Hot Takes on the Classics

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore how Western art and music have depicted the many faces of love—from divine ecstasy to tragic longing to the gentle affections of pastoral life. They move through Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa, and Bruegel’s The Wedding Dance, examining how artists across eras have tried to portray the beauty, complexity, and vulnerability of human and divine love. Through music, sculpture, and painting, Emily and Tim reflect on what these works reveal about desire, the human soul, and our longing for harmony.Episode OutlineOpening reflections on how music and visual art express forms of love beyond wordsBeethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and the emotional world of shepherdsThe pastoral tradition and the association of shepherds with simplicity, joy, and musical beautyPieter Bruegel’s The Wedding Dance and the communal joys of embodied loveBernini’s The Ecstasy of St. Teresa as a depiction of divine, overwhelming unionThe ambiguity of mystical imagery—sensual, spiritual, or both?Shift to tragic eros in Purcell’s Dido and AeneasDido’s lament as one of the most powerful expressions of forsaken loveClassical echoes: Virgil’s Aeneid and Dido’s place in the InfernoClosing reflections on what art and music teach us about the varieties of loveKey Topics & TakeawaysMusic as a Language of Affection and Joy: Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony evokes the emotional clarity, peace, and playfulness associated with shepherds—figures who embody a simpler, more integrated relationship to nature and love.The Pastoral Tradition and Innocent Desire: From classical poetry to Renaissance art, shepherds symbolize a state of harmony where affection and desire are uncorrupted by ambition or social pretense.Embodied Celebration in Bruegel’s The Wedding Dance: Bruegel captures the physicality, joy, and communal warmth of love—reminding us that affection is often expressed through bodies in motion.The Ecstatic Union in Bernini’s St. Teresa: Bernini dramatizes a moment of mystical encounter that blurs the line between spiritual and sensual love, inviting viewers to consider the intensity of divine desire.Dido’s Tragic Eros in Purcell and Virgil: Dido’s grief in Dido and Aeneas echoes the literary Dido of the Aeneid, revealing how erotic love can elevate and devastate. Her lament remains one of the most moving expressions of abandonment in Western music.Questions & DiscussionHow does pastoral imagery shape our understanding of innocent love?Consider how shepherds represent harmony, simplicity, and musical beauty. Does this imagery still resonate with modern listeners? What role do bodies play in the expression of love?Reflect on Bruegel’s Wedding Dance. How does embodied joy communicate forms of affection that words cannot? Is Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa primarily spiritual or sensual?Discuss whether the sculpture’s intensity reveals something essential about divine love—or whether it intentionally makes us uncomfortable.What makes Dido’s lament so emotionally powerful?Think about how Purcell uses musical repetition, silence, and harmonic descent to portray a soul collapsing under the weight of loss.How do these artworks together expand our understanding of love? Explore how divine love, tragic love, and communal love form a fuller picture than any single work could express.Suggested Reading & Related ResourcesThe Four Loves by C. S. LewisThe Aeneid by Virgil  The Holy Bible Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”) by Ludwig van BeethovenDido and Aeneas (“Dido’s Lament”) by Henry Purcell The Wedding Dance by Pieter Bruegel the Elder“The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa” by Gian Lorenzo Bernini Various sculptures, fountains, architectural works by Gian Lorenzo BerniniAs You Like It by William ShakespeareThe Winter’s Tale by William ShakespeareAll’s Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh take a deep dive into Jonathan Edwards’s A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, one of the most important theological works ever published in America. They explore Edwards’s historical moment in the midst of the First Great Awakening, the cultural divide between “old lights” and “new lights,” and Edwards’s effort to distinguish genuine spiritual transformation from mere emotional excitement. Along the way, they unpack Edwards’s definition of “affections,” discuss why Edwards remains so influential, and consider how his framework might apply to the renewed spiritual energy emerging in the U.S. today.Episode OutlineOpening quotation from A Treatise Concerning Religious AffectionsWho was Jonathan Edwards? Background, intellect, and role in American ChristianityEdwards’s historical moment: The First Great AwakeningOld Lights vs. New Lights — a cultural and theological divideWhy Edwards’s preaching feels “medieval” to modern earsEdwards on the nature of “religious affections”False signs of spiritual renewal — emotions vs. lasting changeTrue signs of grace — the centrality of long-term obedienceEdwards’s pastoral purpose in writing the TreatiseParallels between the Great Awakening and contemporary spiritual “vibe shifts”Closing reflections on agape and the love of GodKey Topics & TakeawaysEdwards’s World: Revival and Upheaval: Edwards writes in the heart of the First Great Awakening—a period of mass conversions, emotional preaching, and widespread debate about what counts as “true religion.”Affections vs. Emotions: For Edwards, affections are deep movements of the will—love, hatred, desire—not fleeting emotions. Genuine Christianity requires these affections to be transformed.False Signs of Spiritual Renewal: Intense emotions, tears, dramatic experiences, or even hearing Scripture in powerful ways do not necessarily indicate genuine spiritual change.True Signs of Grace: Edwards insists that lasting obedience, humility, love, and good works—not dramatic feelings—are the real evidence of transformed affections.Relevance for Today: Tim and Emily connect Edwards’s concerns to modern American spiritual trends, asking whether our current “renewals” will lead to sustained, virtuous lives.Questions & DiscussionWhat distinction does Edwards make between emotions and true spiritual affections?Consider why Edwards locates religious transformation in the will rather than in fleeting feelings. How might this help us evaluate contemporary spiritual experiences?How does Edwards challenge both the ‘old lights’ and the ‘new lights’?Reflect on Edwards’s attempt to affirm genuine emotion while warning against emotional excess. Where do you tend to locate yourself in this debate? Why does Edwards place so much emphasis on long-term obedience?Discuss whether you agree with Edwards that sustained virtue—not emotional intensity—is the clearest sign of genuine Christian faith.How does understanding the First Great Awakening illuminate Edwards’s Treatise?Think about how cultural, theological, and political pressures influenced Edwards’s writing and why his framework was so needed in a divided moment.What parallels do you see between Edwards’s time and current spiritual movements?Explore how Edwards’s insights might help us discern whether today’s “vibe shift” reflects genuine spiritual change.Suggested ReadingTreatise on Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards A Religious History of the American People by Sydney E. AhlstromJonathan Edwards by George M. Marsden Pew Research CenterMcIntosh, Timothy Andrew. My Name Is SØREN KIERKEGAARD. Directed by Frank Mihelich

