The Odyssey concludes with release, purification, and contradiction. A legendary bow and arrow contest sets the stage for Odysseus' rampage through the suitors who tormented his household for so long. The results of this explosion of violence and the conclusion of the story have been discussed and debated for millenia. This episode looks at books 21-24 of The Odyssey, analyzing themes of memory, purification, cycles of violence, animal instinct, fate and coincidence, and 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.

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Episode 167: The Odyssey Part V - Purifying Memory (Books 21-24)