Book 22 shows us Odysseus' characteristics in their prime. In book 22 we are exposed to a new side of Odysseus which we have not seen before. His new side, which we see, is not a completely different person to what we know of Odysseus because the new features in his character are strongly tied with the old.

To really find the role of book 22 we must ask what would the poem be like if book 22 were not in the odyssey. If it were not there we would not see the suitors get what they deserved. One of the key points to book 22 is pointing out the fact that if you disobey the laws of the gods you will be punished and this would not happen if book 22 were not there.

Another thing we would not see would be Athena's help to Odysseus, which is one of the most important...