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore one of the most influential works in Western thought—St. Augustine’s Confessions. Through Augustine’s prayerful reflections, they trace the restless search of a soul divided between desire and grace, and how divine love—caritas—gathers a disintegrated self into unity. Emily and Tim discuss Augustine’s literary innovation, his relationship with his mother Monica, his encounter with Ambrose, and the pivotal conversion in the garden that forever shaped the Christian imagination. Along the way, they uncover why Confessions remains possibly not only the first memoir but also the greatest story of a heart transformed by love.Episode OutlineOpening reading from Confessions, Book X: “Late have I loved you, beauty ever ancient, ever new…”Defining memoir vs. autobiography—why Confessions resists both labelsThe revolutionary nature of self-reflection in Augustine’s writingThe influence of Confessions on Western thinkers and writers: Dante, Kierkegaard, and WittgensteinAugustine’s relationship with his mother Monica as an image of caritasMonica’s perseverance and the bishop’s prophecy: “The son of so many tears will not perish.”Augustine’s flirtation with Manichaeism and the intellectual restlessness it revealedEncounter with Ambrose in Milan and the power of typological readingThe conversion in the garden: “Tolle lege, tolle lege”—“Take and read”Reading Romans 13 and the surrender of the divided willAugustine’s vision of divine love gathering a fragmented soul into unityThe final scene with Monica: shared contemplation of eternal wisdomAugustine’s later reflections on memory, time, and creation—feeling ideas rather than merely thinking themThe enduring image of Confessions as a prayer, not merely a storyKey Topics & TakeawaysThe Birth of the Modern Self: Augustine’s Confessions created a new literary form—introspective, honest, and spiritually reflective—laying the groundwork for later memoirs and psychological writing.Love as Caritas: For Augustine, divine love (caritas) is self-giving, faithful, and redemptive. It unites a fragmented soul and orders all human loves under the love of God.The Role of Monica: Augustine’s mother models steadfast, intercessory love—a living embodiment of patient, redemptive grace that mirrors divine charity.From Disintegration to Unity: Augustine’s conversion is not merely moral but ontological—the healing of a divided self through the gathering power of divine love.The Nature of Conversion: Augustine’s moment in the garden reveals that faith is both intellectual assent and surrender of the will—love that transforms desire itself.Influence Across Centuries: From Kierkegaard to Tolstoy, Confessions shaped how the West understands interiority, repentance, and the restless search for meaning.Questions & DiscussionWhat makes The Confessions more than a memoir?Consider how Augustine’s prayerful address to God transforms the genre. In what ways is it less about recounting facts and more about revealing divine truth?How does Monica’s love exemplify caritas?Reflect on her perseverance and faith. How might Monica’s love serve as a model for parental or spiritual intercession today?Why is Augustine’s conversion scene set in a garden?Discuss the symbolism of the garden—from the theft of pears to the moment of surrender. What might Augustine be saying about the restoration of Eden?What does it mean that Augustine “felt ideas”?Explore how Augustine’s intellect and emotion intertwine. How does his way of “feeling ideas” invite readers into a deeper, more embodied understanding of truth?How does divine love unify the divided self?Consider Augustine’s confession: “You gathered me from the disintegration in which I had been lost.” How does love heal fragmentation in our modern experience of selfhood?What legacy did Confessions leave on Western thought?Identify how Augustine influenced later thinkers such as Dante, Kierkegaard, Wittgenstein, and Charles Taylor. How does his vision of selfhood still shape our modern world?Suggested ReadingConfessions by St. Augustine translated by Sarah RudenCity of Godby St. Augustine translated by Henry BettensonA Confession by Leo Tolstoy translated by Alastair Hannay Philosophical Fragments and Fear and Trembling by Søren KierkegaardPhilosophical Investigationsby Ludwig WittgensteinSources of the Self by Charles Taylor Chronicles of Wasted Time by Malcolm MuggeridgeRomans 13The Gospel of John 

Description In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh turn to the fourth and final love in C.S. Lewis’s taxonomy—agape, or divine charity—through the Gospel of St. John. They explore how John’s vision of love transforms an ordinary Greek term into the heartbeat of Christian revelation. Emily and Tim trace the word’s evolution from the Greek poets through the Septuagint to the New Testament, discuss the literary brilliance of John’s Gospel, and reflect on how reading Scripture well requires patience, imagination, and humility. Together, they uncover how John’s “cosmic love” invites readers not merely to study divine truth but to be transformed by it.Episode OutlineOpening reading from John 5:20–21: “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.”The season’s turn to agape—how John reshapes the Greek concept of loveEtymology and evolution of agape: from Homer’s simple pleasure to covenantal and divine loveThe Septuagint’s role in transforming language and preparing for the GospelThe word agape as covenant faithfulness: God’s steadfast love for His people“A new commandment I give you”: how Jesus redefines love as self-giving, not desireEros as ascent vs. Agape as descent: divine self-emptying in contrast to human strivingThe Gospel of John as “cosmic biography” rather than chronological narrativeJohn’s artistry and symbolic storytelling—light, water, wine, and gardensTypology: Jesus as the New Adam redeeming Eden through the garden of His passionReading Scripture well: avoiding interpretive “barnacles” and returning to the text itselfThree barriers to good reading—accretion of commentary, neglect of subtext, and fragmentation by chapters and versesThe power of reading large swaths for narrative and symbolic unityThe wedding at Cana as literary scene: subtext, silence, and divine mysteryThe Gospel’s pace, intensity, and climax: conflict, crucifixion, and new creationThe Gospel’s global influence—from Augustine and Aquinas to Bach and EliotClosing quote from historian W.E.H. Lecky on the unmatched moral influence of Jesus’ lifeKey Topics & TakeawaysThe Transformation of Agape: Once a modest Greek word, agape becomes the deepest expression of divine nature—God’s self-giving love revealed in Christ.The Septuagint’s Legacy: Translating Hebrew covenantal love into Greek language reshaped world history, bridging Jewish revelation and Hellenistic philosophy.Reading Scripture with Fresh Eyes: Tim warns that modern readers are “Bible-rich but hermeneutically poor”—too quick to interpret, too slow to attend.Typology and Symbol: Emily highlights John’s garden imagery as cosmic renewal—Christ as the New Adam restoring Eden.Subtext and Silence: John’s narrative artistry invites contemplation rather than quick conclusions; meaning emerges from what is shown, not told.The Gospel’s Literary Power: John fuses poetic imagination with divine revelation—“mini-biography” as cosmic drama.Enduring Influence: From Augustine’s theology to Bach’s St. John Passion, John’s vision of divine love continues to shape Western imagination and moral thought.Questions & DiscussionHow does the Gospel of John redefine love compared to earlier Greek and Hebrew traditions?Reflect on how agape moves from satisfaction or pleasure to covenant faithfulness and divine self-giving. How does this shift change the meaning of love?What does it mean that “Eros is ascent but Agape is descent”?Discuss how divine love moves toward others in self-emptying, while human love seeks fulfillment. How might this distinction inform how we love in practice?Why does Emily call John’s Gospel a “cosmic biography”?Consider how John begins with “In the beginning” and expands the story beyond time and place. What does this reveal about his understanding of Jesus’ role in creation and redemption?What prevents modern readers from reading Scripture well, according to Tim?Examine the three barriers—accretion of commentary, loss of subtext, and over-fragmentation. How might slow, narrative reading restore our sense of wonder?How does John’s use of symbol and subtext enrich the story?Analyze examples like Nicodemus’ nighttime visit or the wedding at Cana. How do these scenes reward deeper reflection rather than quick interpretation?Why does the garden setting matter in John’s Gospel?Explore Emily’s insight that Jesus’s death and resurrection in a garden reverses Eden’s fall. How does this reinforce the theme of new creation?How has the Gospel of John shaped Western thought and art?Identify examples—from Augustine and Aquinas to Bach, Dante, or Eliot—that continue to echo John’s portrayal of divine love.Suggested Reading & ViewingThe Gospel of John The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis   The SeptuagintThe Gospel of MarkConfessions by St. Augustine translated by Sarah RudenSummaTheologiae by Thomas AquinasFour Quartets: A Poem by T.S. EliotHistory of European Morals by W.E.H. LeckyMcIntosh, Timothy Andrew. My Name Is SØREN KIERKEGAARD. Directed by Frank Mihelich

