This paper compares the ancient Greek perspective of Homer’s the Odyssey with contemporary Chinese views to explore the evolution of “boundary” in the context of loyalty. Based on the theoretical framework of the boundaries of loyalty in marriage, the study first analyzes how the patriarchal system in ancient Greece shaped the ancient Greeks’ perception of Odysseus’ loyalty: Although Odysseus had sexual relationships with the goddess Circe and Calypso, he was still regarded as loyal to his wife Penelope. Because the gendered social hierarchy of ancient Greece allowed men to have sexual freedom, while women needed to be absolutely loyal. Moreover, the irresistible power of Greek deities further provided justification for Odysseus’ behavior of obeying the goddesses, viewing such behavior as a survival measure rather than an act of betrayal. To explore the viewpoints of modern Chinese people, this paper studies the reinterpretation of the Odyssey on the social media platform BiliBili. By analyzing works created by influential content creators, and users’ comments in the bullet screens, this study reveals that contemporary Chinese audiences, under the guidance of modern gender equality concepts and legal norms, criticize Odysseus’ extramarital behavior as going beyond the boundaries of loyalty. This contrast highlights that the boundaries of loyalty are not fixed but dynamic, shaped by historical background, cultural values, and social progress. By combining traditional text analysis with modern social media research, this study fills the gap in cross-cultural and cross-temporal research on boundary concepts. It contributes to the understanding of how traditional cultural symbols like Odysseus are reevaluated through a contemporary perspective and reveals the role of digital platforms in expressing and promoting the transformation of social values.
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Qing, W. (2025) Rethinking Boundary: The Loyalty of Odysseus in Ancient Greece and Present-day China. Journal of Social Development and History, 1(3), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.71052/jsdh/LROA3780