 

[TELEMACHUS]

There are strangers in our halls

Tryin' to win the heart of my mom, but she is standing tall

108 old faces of men who call me small

They keep takin' space and it's not much longer we can stall

(‘Legendary’ - EPIC: The Musical)

What about Penelope? She is surrounded by suitors who invaded her palace, pressured her into remarrying, and sought her hand in marriage under the assumption that Odysseus, the king, was dead. The clever Penelope deceives them in an attempt to buy time, believing Odysseus will come home. She promised to choose a suitor once she finished weaving a shroud, which she later secretly unraveled each night.

‘The Challenge _ EPIC: The Musical/Animatic’ by Ximena Natzel

 Moreover, she challenged the suitors to string Odysseus’s old bow and shoot through twelve axes cleanly. Those who succeed will be the new king and rule by her side. However, this is considered an impossible challenge since Odysseus is the only one who can do it. It is a plan to buy more time and to delay further.

[PENELOPE]

I will fall in love with you over and over again

I don't care how, where, or when

No matter how long it's been, you're mine

Don't tell me you're not the same person

You're always my husband

 and I've been waiting, waiting,

(‘Would You Fall in Love with Me Again’ - EPIC: The Musical)

In EPIC: The Musical, Penelope is portrayed as the symbol of loyalty, wisdom, and fidelity. As the Queen of Ithaca, she has to bear the weight of the crown, which became even heavier due to her king’s absence. She was no longer portrayed as just “the faithful wife” but also as a woman who has to go through loneliness as she raises her son alone with the haunting fact that her husband is fighting in a war, societal pressure from the suitors, and the weight of leadership in Odysseus’s absence. 

Lastly, their reunion after twenty years of separation broke the dam of raw emotions. It mixes with Odysseus’s vulnerability as he lays bare his guilt and insecurity, Penelope’s strength and reassurance of her love for him, and their strong yearning for each other. It is a climatic moment that ties the story with a sense of closure and hope. Once again, their story is a powerful testament to love’s ability to endure through trials, transformation, and time, proving the saying of “love wins all”. 

[Penelope & Odysseus] 

I love you.

Source: ‘Would You Fall in Love with Me Again - EPIC: The Musical / Animatic’ by Nya Tyan (YouTube)