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh close out their episodes on Eros with Leo Tolstoy’s monumental novel Anna Karenina. They explore how Tolstoy intertwines two contrasting marriage plots—Anna’s tragic affair and Levin’s redemptive union with Kitty—to illuminate the tension between passion, virtue, and meaning in modern love. Along the way, Emily and Tim discuss Tolstoy’s critique of high society, the “woman question” in 19th-century Russia, and why Anna Karenina remains one of the most psychologically profound works ever written.Episode Outline Opening reading: Anna’s first appearance at the ball and Tolstoy’s breathtaking description of her poise and vitalityThe “marriage plot” tradition in European fiction and why Tolstoy expands it beyond romance into questions of faith and purposeThe woman question, the man question, and changing gender roles in industrial societyLevin as Tolstoy’s alter ego: spiritual seeker, social reformer, and bumbling idealistThe pentagon of love: Oblonsky, Anna, Vronsky, Kitty, and LevinThe ball scene and its double vision—social spectacle and emotional catastropheVronsky and Anna’s affair: passion, honor, and the collapse of moral coherenceDolly and Oblonsky’s broken marriage as foreshadowingLevin and Kitty: humility, healing, and the hard work of real marriageAnna’s growing isolation and societal exile—Tolstoy’s critique of hypocrisyThe double standard between men and women in sin and punishmentLevin’s moment of transcendence while mowing—finding joy in work, nature, and graceThe legacy of Tolstoy’s two marriages: tragedy redeemed through meaningReflections on translation and reading Russian literature in English (Constance Garnett’s legacy)Key Topics & TakeawaysTwo Marriages, Two Fates: Tolstoy contrasts Anna’s passion that destroys with Levin’s love that sanctifies; both reveal human longing for wholeness.The “Woman Question”: 19th-century debates about women’s independence evolve into timeless reflections on vocation, family, and social responsibility.Society and Hypocrisy: Tolstoy exposes the moral double standard that condemns women for transgression while excusing men like Vronsky.The Spiritual Quest: Levin’s awakening joins the physical and the divine—embodied work as revelation of grace.Marriage as Redemption: True love in Tolstoy’s vision demands humility, forgiveness, and moral renewal, not mere passion.Questions & DiscussionWhat do Anna’s and Levin’s stories reveal about the possibilities and limits of love?Compare how passion leads Anna to isolation while humility brings Levin to peace. What does this suggest about the relationship between love and self-knowledge?How does Tolstoy’s “woman question” speak to today’s debates about gender and fulfillment?Discuss whether the novel’s concerns about women’s social roles still resonate. How do Anna’s and Kitty’s choices reflect competing visions of freedom?What role does society play in Anna’s downfall?Consider Tolstoy’s portrait of aristocratic hypocrisy—how do gossip, status, and judgment contribute to tragedy?Why does Tolstoy end the novel not with Anna but with Levin?Reflect on why the story closes in spiritual serenity rather than despair. How does Levin’s labor and awakening resolve the novel’s central questions?How does translation shape our encounter with Tolstoy’s moral vision?Does accessibility or fidelity matter more when reading Tolstoy today?Suggested ReadingAnna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy  translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky  Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by Constance GarnettA Doll’s House by Henrik IbsenThe Marriage Plot by Jeffrey EugenidesThe Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily WilsonThe Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh unpack Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, exploring how this beloved novel redefines what makes a good marriage. The hosts trace Elizabeth Bennet’s spirited self-knowledge and Mr. Darcy’s humbling transformation to show how love matures through mutual respect, truth-telling, and growth. Along the way, they laugh over Mr. Collins’s oblivious proposals, the absurdities of Mrs. Bennet’s matchmaking, and the enduring appeal of Colin Firth’s iconic portrayal of Darcy. Together, they reveal why Pride and Prejudice remains one of the most intelligent and emotionally satisfying love stories in literature.Episode OutlineOpening reading from Pride and Prejudice and introduction of Austen’s worldWhy Pride and Prejudice stands as the quintessential romantic comedyEmily’s long love affair with the novel—and Tim’s early indifferenceThe Bennet family and its five daughters: economic pressures and social maneuveringMr. and Mrs. Bennet: the comic and cautionary marriage at the novel’s heartFirst impressions: Elizabeth’s wit, Darcy’s pride, and the spark of tensionThe dance scenes as metaphors for social order and romantic pursuitMr. Collins, Charlotte Lucas, and the pragmatism of marriage as securityElizabeth’s refusal of Collins and Darcy’s disastrous first proposalThe letter that transforms Elizabeth’s understanding—mutual humility and growthLydia’s scandal and Darcy’s hidden act of restitutionThe resolution: love grounded in respect and equalityComparing good and bad marriages in the novel (Bennet, Lucas, Gardiner, Darcy)How Austen blends irony, moral seriousness, and humorClosing reflections on enduring appeal and cultural adaptations (BBC, film, etc.)Key Topics & TakeawaysThe Question of Marriage: Austen’s central inquiry—what makes a marriage good?—is tested through a range of examples: practical, foolish, and virtuous.Elizabeth Bennet’s Integrity: Her quick wit and moral independence challenge both societal expectations and her own prejudice.Darcy’s Transformation: His humility and self-reform mark a rare picture of masculine virtue in the romantic genre.Irony and Moral Vision: Austen’s humor exposes folly without cynicism, showing that true happiness depends on character, not wealth.A Study in Balance: The novel celebrates attraction grounded in mutual respect, contrasting passionate impulsiveness with enduring affection.Questions & DiscussionWhat makes Elizabeth and Darcy’s marriage distinct from the others in the novel?Compare their relationship to Charlotte and Mr. Collins or Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. What does Austen suggest is necessary for mutual respect and lasting happiness?Why is Austen’s opening line—“It is a truth universally acknowledged…”—so powerful and ironic?Discuss whether it functions as social satire, a universal truth, or both. How does it shape the reader’s expectations of the story?How does Elizabeth’s “prejudice” evolve throughout the novel?Explore the turning points that lead her from misjudgment to humility. What does this transformation reveal about genuine self-knowledge?What does the novel suggest about economic pressure and moral choice?Consider Charlotte Lucas’s marriage to Mr. Collins. Is her decision purely pragmatic—or does Austen grant her a certain dignity in her realism?In what ways does Austen redefine romance through comedy?Reflect on how laughter, wit, and irony allow love to emerge as both emotionally satisfying and morally serious.Suggested Reading & ViewingPride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility by Jane AustenMuch Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrewby William Shakespeare Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Simon Langton, written by Andrew Davies, BBC/A&E, 1995.Pride & Prejudice. Directed by Joe Wright, Working Title Films, 2005.

