Description

In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore Homer’s Odyssey as a foundational story of familial love and longing. They examine Odysseus as the archetypal man of arete, whose journey is motivated by storge—a profound affection for home, wife, and son. From Penelope’s weaving to Telemachus’ awakening, the episode explores how the epic gives voice to the restorative power of love rooted in place and people. Emily offers a powerful hot take: that The Odyssey reclaims nostalgia not as a sentimental escape, but as a noble longing for wholeness—something sorely missing in the modern, disenchanted view of home.

Episode Outline

• The Odyssey as the Blueprint for Western Storytelling
• Odysseus as the Hero of Arete
• Nostalgia as a Restorative Force
• Penelope’s Weaving as Faith and Affection
• Hospitality, Honor, and Disorder
• Divine and Mortal Conflict
• The Wonder of the Ancient Worldview
• The Final Reckoning and the Hero’s Return
• Emily’s Hot Take

Key Topics & Takeaways

• The Odyssey as Foundational Myth: All Western narrative art borrows from the structure of The Odyssey, with its themes of exile, return, and restoration.
• Arete and Heroic Cunning: Odysseus is celebrated for his excellence and craftiness, which are essential to his survival and return.
• Nostalgia as Noble Longing: Unlike the modern form, Homeric nostalgia seeks reunion with the real—family, home, and rooted life.
• Storge in Action: Penelope’s patience, Telemachus’ growth, and Odysseus’ longing all demonstrate the beauty and cost of affectionate love.
• Reverence for the Unmapped World: The poem’s enchanted world makes space for mystery—gods, monsters, and fate—which modernity tends to dismiss.

Questions & Discussion

• How does Odysseus’ longing for home reflect storge?
  Think about how affection motivates actions in your life. 
• Is Odysseus’ cleverness a virtue or a vice?
  Ancient Greeks saw cunning (metis) as heroic, while modern readers may view it as deceit. Consider where the line is between strategy and dishonesty. 
• What role does Penelope’s weaving play in the story?
  Consider the symbolic meaning of her craft and how it represents emotional labor, resistance, and devotion. 
• How does hospitality function as a moral category in The Odyssey?
  Explore how welcoming or violating guests defines the moral order in the poem. 
• What distinguishes ancient nostalgia from its modern form?
  Emily suggests modern nostalgia is escapist, while Homeric nostalgia is a drive toward reintegration. Consider which vision resonates more with your experience.
• How do the divine elements of The Odyssey influence its moral universe?
  Explain if the belief in the gods amplifies the stakes of Odysseus’ choices, or diminish his agency.

Suggested Reading

• The Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily Wilson
• The Iliad by Homer translated by:
  • Lattimore
  • Fitzgerald
  • Fagles
  • Wilson
• The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis 
• The Aeneid by Virgil 
• The Western Canon by Harold Bloom 
• Real Presences by George Steiner
• The Bible, Genesis 32 (Jacob wrestling the angel)
• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 
• King Lear by William Shakespeare