The Odyssey Book 5 with Dr. Glenn Arbery and Dr. Frank Grabowski
About this episode
The episode discusses Odysseus's rejection of immortality in Book 5 of the Odyssey, exploring themes of humanity and identity.
Odysseus rejects becoming a god... why? Today on Ascend: The Great Books Podcast, Dcn. Harrison Garlick is joined by Dr. Glenn Arbery of Wyoming Catholic College and Dr. Frank Grabowski of Holy Family Classical School to discuss BOOK FIVE of the Odyssey--arguably one of the important passages in the entire Odyssey and in the Western canon. Check out Ascend on X, Facebook, Instagram, and Patreon . Check out our written study guide to the Odyssey ! Odysseus is offered everything a man could desire: immortality, endless pleasure, and the love of the goddess Calypso on her enchanted island. Yet he refuses, choosing instead the path of suffering, homecoming, and humanity. The conversation unpacks why Odysseus weeps on the shore despite his Edenic surroundings, the deeper meaning of his refusal, and the timeless question Homer poses to every listener: Would you say no to immortal pleasure? The scholars dive into rich themes—Odysseus’s interior dialogue with his own thumos (spirit), the contrast between Calypso’s cave and rocky Ithaca, the subtle work of the gods and fate, and striking antecedents to Platonic psychology. With insightful close readings, connections to the Iliad , and…
More episodes of Ascend - The Great Books Podcast
- The Odyssey Books 11-12 with Luke Heintschel and Dr. Grabowski
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- The Odyssey Books 6-8 with Dr. Frank Grabowski
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