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh revisit Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, asking what makes this story so enduring and how it reshapes tragedy. They trace Romeo’s shift from infatuation to eloquent devotion, highlight Juliet’s prudence and wit, and map the play’s pivot from sparkling comedy to swift catastrophe. The hosts also consider parallels to sectarian conflict and the way the lovers’ deaths reconcile a city divided by an “ancient grudge.” Episode OutlineOpening lines and why Romeo and Juliet may be Shakespeare’s most universally known storyRomeo before Juliet: clichéd love-sighs and mockery of courtly-love conventions“She doth teach the torches to burn bright”: meeting Juliet and the sudden elevation of Romeo’s languageJuliet’s innocence and wisdom: caution, prudence, and poetic brilliance (Nurse scenes)The structural “turn”: from masked-ball comedy to Act III tragedy (Tybalt, Mercutio, banishment)Forced marriage to Paris and Friar Lawrence’s risky planTomb scene and the play’s resolution: private tragedy, public reconciliationComparing tragic models: character-flaw punishment vs. fated misrecognition; who is truly “punished”?Cultural echoes and adaptations: West Side Story; the 1996 Baz Luhrmann filmClosing: why the reconciliation scene matters—and why this grief enduresKey Topics & TakeawaysFrom Infatuation to True Speech: Before Juliet, Romeo’s language is wooden and self-dramatizing; after he sees her, his diction becomes vivid and precise—Shakespeare signals genuine love through better poetry.Juliet’s Prudent Innocence: Juliet is not naïve; she insists love must be deliberate (“too rash, too unadvised, too sudden”), shows wit with the Nurse, and matches Romeo in lyric power.Comedy to Catastrophe: Acts I–II play like a festive comedy; Act III turns on street violence (Tybalt/Mercutio), banishment, and a fateful plan that collapses by minutes.Who Bears the Tragic Penalty?: The lovers’ deaths heal the feud; the fathers acknowledge “poor sacrifices of our enmity.” The play’s moral center may indict the parents and the city more than the lovers. Questions & DiscussionIs Romeo and Juliet a “classic” tragedy of character flaw—or something else?Consider the difference between punishment for vice (e.g., Macbeth) and tragic misrecognition or fatal timing. Where does this play belong, and why? How does Shakespeare use language to show real love vs. infatuation?Compare Romeo’s early clichés to his imagery after meeting Juliet (e.g., “teach the torches to burn bright”). What changes in tone, precision, and metaphor? What makes Juliet a compelling portrait of young wisdom?Trace moments of prudence (her “too rash” speech), humor (with the Nurse), and poetic strength. How do these complicate the stereotype of naïve youth? Where does the play most forcefully critique the feud and the city?Weigh the banishment, the forced marriage to Paris, and the parents’ final vows. How does public disorder shape private doom—and reconciliation? Why have adaptations and companion works endured (West Side Story, modern films)? Identify which elements—star-crossed love, civic division, youthful courage—translate most powerfully across settings and eras. Suggested Reading & ViewingRomeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare As You Like It by William ShakespeareMacbeth by William Shakespeare Macbeth Antigone by Sophocles  Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller  The Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily WilsonThe Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri translated by Allen Mandelbaum Romeo + Juliet. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, 20th Century Fox, 1996.West Side Story. Directed by Steven Spielberg, 20th Century Studios, 2021.

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh dive into Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, one of the most ambitious works in world literature. They examine how Dante portrays love—especially eros—when it becomes disordered, destructive, or distorted. From Francesca and Paolo in Inferno to the purifying flames of Purgatorio, the poem moves from the consequences of misplaced desire to the redemptive ordering of love toward God. Emily and Tim reflect on how Dante blends theology, poetry, and personal longing into a vision that still speaks to modern readers about desire, sin, and transformation.Episode OutlineOpening reflections on Dante’s life, exile, and literary ambitionThe structure of Inferno, Purgatorio, and ParadisoFrancesca and Paolo: the tragic allure of adulterous love in InfernoThe fire of purification in Purgatorio: eros redirected toward the divineBeatrice as guide: eros elevated into spiritual visionDante’s theological synthesis of classical and Christian thoughtHow love, in all its forms, orders the soul and the cosmosClosing reflections: why Dante’s vision of ordered and disordered eros enduresKey Topics & Takeaways Questions & DiscussionEros in Disorder: Francesca and Paolo’s story illustrates how passion, severed from virtue and fidelity, leads to eternal loss.Love as Purification: In Purgatorio, Dante shows that eros must be refined and reordered before it can ascend toward God.Beatrice and Transcendent Love: Beatrice personifies eros transformed—love that lifts Dante beyond self and toward the divine.A Christian Epic of Love: The Commedia synthesizes classical models of epic with Christian theology, showing how every love must be rightly ordered to flourish.The Enduring Challenge: Dante asks readers to confront their own loves—whether they bind us to sin or free us for union with God.Questions & Discussion Suggested ReadingHow does Dante depict eros when it becomes disordered?Reflect on Francesca and Paolo’s story—why does Dante portray their passion as both sympathetic and damning?What role does purification play in Dante’s vision of love?Discuss the fires of Purgatorio and how they reframe eros not as rejection but as transformation.Why is Beatrice so central to Dante’s journey?Consider how she represents both personal love and transcendent grace.How does Dante integrate classical and Christian thought about love?Explore how figures like Virgil, alongside biblical and theological themes, shape Dante’s epic.What does the Commedia teach modern readers about the ordering of love?Debate whether Dante’s vision offers a corrective to today’s understanding of desire and fulfillment.Suggested ReadingThe Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri translated by Allen Mandelbaum The Aeneid by Virgil The Bible (Genesis, Psalms, Revelation – scriptural echoes in Dante’s imagery)

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore Plato’s Phaedrus, a dialogue that weaves together questions of love, rhetoric, and the soul. They trace Socrates’ speeches on the nature of desire, his paradoxical claim that love is both divine madness and a path to truth, and Plato’s broader concerns about the power and danger of persuasion. Emily and Tim unpack how Phaedrus challenges modern categories of romance, friendship, and eros, while reflecting on what it means for love to shape the soul’s ascent toward the divine.Episode OutlineOpening reflection on love as “divine madness”Why Plato’s Phaedrus stands apart in the dialoguesSocrates’ first speech: love as destructive passionSocrates’ second speech: love as divine inspirationThe myth of the charioteer: the soul’s struggle between reason and desirePlato on rhetoric: persuasion as both dangerous and necessaryThe link between love, truth, and the soul’s ascentComparisons with Symposium and other Platonic dialoguesClosing reflections on Phaedrus as a work about love, language, and longingKey Topics & TakeawaysLove as Madness and Gift: For Socrates, love is a form of divine madness—irrational yet capable of elevating the soul toward truth and beauty.The Charioteer Myth: Plato’s image of the soul as a charioteer struggling with two horses (reason and passion) dramatizes the tension within human desire.Rhetoric and Power: Plato warns of rhetoric’s dangers, yet also affirms its potential when aligned with truth and aimed at the good.Comparison with Symposium: Phaedrus offers a more dynamic, paradoxical vision of love, showing it as both perilous and transformative.Enduring Influence: The dialogue has inspired centuries of reflection on eros, persuasion, and the human longing for transcendence.Questions & DiscussionWhat does it mean to call love “divine madness”?Reflect on how Socrates redefines madness not as loss of reason but as a gift that breaks ordinary limits.How does the charioteer myth help us understand human desire?Consider the image of reason guiding passion—do you find it accurate to human experience, or overly dualistic?What role does rhetoric play in shaping the soul?Discuss whether persuasion can ever be morally neutral, or if it always points us toward truth or falsehood.How does Phaedrus compare with Symposium in its vision of love?Think about the similarities and differences between Socrates’ “ladder of love” in Symposium and the “madness of love” in Phaedrus.What might Phaedrus teach us about love today?Reflect on whether love in the modern sense still carries the potential to elevate us, or whether it has been reduced to sentiment or utility.Suggested ReadingPhaedrus by Plato Plato’s Symposium translated by Jowett The Republic by Plato translated by Bloom (sections on the soul) 

