A reoccuring theme throughout books 11-22 is fight for what you want.
In book 11 it proves that you should fight for what you want. In this book odysseus visits the kingdom of the dead and the spirits tell him that he should keep trying his best to get back to Ithica and get his life back. "By God, I'd rather slave on earth for another man... than rule down here over all the breathless dead." (p.265 l. 556-558) When Achilles says this to odysseus he is arguing that even ruling the underworld is not as good as being alive on earth living your own life so odysseus. When odysseus is coming to the end of his journey he meets with Achilles who tells him that he should continue his journey to get home and not just accept death.
In book 22 it shows the theme because odysseuses fought and got what he wanted. Odysseus fights the final battle with the suitors and then he returns as the king. "Light me a fire to purify this house." (p. 454 l. 518) This shows that odysseus is back in control, the suitors are gone, and after the house is purified things will be back to the way they were before the suitors arrived. Odysseus fought the suitors, prevailed, and his house is back to the way it was.
