The theme of the Odyssey is that life needs to be valued and being a trustworthy person will pay off later.
In Book 11, The kingdom of the dead, it shows how much better it is to be alive than in the underworld. Odysseus went down to the underworld and talked to some of the dead, like Achilles, Agememnon, Tiresius, Odysseus' mother, and other famous ancient greeks, and Achilles shows the most desire to be alive. "'...we Argives, honored you as a god, and now down here, I see, you lord it over the dead in all your power. So grieve no more at dying, great Achilles.' I reassured the ghost, but he broke out, protesting, 'No winning words about death to me, shining Odysseus! By god, I'd rather slave on earth for another man some dirt-poor tenant farmer who scraps to keep alive than rule down here over all the breathless dead.'" Pg. 265 lines: 550-558. This quote shows how much the life of even a farmer can be so much better than even being a king in the underworld. Book 11 in The Odyssey has many quotes and examples of how life needs to be valued by telling how much better earth is compared to the underworld.
In Book 20, Penelope and her guest, Odysseus is back in his palace with all the suitors and maids who have given up on his life and want it for themselves. Odysseus and Telemachus have to wait for the right time to make the suitors and maids pay for their dishonor. "Melthano lashed out at Odysseus: 'You still here? you pest, sklinking around the house all night, leering up at the women? Get out you tramp-be glad of the food you got-or we'll sling a torch at you, rout you at once!' A killing glance, and the old trooper countered, 'What possesed