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh explore Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows, a beloved children’s classic that also raises profound questions about friendship, loyalty, and home. They reflect on the gentle affection between Mole and Rat, the comic recklessness of Toad, and the novel’s vision of rural England as a space of beauty and belonging. Along the way, they connect Grahame’s tale with other literary traditions, from Homer’s Odyssey to Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, considering why friendship across differences remains so vital in literature and life.Episode OutlineOpening reflections: Kenneth Grahame’s life and the creation of The Wind in the WillowsThe friendship of Mole and Rat: loyalty, gentleness, and affection (storge + philia)The character of Toad: comic energy, recklessness, and the limits of friendshipThe pastoral setting: home, hospitality, and the idealized English countrysideThe novel as both children’s tale and adult meditation on loss and belongingConnections to the epic tradition: from Homer’s Odyssey to Virgil and beyondParallels with other classics of children’s literature: Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and George MacDonald’s fairy talesClosing thoughts: why The Wind in the Willows endures as a story of affection and friendshipKey Topics & TakeawaysFriendship Across Difference: Mole, Rat, and Toad represent different temperaments, yet their bonds show how affection (storge) and loyalty (philia) transcend differences.The Beauty of Home and Place: Grahame’s pastoral vision of the riverbank reflects the restorative power of home, stability, and natural beauty.Comic Folly and Limits of Friendship: Toad’s antics highlight both the burdens and the joys of friendship, reminding us that loyalty is tested by folly.Children’s Story or Adult Meditation?: While beloved by children, the novel also speaks deeply to adult readers about nostalgia, belonging, and mortality.A Link in the Classical Tradition: Echoes of Homer and Virgil remind us that even children’s literature participates in the great tradition of stories about journey, home, and friendship.Questions & DiscussionWhat makes Mole and Rat’s friendship so enduring?Reflect on how affection and loyalty create stability in a world of uncertainty.How do Toad’s reckless actions test the limits of friendship?Consider whether real friendship requires patience, forgiveness, and boundaries.What role does home and place play in The Wind in the Willows?Discuss how Grahame’s pastoral vision speaks to our modern longing for belonging.Is this more of a children’s story or a story for adults?Think about the ways nostalgia and mortality resonate differently with child and adult readers.How does Grahame’s work echo the epic tradition?Compare moments in The Wind in the Willows with Homer’s Odyssey or Virgil’s Aeneid as stories of journey and homecoming.Suggested ReadingThe Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame The Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily WilsonAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis CarrollFairy tales and stories by George MacDonald

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim and Emily explore Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, asking whether a man and a child can truly be friends. They unpack the novel’s uneven yet profound legacy, including its powerful portrayal of Huck and Jim’s unlikely bond, its place in the tradition of banned books, and its lasting influence on American literature. Along the way, they compare Twain’s work with Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Dostoevsky, Faulkner, Hemingway, and even American tall tales—highlighting how Twain’s use of dialect and moral pragmatism reshaped the novel as a form.Episode OutlineOpening discussion: Huck Finn’s place among banned books and why Louisa May Alcott opposed itMark Twain as humorist, critic of society, and reluctant moralistBackground on Huckleberry Finn as a sequel to Tom Sawyer and its uneven yet profound reputationHuck’s escape from abuse and his meeting with Jim, forming the heart of the storyThe raft as a space of freedom, trust, and moral testingTwain’s use of dialect and vernacular speech, reshaping the American novelThe tension between Huck’s pragmatism and the moral ideals of his societyThe central friendship between Huck and Jim: affection, sacrifice, and equality across boundariesCritics and comparisons: T.S. Eliot, Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Dostoevsky, Faulkner, Hemingway, and othersClosing reflections on Huck’s decision to “light out for the territory” and the novel’s enduring claim as the Great American NovelKey Topics & TakeawaysFriendship Across Boundaries: Huck and Jim’s relationship challenges racial and social hierarchies, showing that true friendship can form in defiance of unjust conventions.Moral Awakening on the River: Huck’s decision to protect Jim, even at the cost of “going to hell,” marks a profound step in his moral development.The Raft as Sanctuary: Life on the raft symbolizes equality, trust, and affection, a fragile refuge from the hypocrisy and cruelty of society on shore.The Power of Vernacular: Twain’s use of Huck’s voice and dialect reshaped American literature, capturing authenticity and exposing social pretenses.The Problem of the Ending: Twain unsettles readers with Tom Sawyer’s reappearance, raising questions about whether the novel affirms or undercuts Huck and Jim’s hard-won friendship.Questions & DiscussionWhat makes Huck and Jim’s friendship so radical for its time?Reflect on how their bond defies racial and social hierarchies, and whether Twain suggests friendship can transcend entrenched divisions.Can an adult and a child truly be friends?Consider Andrew Willard Jones’s idea that friends are “equally unequal.” Consider how this applies to Huck and Jim.How does Huck’s moral development unfold on the river?Consider how Huck’s decisions about Jim reveal his growth—and whether he truly escapes the prejudices of his upbringing.What role does satire play in Twain’s critique of society?Discuss how humor exposes hypocrisy in issues like slavery, religion, and “civilized” life.Does the ending of the novel strengthen or weaken its message?Examine whether the reintroduction of Tom Sawyer complicates or undermines Huck and Jim’s story of freedom and friendship.Suggested ReadingThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain   The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark TwainUncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher StoweLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson Walden by Henry David Thoreau “Introduction to Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (1935 essay) by T.S. EliotCrime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather Port William novels (Jayber Crow, Hannah Coulter, Nathan Coulter, etc.) by Wendell Berry 

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh turn to Cicero’s On Friendship, a dialogue exploring what makes friendship possible, lasting, and good. They unpack Cicero’s conviction that friendship is only possible between those committed to virtue, and that true friendship is one of life’s greatest gifts—second only to wisdom. The hosts trace Cicero’s Roman context, his defense of republican ideals, and his enduring insights into the moral foundations of friendship.Episode Outline Opening quote from Cicero on the harmony of virtue in friendshipWhy Cicero remains a beloved figure in Western historyCicero’s role as statesman, writer, and defender of the Roman RepublicBackground on On Friendship as a dialogue between Laelius and ScipioCicero’s definition of virtue as “ordinary excellence” rather than lofty idealsThe claim that friendship can only exist among the good—what Cicero means by “the good”The distinction between acquaintances, comradeship, and true friendshipCicero’s famous images of friendship: “a second self” and “remove friendship from life and you remove the sun from the world”Reflections on Cicero’s legacy in light of the later Christian revolution of valuesClosing reflections on the timelessness of Cicero’s insightsKey Topics & TakeawaysVirtue as the Ground of Friendship: Cicero insists that friendship requires moral integrity: honesty, courage, liberality, and freedom from greed, lust, or violence.Friendship vs. Acquaintance: Cicero distinguishes between true friendships based on virtue and other social bonds based on utility, association, or convenience.The Sweetness of Conversation: For Cicero, the “fruit of friendship” lies in the joy of conversation and the freedom to speak openly without bitterness.A Second Self: A true friend is like “a second self,” sharing life so deeply that one’s strength, wealth, and even life are experienced in common.Lasting Significance: Though Cicero’s republican world collapsed, his insights into virtue and friendship remain profound and enduring.Questions & DiscussionWhy does Cicero argue that friendship is only possible among the good?Reflect on whether you agree. Discuss whether people lacking in moral integrity still form real friendships, or only temporary alliances.How does Cicero’s idea of virtue as “ordinary excellence” shape his vision of friendship?Consider whether friendship requires lofty ideals or simply consistent, everyday integrity.What is the difference between comradeship, acquaintanceship, and true friendship?Think of your own relationships and discuss which category each falls into. Discuss if this distinction changes how you use the word “friend”.What do you make of Cicero’s claim that “remove friendship from life and you remove the sun from the world”?Discuss whether friendship really is as essential as Cicero claims. Describe what life looks like without it.How should we value Cicero’s insights in light of Christianity’s later revolution in values?Explore whether Cicero’s pre-Christian view of friendship still holds truth for us, or whether Christianity’s vision of love changes the foundation of friendship.Suggested ReadingOn Friendship by CiceroOn Duties by CiceroThe Four Loves by C. S. Lewis   Christianity and Classical Culture by Charles Norris Cochrane Dominion by Tom Holland The Bible, Proverbs 18:24The Epic of Gilgamesh translated by Sophus Helle 

