The theme of '2001: A Space Odyssey'

The main point of '2001: A Space Odyssey'

How did we arrive at all of this? How did we evolve from apes to what we are today? Did we get here by evolutionary trial and error, or were we helped along by a benevolent alien intelligence? Ancient drawings and artifacts found in Egypt, Peru, and elsewhere depict extraterrestrial visitors interacting with ancient cultures and even technologies such as planes and space vehicles. There are even Biblical references suggesting alien human interactions:

• Genesis 6, verse 3: And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive[a] with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”
• Ezekiel verses 1:16—17: “Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

2001: A Space Odyssey does address this point directly. It does not, however, provide the “why” for this interference nor does it try to provide any direction on how to look at the images that it presents. It gives us an abstract picture and asks us to interpret it any way that we see fit. This is what makes this film great because it is not attempting to answer anything at all; it, instead, forces us to ask questions, about ourselves personally and about where we are heading as a species. The film can be a metaphor for the individual as well as a cosmic metaphor. The destiny of an individual or a species can be altered by a single event.