Odysseus has finally made it home, but the Ithaca he has returned to is almost unrecognizable. "Dangerous men and fools" hold power now, and the island has fallen into disrepair. Odysseus comes up with a plan to destroy the corrupt suitors, and Penelope has her own schemes. The stage is set for The Odyssey to reach it's conclusion. This episode analyzes books 17-20 of The Odyssey, examining themes of leadership, corruption, the nature of dreams, the treatment of migrants and the poor, the foreshadowing of violence, and much more.

Homer's The Odyssey is one of the oldest and most enduring stories in all of civilization. Set in the aftermath of the legendary Trojan War, Odysseus, one of it's great heroes, has been lost at sea for decades. As he struggles to return home, the epic poem asks us important questions about history, memory, choice, kindness, leadership, violence, and much more. Even thousands of years later, The Odyssey still matters.

If you're reading along, the next podcast will cover the rest of the epic poem: books 21-24!

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