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Tim McIntosh and Emily Maeda journey into the world’s oldest surviving epic, The Epic of Gilgamesh. They explore how the story dramatizes philia, or friendship, through the bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu—a friendship that transforms a tyrant into a true man. From their first clash to their adventures slaying monsters, and finally to Enkidu’s death, the hosts unpack the role of friendship as a civilizing force, a mirror of ourselves, and a source of both joy and grief.Episode OutlineIntroduction: Why start friendship with the world’s oldest epic?Background on The Epic of Gilgamesh and its Mesopotamian contextGilgamesh the tyrant and the gods’ creation of Enkidu as his counterbalanceThe forging of friendship: wrestling, recognition, and solidarityAdventures together: the Cedar Forest and the slaying of HumbabaThe grief of Enkidu’s death and Gilgamesh’s confrontation with mortalityThe search for immortality and the wisdom gained in failureComparison to Achilles and Patroclus in Homer’s IliadThe theme of fame vs. wisdom: what endures in human memory?Closing reflections and preview of next episodeKey Topics & TakeawaysFriendship as Humanizing Power: Gilgamesh’s tyranny is undone by friendship—his bond with Enkidu turns him from a destroyer into a true king.The Shared Quest: Their adventures dramatize the power of philia: shared labor, shared danger, and shared joy as the basis of community.Grief and Mortality: Enkidu’s death shatters Gilgamesh, revealing how friendship not only ennobles but also exposes us to profound loss.The Search for Immortality: The epic wrestles with what lasts: glory, monuments, or wisdom. In the end, Gilgamesh learns that human meaning lies in love and the endurance of community.Ancient Echoes in Later Literature: The friendship of Gilgamesh and Enkidu prefigures later literary friendships like Achilles and Patroclus, David and Jonathan, and Sam and Frodo.Questions & DiscussionHow does the friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu transform the meaning of kingship?Consider how Gilgamesh changes after meeting Enkidu. Discuss what this says about friendship’s power to humanize authority.What does Enkidu’s death teach us about love and mortality?Reflect on how grief reveals both the cost and the depth of true friendship. Consider if love exists without vulnerability to loss.Why do ancient epics so often pair heroes with companions?Explore parallels with Achilles and Patroclus or David and Jonathan. Define what makes companionship central to heroism.What endures: fame, monuments, or wisdom?Discuss whether the pursuit of lasting glory or the acceptance of human limits offers a truer path to meaning.Is friendship a luxury or a necessity?Engage Tim’s hot take. Consider if a person can truly become human without philia.Suggested ReadingThe Epic of Gilgamesh by Andrew GeorgeThe Iliad by Homer translated by Emily Wilson: Achilles and Patroclus The Bible: 1 Samuel (David and Jonathan’s friendship)The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh dive into John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, exploring how the novel wrestles with the tension between familial affection (storge), honesty, and moral responsibility. The hosts examine Steinbeck’s portrayal of family bonds marked by both tenderness and devastation, paying special attention to the complex relationships between parents, children, and siblings. Together, the hosts probe Steinbeck’s vision of love, inheritance, and choice.Episode OutlineIntroduction and Steinbeck’s place in American literatureThe role of affection (storge) in East of EdenFamily as both a haven and a crucible of painSibling rivalries: echoes of Cain and AbelThe Trask family and inherited patterns of sinCathy/Kate as a force of destruction and anti-storgeThe concept of timshel (“thou mayest”) as a message of human freedom and responsibilityHow affection, truth, and cruelty intertwine in Steinbeck’s moral visionClosing reflections on the legacy of East of EdenKey Topics & TakeawaysStorge in Steinbeck’s World: Steinbeck presents affection as essential to family life, but always precarious—capable of nurturing or corroding depending on whether it is tethered to truth.The Cain and Abel Pattern: The story mirrors the biblical narrative of Cain and Abel, showing how rivalry and jealousy warp affection within families.The Dark Counterpart: Cathy/Kate: Through Cathy/Kate, Steinbeck shows what happens when familial love is replaced with manipulation and malice, corrupting natural affection into something destructive.Timshel and Moral Agency: The novel insists that despite inherited patterns, humans retain freedom—“thou mayest”—to choose goodness over cruelty.Questions & DiscussionHow does Steinbeck’s use of the Cain and Abel story shape our understanding of family rivalry in East of Eden?Reflect on how biblical archetypes deepen our reading of sibling conflict. Consider if these stories resonate with modern family struggles.What role does Cathy/Kate play as a foil to natural affection?Consider how her rejection of storge sharpens the novel’s exploration of love’s absence. Decide if she is purely a villain, or something more complex.What does Steinbeck mean by timshel—“thou mayest”?Discuss how this theme of choice reshapes our view of fate, family inheritance, and moral responsibility.Can affection stand alone without truth? Can truth stand alone without affection?Explore Tim’s hot take. Discuss examples in the novel—or in life—where sentimentality or cruelty distort what should have been true love.Suggested ReadingEast of Eden by John Steinbeck The Bible: Genesis 4 (Cain and Abel)The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis   

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily and Tim dive into Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, a quintessential American novel exploring the power of familial affection, or storge. Through the domestic world of the March sisters, the novel celebrates love that is rooted in everyday acts of care, sacrifice, and support. Tim and Emily discuss the enduring impact of the book—especially its deep appeal for young women—and the formation of character through simple joys, sibling tensions, and motherly wisdom. Along the way, they debate adaptations, Austen echoes, and whether Louisa May Alcott made the right romantic choices for Jo. Emily’s Hot Take: Joe should’ve married Laurie. No matter how much we try to appreciate Professor Bhaer, Laurie was the one. Period.Episode OutlineOpening ReflectionsLiterary Value and Canon StatusPortrait of a FamilyCharacter SpotlightsHistorical and Cultural ContextMovie AdaptationsKey Topics & TakeawaysLittle Women offers an idealized but powerful vision of affection (storge) within a family.Joe March serves as a formative figure for generations of readers, particularly girls.The March family embodies the American ideal of virtue over wealth, simple joys over splendor.Literature with female protagonists often receives less exposure among boys—why?Canon-worthiness isn’t only about literary perfection but also about emotional and cultural resonance.Movie adaptations shape popular memory of books—sometimes more than the books themselves.Questions & DiscussionDoes Little Women belong in the Western canon? Why or why not? Consider the book's artistic merits alongside its cultural impact. Define a classic in your view.Why do young readers form such strong attachments to characters like Jo March? Identify a fictional character who shaped your own identity or dreams. Name the qualities that made them powerful to you.What do we gain—and lose—by reading books with protagonists who differ from us in gender, time, or culture? Consider how engaging with characters unlike ourselves can deepen empathy and expand our perspective.Was Louisa May Alcott right to have Jo marry Professor Bhaer instead of Laurie? Share your take. How does Little Women shape our understanding of affection (storge)? Explore what this novel teaches about family, sacrifice, and the ordinary beauty of home life.Suggested ReadingLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott  Little Men by Louisa May AlcottAnne of Green Gables by L. M. MontgomeryEmily of New Moon by L. M. MontgomeryPride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldBrave New World by Aldous HuxleyThe Great Divorce by C. S. LewisScrewtape Letters by C. S. LewisLittle Britches by Ralph MoodyThe Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily WilsonJane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë 

