The Iliad, the story that precedes The Odyssey, is about heroes winning the Trojan War.
In The Iliad, Achilles kills Hector and drags his body behind his chariot. That scene reflects the innocence and reckless confidence of youth—the same kind of euphoria we often see during a raging bull market.
The Odyssey, however, begins after the war is over. It tells the story of Odysseus's long and painful ten-year journey home. In some ways, it also brings to mind the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son. This is the story of an adult who has learned hard lessons through suffering. In market terms, it resembles enduring a brutal bear market.
Along the way, Odysseus faces every kind of monster imaginable. He is tempted by beautiful nymphs, loses all of his companions, and sees every bit of his hard-won treasure disappear. By the end, he is battered, exhausted, and stripped of almost everything. That mirrors how investors often feel in a bear market—beaten down by fear, uncertainty, and the temptation to give up, sell everything in panic, and walk away for good.
But Odysseus resists every trial and every temptation. Despite everything, he eventually finds his way home.
In much the same way, the stock market has historically rewarded those who endure, ultimately resuming its long-term upward trend. And perhaps the same is true of life itself: if we persevere through the darkest tunnels, we can eventually find our way to peace, rest, and home.
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