‘The Odyssey’ is a striking portrait of the psychological wounds that can emerge when people violate their deepest values

Christopher Nolan turns Homer’s legendary warrior into a case study of moral injury, a condition that often appears in war veterans who struggle to forgive themselves.

By: Amy S. Badura-Brack, Creighton University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 30, 2026

Words: 1,276

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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By Amy S. Badura-Brack, Creighton University

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” a new adaptation of Homer’s epic tale of Odysseus’ perilous journey home after the Trojan War, is already being described as a case study in post-traumatic stress disorder.

But even more so, actor Matt Damon’s tortured and broken portrayal of Odysseus offers a look into what psychologists call moral injury.

According to The Moral Injury Project at Syracuse University, moral injury …

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