DescriptionIn 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 OutlineThe Odyssey as the Blueprint for Western StorytellingOdysseus as the Hero of AreteNostalgia as a Restorative ForcePenelope’s Weaving as Faith and AffectionHospitality, Honor, and DisorderDivine and Mortal ConflictThe Wonder of the Ancient WorldviewThe Final Reckoning and the Hero’s ReturnEmily’s Hot TakeKey Topics & TakeawaysThe 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 & DiscussionHow 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 ReadingThe Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily WilsonThe Iliad by Homer translated by:LattimoreFitzgeraldFaglesWilsonThe Four Loves by C. S. Lewis The Aeneid by Virgil The Western Canon by Harold Bloom Real Presences by George SteinerThe Bible, Genesis 32 (Jacob wrestling the angel)The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien King Lear by William Shakespeare

DescriptionIn this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh tackle Sophocles’ Antigone as part of their series on love—specifically, storge or familial affection. They explore how Antigone’s fierce devotion to her brother puts her in direct conflict with the demands of civic duty, embodied by Creon. As the hosts unpack the moral complexity of Antigone’s choice, they reflect on the tragedy's theological and political stakes and the limits of personal agency in a world shaped by fate, tradition, and law. Emily delivers a provocative hot take: Antigone isn’t a feminist icon in the modern sense—but a powerful figure who fights for values that have historically been associated with women, such as honoring the dead and preserving kinship ties.Episode OutlineIntroduction to the episode and recap of the season’s theme: loveBackground on Antigone and its place in the Theban CycleDefining storge and how it differs from other loves in Lewis’s taxonomyAntigone’s motivation to bury her brother Polyneices as an act of familial devotionCreon’s competing love: duty to the state as a form of civic affectionTragedy and the limits of agency: how characters are bound by the consequences of their choicesDiscussion of Antigone as a feminist figure—affirmed and complicatedThe chorus’s role in shaping audience perspectiveFinal reflections on the tension between love and lawPreview of next episode on friendship (philia)Key Topics & TakeawaysStorge as Sacred Duty: Antigone’s decision to bury her brother exemplifies storge—familial love rooted in loyalty and obligation, even in defiance of civic authority.Love in Conflict with Law: Creon’s decree and Antigone’s defiance stage a tragic clash between two legitimate loves: civic order and family devotion.Tragedy and Human Limitation: Tragedy reveals how well-intentioned actions lead to disaster when individuals cannot escape the consequences of love and loyalty.Modern Readers vs. Ancient Audiences: Today’s audiences often read Antigone as a heroic rebel, but Sophocles portrays her and Creon as equally bound by conflicting obligations, complicating easy moral judgments.Antigone and Feminism: Though often held up as a feminist icon, Antigone is more accurately understood as someone fighting for what women value—family, ritual, and care—rather than political revolution.Questions & DiscussionWhat does Antigone’s devotion to her brother teach us about familial love?Reflect on whether love of family should take precedence over law or civic duty. Is Creon a villain, or is his position understandable?Explore the possibility that both Antigone and Creon are right—and that this mutual “rightness” is what creates the tragedy.How does Antigone redefine what strength and virtue look like?Consider whether Antigone’s strength lies in boldness or vulnerability. In what ways do modern readers misunderstand Antigone’s actions?Consider if we overemphasize Antigone as a symbol of personal freedom and underestimate her rootedness in cultural and religious obligations.How does the idea of tragic inevitability shape the story?Discuss whether any of the characters had the power to avoid the outcome, or if their virtues themselves led inevitably to destruction.Suggested ReadingAntigone by Sophocles The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis  The Iliad by Homer translated by:LattimoreFitzgeraldFaglesWilsonThe Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily Wilson  

DescriptionIn this special episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh unveil the reading lineup for Season 2, themed around love. Drawing from C.S. Lewis’s framework of the four loves—Storge (affection), Philia (friendship), Eros (romantic love), and Agape (charity)—they nominate and debate the classic works that best represent each love. From Shakespeare and ancient epics to religious poetry and modern novels, the hosts haggle, reflect, and wrestle with what makes love so difficult to portray well in literature. Tim also offers a spicy hot take: that most romanticEpisode OutlineIntroduction: Why a selection show, and why start with loveDefinitions of the Four Loves from C.S. LewisTim’s and Emily’s nominations for Storge (affection)Friendship and Philia: Ancient texts to children’s storiesNominations for Eros (romantic love) and literary love trianglesAgape: Self-giving love in theology, poetry, and fictionDebates and tie-breakers: Making the final cutsPlans for poetry episodes and bonus contentTeaser for future discussion on art and musicKey Topics & TakeawaysLewis’s Framework Shapes the Season: C. S. Lewis’s The Four Loves provides the guiding structure for curating literature around distinct types of love.Love of Family and Place: Storge (affection) is often familial or connected to love of place; selecting books for this category was surprisingly challenging.The Richness of Companionship: Philia (friendship) led to a rich list—from The Epic of Gilgamesh to Wind in the Willows.Beauty and Cost: Eros (romantic) selections ranged from Shakespeare and Austen to Dante and Tolstoy, with a possible poetry special to include Donne, Catullus, and Dante’s Inferno.Selfless and Divine Love: Agape (charity) prompted deep reflections on divine love and self-sacrificial relationships, featuring mystics, theologians, and unexpected novels.Blended Loves: Overlapping and Porous Categories: The categories are porous: many books express multiple forms of love, showing their complexity and interconnection.Wildcards: Unclassifiable but Powerful: The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry are suggested as wildcard entries that transcend easy categorization.Questions & DiscussionWhich literary works have best captured the love of family, friends, romance, or God in your experience? Share a book that moved you deeply in its portrayal of love.Are some types of love harder to depict in fiction than others? Consider whether Agape (charity) or Philia (friendship) is harder to write compellingly than Eros (romantic love). What role does self-sacrifice play in true love across the genres discussed? Reflect on examples from this episode like The Road, The Gospel of John, or The Gift of the Magi. Suggested ReadingStorge (Affection) Antigone by Sophocles  The Odyssey by Homer translated by Emily WilsonLittle Women by Louisa May Alcott East of Eden by John Steinbeck Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes SaavedraPoems by TibullusPhilia (Friendship)The Epic of Gilgamesh translated by Sophus Helle Plato’s Symposium translated by Jowett On Friendship by CiceroThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain   Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame    Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle: Books 8 & 9 All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy  Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Arthur Conan Doyle  Old Testament: David and Jonathan The Iliad by Homer translated by Emily Wilson: Achilles and Patroclus Eros (Romantic Love)Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Phaedrus by Plato Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh The Complete Poetry and Selected Prose of John Donne by John Donne (especially “Batter My Heart”) The Poems of Catullus by Catullus Dante’s Inferno translated by Anthony Esolen: Canto V, Francesca da Rimini and Paolo MalatestaThe Wife of Bath by Chaucer The End of the Affair by Graham GreeneThe Gift of the Magi by O. HenryThe Aeneid by Virgil: Dido and AeneasAgape (Charity) Confessions by St. Augustine translated by Sarah RudenThe Gospel of John and 1 John (Bible)The Revelation of Divine Love by Julian of NorwichThe Temple by George HerbertRevelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich Awaiting God by Simone Weil translation by Brad JersakThe Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor HugoThe Road by Cormac McCarthyThe Treatise on Religious Affections by Jonathan EdwardsRevelations of Divine Love by Julian of NorwichA Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Dante's Paradiso translated by Anthony EsolenJayber Crow by Wendell Berry 

