When Mary Shelley published “Frankenstein” in 1818, it’s unlikely she foresaw centuries of adaptations and fresh takes that continue to intrigue audiences to this day. However, Guillermo del Toro’s recent version and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride!” — which hit theaters March 6 — prove that to be exactly the case.
From Greek myths to classic superheroes, storytellers have returned to the same wells time and time again and will continue to do so. Writers aren’t alone in this; audiences have a hunger to return to these stories, too.
“Odysseus is just a normal guy. He’s not the son of a god, like Heracles or Jason,” Debra Trusty, a classics professor at the University of Iowa, said. “[The Odyssey] is the story of a common man struggling against fate, against nature, against the gods. That’s a theme that we as humans are always interested in.”
Another element of “The Odyssey” that Trusty cited as eternally compelling is the story’s sense of adventure.
“The desire to get home against all odds is admirable,” Trusty said. “That’s what gets people back in seats or opening books.”
Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film adaptation is likely to be the first encounter with the story for many, and some have already begun familiarizing themselves with the text in preparation. Despite the epic’s endurance over time, it’s rarely been adapted in the form of a crowd-pleasing summer blockbuster, and the film will potentially allow it to surge in popular culture more than it has in a long time.
“The media matters. You have to think, ‘What’s the best way for the audience to get into it?’” Trusty said. “Then, make sure the message gets across.”
Annabelle Muñoz, a second-year UI student, reflected on similar questions after experiencing the new “Wuthering Heights” movie.
“The general consensus among my friends was that it’s not a faithful retelling of the original. But that doesn’t necessarily exclude its merit,” Muñoz said. “As somebody who’s never read the original, I think it worked pretty well as its own thing.”
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Muñoz also sees the value in retelling old stories, as long as there’s some kind of twist and the original themes are retained.
New adaptations must reflect modern cultural and political beliefs, especially if the story in question contains elements that could be seen as offensive today — unless they serve a necessary, explicit purpose in furthering the narrative.
Muñoz emphasized that Disney’s recent string of live-action remakes represents the worst traps modern retellings fall into.
“In Mulan, they removed things for the sake of ‘realism,’ when there are aspects of that story that weren’t necessarily realistic to begin with,” Muñoz said. “It probably would have been received better if it hadn’t been marketed as a retelling.”
Finally, Muñoz pointed out that nostalgia often serves as the driving force behind these retellings.
“What worked once people can see working again,” Muñoz said. “It’s effective in selling tickets, but as a viewer, I would like to see more original stories. With ‘Wuthering Heights,’ they could have titled it something completely different since the movie was so far off from the original product.”
Jace McDermott, a first-year UI sport and recreation management student, also believes there is value in hearing from old perspectives, but only if the original essence is upheld.
“As long as you’re showing exactly what the story says, without taking it out of context or inserting your own ideas,” McDermott said. “As long as you’re reading what they actually wrote.”
Ultimately, everyone agreed that these stories serve as a guide to understanding our past and present. Even if some modern adaptations miss the mark, these stories must continue to be told.
“These myths are important because they contain ancient truths,” Trusty said. “But they also contain a lot of modern truths that show we’re very human.”