Hello friends!
Following Tuesday’s discussion, you can now watch back the entire final session on The Iliad in case you missed it (free members can watch the first half).
Sean recaps books 8 and onward, taking us all the way to the conclusion of Homer’s epic. Plus, some great points were brought up by the community during the call:
Paul emphasized the role of fate in Paris’ decision to favor Aphrodite over the other goddesses. This symbolized that he would worship eros (as Aphrodite is the god of love), and as such, his life and legacy was one of selfish lust. A wiser man might have favored Athena, the goddess of wisdom, so that his wisdom could have guided him to a nobler and more virtuous path in life.
Steve discussed the distinction between mortals and immortals in The Iliad. Specifically how Thetis, the immortal sea nymph, could not bear to be in the presence of mortals because their misery made her too unhappy. The takeaway is 2 fold — First, be careful who you associate with, for your inner circle determines your destiny. Second, we also notice that the tragic element of the mortals is what makes the Iliad (and life itself) meaningful. When the immortal gods get hurt, we laugh because they have nothing to lose, but when man dies, we shudder, for he loses everything. Truly, our limits are what makes life meaningful.
Mark Your Calendars…
Our next book is another foundational work of Western literature: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes!
The first discussion takes place Tuesday, August 19 at 12.00pm ET.
Sign up below to attend — all premium book club members can join the live discussion up on stage…
Note: paid subscribers via Substack will automatically receive an access link for the live calls (check your emails!)
Reminder: If you haven’t joined our community yet, we are a digital book club that’s rediscovering the great texts of Western Civilization — from Dante to Dostoevsky. Join us inside…