DescriptionIn this opening episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh kick off Season 2 on the theme of love by diving into C.S. Lewis’s The Four Loves. They unpack Lewis’s taxonomy—Storge (affection), Philia (friendship), Eros (romantic love), and Agape (charity)—and explore how each form shapes human life and literature. Along the way, they challenge some of Lewis’s distinctions and bring in other thinkers like Joseph Pieper and D.C. Schindler to deepen the conversation. Emily delivers a hot take on Lewis’s framework: that separating natural and divine love might create confusion rather than clarity, especially when desire itself can be a holy path toward God.Episode OutlineOpening quote and overview of the new season on loveThe limitations of English vocabulary for expressing different kinds of loveIntroduction to C.S. Lewis’s taxonomy: storge, philia, eros, and agapeStorge (affection): love rooted in familiarity, the everyday, and the homePhilia (friendship): the bond of shared interest and mutual enjoymentEros (romantic love): desire, ecstasy, and the longing that draws one out of oneselfAgape (charity): selfless, divine love that affirms the other’s beingLewis’s distinction between natural and supernatural lovesEmily critiques Lewis’s separation of the loves as overly rigidD.C. Schindler’s definition of love as mutual indwelling and unityJoseph Pieper on eros as a desire for integration and redemptionThe importance of affirming the other’s existence in true loveLoving without self-interest, as illustrated by parental devotionWrap-up and a preview of next week’s book selectionKey Topics & TakeawaysLewis’s Fourfold Taxonomy of Love: C.S. Lewis’s The Four Loves provides a helpful framework for differentiating between various forms of love: storge (affection), philia (friendship), eros (romantic love), and agape (charity), each with unique expressions and pitfalls.Storge as the Ground of Daily Love: This love includes the affection we have for family, routine pleasures, and homeland. Lewis sees it as the most foundational form of love, often taken for granted yet deeply stabilizing.Philia as the Least Jealous Love: Lewis elevates friendship as the noblest love, free from possessiveness and characterized by mutual delight in shared interests and visions. Friends “walk side by side, looking outward.”Eros as the Desire that Can Become Divine: Though Lewis warns of eros’s dangers—its potential to become possessive—Emily argues that eros, rightly ordered, reflects the ecstasy and hunger that can ultimately point us to divine union.Agape as Divine Overflow: Agape is selfless, gift-love—giving for the good of the other. Lewis emphasizes that it flows from God’s plenteousness, not lack, and thus becomes a model for human love at its highest.Critique of Lewis’s Categories: Emily questions Lewis’s binary between natural and supernatural loves. Drawing on Pieper and Schindler, she suggests that all love—rightly ordered—is already a participation in the divine.Questions & DiscussionHow does C. S. Lewis’s taxonomy clarify or complicate our understanding of love? Consider whether the separation into four categories helps us discern different experiences—or whether, as Emily suggests, it risks oversimplifying their unity.What is your experience with friendship as described by Lewis? Share a time when you found Lewis’s quote, “What? You too?” to be true. Is desire (eros) inherently dangerous, or can it be holy? Reflect on whether your own experiences of longing or romantic love have ever opened a door to deeper spiritual truths.What does it mean to love someone without self-interest? Consider how genuine love, as seen in parenting, caregiving, or mentorship, involves seeking the well-being of another person without expecting anything in return.Does the vocabulary of love in English impoverish our expression of it? Explore how having one word for love in English contrasts with languages like Greek or Spanish. Should we understand all love—natural and divine—as part of a continuum? Debate Emily’s hot take: Are love’s forms so intertwined that strict categories risk misunderstanding how human beings actually love?Suggested ReadingThe Four Loves by C. S. Lewis   Love and the Postmodern Predicament: Rediscovering the Real in Beauty, Goodness, and Truth by D. C. SchindlerFaith, Hope, Love by Josef Pieper

DescriptionIn this final episode of Hot Takes on the Classics’ season on war, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh reflect on the biggest lessons they’ve learned from reading and discussing some of history’s greatest war literature. From the moral cost of battle to the intoxicating nature of the battlefield, they break down key themes that have emerged across texts like The Iliad, War and Peace, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Killer Angels, Mein Kampf, and The Art of War. Tim also shares his final hot take of the season—how the male drive for hierarchy fuels both war and its aftermath.Show Guide00:00 Opening Remarks and Podcast Review Request02:00 War as a Moral Harm: The Psychological Toll on Soldiers07:10 Propaganda and Modern Warfare: The Power of Messaging in War12:45 The Leader’s Role: How a Single Commander Can Change a Battle18:09 The Importance of Ending a War Quickly: Why Prolonged Battles Are the Worst Wars24:30 The Battlefield as an Intoxicating Experience: The Clarity and Unity of War30:50 The Shift in Warfare: Why Modern Wars Lost Their Heroic Narrative38:20 Tim’s Hot Take: The Male Drive for Hierarchy and War’s Inescapable Cycle45:30 Closing Reflections and Next Season Preview on LoveKey Topics & TakeawaysWar as a Moral Harm: Every soldier carries the burden of battle long after it ends. Texts like All Quiet on the Western Front depict the lasting psychological toll of combat.Propaganda Shapes Public Perception and War Outcomes: From Mein Kampf to modern conflicts, propaganda plays a crucial role in rallying nations and justifying war.The Role of Great Leaders in Battle: Figures like Caesar in The Gallic Wars, Napoleon, and Joshua Chamberlain in The Killer Angels demonstrate how one leader’s decisions can shift the course of history.The Importance of Ending War Quickly: The Art of War and The Iliad emphasize that prolonged wars benefit no one and often lead to unnecessary suffering.The Intoxication of the Battlefield: The heightened clarity, unity, and adrenaline of combat make war a uniquely immersive human experience, as seen in War and Peace and The Iliad.Modern Warfare’s Shift from Heroic Battles to Mechanized Slaughter: All Quiet on the Western Front and The Killer Angels highlight how advances in technology have removed the human element from combat, making war more impersonal and destructive.Tim’s Hot Take: The Male Hierarchy Drive as a Key Force in War: Many wars—ancient and modern—are fueled by male ambition, competition, and the need to restore honor, as illustrated in Plutarch’s Lives, Mein Kampf, and The Iliad.Questions & DiscussionHow does war change those who fight in it?Examine the psychological and moral harm of battle across different time periods.Is propaganda always wrong, or is it necessary in modern war?Discuss whether shaping public opinion is an unavoidable reality of war.Why do great leaders shift the tide of battle?Explore historical examples from Julius Caesar to General Kutuzov in War and Peace.Why is the battlefield such an intoxicating experience?Reflect on how war can bring a clarity and unity that few other experiences provide.Does modern technology make war less heroic?Consider how the shift from swords to machine guns changed the way we perceive war.Is the male drive for hierarchy an inescapable part of war?Analyze Tim’s hot take on whether war is inevitable due to human nature.Suggested ReadingThe Iliad by HomerWar and Peace by Leo TolstoyAll Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria RemarqueThe Killer Angels by Michael ShaaraMein Kampf by Adolf Hitler (scholarly annotated editions recommended)The Art of War by Sun Tzu