Elliot Page as Achilles: Why the right-wing anger misses the point
Elliot Page may play Achilles in 'The Odyssey'. Many people on the right are angry. But Achilles has always been seen as queer.
Actor Elliot Page may appear in a new film called 'The Odyssey'. He could play the famous Greek hero Achilles. This news made many right-wing people very angry online.
But their anger ignores something important. Achilles has been seen as queer for a very long time. Many historians and scholars agree on this.
In ancient Greek stories, Achilles had a very close relationship with a man named Patroclus. Many people read this as a romantic or sexual relationship. This idea is not new. Writers and thinkers have discussed it for centuries.
The ancient Greeks had different ideas about gender and sexuality. Love between men was common and accepted in their culture. Achilles and Patroclus were often shown as deeply in love with each other.
Famous writers like Plato wrote about their relationship. He described it as a great love story. Many later writers also saw Achilles as queer. This includes poets and artists from different time periods.
Elliot Page is a transgender man. He is also a well-known and talented actor. Some people say he should not play Achilles because he is trans. But this argument does not make sense historically.
Making Achilles a straight, cisgender hero would actually change history. That would be the real revisionism. The character has never clearly been straight in the original stories.
LGBTQ+ representation in film and media is still very limited. Casting Elliot Page in this role is a meaningful step forward. It also connects well with the queer history of the character.
Right-wing critics often talk about 'staying true to history'. But in this case, history supports the queer reading of Achilles. The anger about Page's casting shows a misunderstanding of ancient Greek culture.
Queer stories have always existed. They are part of human history. Films like 'The Odyssey' can help people learn this. Casting Elliot Page as Achilles is not a modern invention. It is a return to the character's true roots.