Scene 1:

Odysseus could not believe his ears. This odious little man, in an attempt to have Odysseus “reach a higher spiritual level” in Heaven, wanted him to visit the darkest, most abhorrent realm of Hell, reserved for only the most wretched.

Socrates: But, Odysseus, the attainment of a higher spiritual understanding comes with great benefits. By being more enlightened, you will live a more meaningful life, one filled with peace and happiness.

Odysseus: So I do this of course by going to the most contemptible part of Hell? Tell me, of what purpose is this journey (Odyssey 186)?

Socrates: In the path of enlightenment you meet obstacles, but they are hard to defeat when they are in your mental and spiritual facilities. Thus, we are going to take on evil in the physical form. We are going to meet Hitler, the killer of 17 million. If you can defeat him, you can illume your spiritual self.

Odysseus: Old man, assume that I believe this is necessary, then why would I assume that Hitler would want to talk to me?

Socrates: After what he has been through in Hell, it is only human instinct to seek change for the better. This change is hard for others too, not only Hitler, for it is hard for one to change their spiritual mentality. It takes an understanding and a determination for someone so used to giving in to their faults. Yet, when they think they are well on their way to heaven, one bad action can change it all. Thus, when arguing with Hitler, do not lose your way.

Odysseus: What are we waiting for then? Get on with it, man!

Socrates: Oh, just one more thing before we depart. Observe due decorum to me, or you will find yourself stuck, in the frosty pit of Hell. (Plato 40)

(Socrates and Odysseus, quietly depart. The latter in a subdued manner.)

Scene 2:

Socrates and Odysseus arrive to the sight of an emaciated Hitler, burdened with the tortures of Hell. Gaunt and shrouded in darkness, Hitler slowly approaches.

Hitler: To what do I owe this visit to? Perhaps, you lack entertainment, and so came down here to watch this spectacle of me, or maybe you wanted to see what the great leader, Hitler has become.

Socrates: Neither, for I am not so pitiless nor without entertainment. I just require your time. All I seek is a quaint conversation. Simple needs for a simple man.

Odysseus: All I require is conversation.

Hitler: Just talk eh’? ‘By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise.’ (“Adolf Hitler Quotes”) As you can see, I am in Paradise.

Socrates: You are in Paradise, just as surely as the Americans lost both World Wars. And yet, there is still work to be done. I have a nagging question, which I just am not able to resolve.Hitler, in your immense experience, have you found that doing evil is worse than suffering evil? Or the reverse? (Plato 41)

Hitler: I was doing the world and Germany a favor. I brought a superior race to its height and got rid of the invalids and the malicious, lazy Jews who plagued our society with ideas like Marxism, communism, pacifism, and internationalism. Is it really so evil to sacrifice the lives of a few for the greater good? (“Mein Kampf : Nazi Germany”).

Odysseus: What is the greater good of this?

Hitler: ‘Every manifestation of human culture, every product of art, science and technical skill, which we see before our eyes today, is almost exclusively the product of Aryan creative power’ (“Mein Kampf : Nazi Germany”).

Odysseus: So you are saying that Germany invented everything from the compass to the printing press? In fact did they even invent the nuclear bomb first? How about the 1936 Summer Olympic games in Berlin with Jesse Owens? Yes, although some races may be superior to others, you have to admit that other barbarian races have their uses.

Hitler: ‘People whose antecedents came from the jungle were primitive. Their physiques were stronger than those of civilized whites and hence should [have been] excluded from future games’ (“1936 Summer Olympics”). Was I not suffering their evils by watching the Jews take everything good about Germany and pollute it?

Odysseus: Were they not suffering your evils? You took the Jews and whatever ideas you blamed them of and started genocide. Did they ever start killing Germans? Did they cut your balls off and rape your women? Where is your honor man?

Hitler: Honor is for the weak. Victory whatever the means is for the strong. ‘I do not see why man should not be just as cruel as nature.’ (“Adolf Hitler Quotes”)

Socrates: Look at the difference between human affection and animal affection. Animal affection is very limited whilst human affection is not. Humans are not like nature, because we have a spiritual presence as well (Socrates Apology).

Hitler: But I am doing the human race a favor by weeding out the unworthy individuals who burden the human race. One could call it natural selection.

Socrates: Is this decision yours?

Hitler: Who else would have the strength, position, and power to do this? I am the ultimate savior.

Socrates: So you have the power to do anything you want? To banish unworthy people, to scrub Germany until it shines?

Hitler: That is so.

Socrates: You are then the least powerful person, because you do not do what you want but what you think is the best (Plato 35-39).

Hitler: I am the most powerful because I have the strength to do what is right for Germany.

Socrates: So your decisions are for the good of the country or for what you want?

Hitler: I would only want the best for Germany!

Socrates: When you perform an act as a means for the end. You do not want the act but the object of the act. Correct (Plato 35-39)?

Hitler: Of course!

Socrates: Then when you killed or banished you did it for the good of Germany?

Hitler: Without a doubt.

Socrates: Then if you did something and it turned out to be bad for the country, then the action was still for the country?

Hitler: Yes, what else?

Socrates: So if everything that you did was good for the country, then if something you did was wrong, would it have been because you wanted to do it, or it was needed for Germany? (Plato 35-39)

Hitler: My interests and Germany’s interests were completely and totally aligned and as such everything that I did was for the good of the country.

Socrates: You once said: “There must be no majority decisions, but only responsible persons, and the word 'council' must be restored to its original meaning. Surely every man will have advisers by his side, but the decision will be made by one man” (“Hitler Quotes”). Does this means that your decisions affected Germany’s actions?

Hitler: My decisions were Germany’s decisions.

Socrates: Do you not believe a no win scenario then? That Germany always had a chance?

Hitler: The strength of Germany is such that we can overcome any and all obstacles.

Socrates: But every time you acted, it was as means for the end. The end plainly tells us that Germany lost. Thus, because you believe that one can always win, you did something wrong.

Hitler: I did everything right. ‘When I came to power, I did not want the concentration camps to become old age pensioners homes, but instruments of terror.’ (“Holocaust Quotes”). I did that and even more! I strengthened the German people!

Socrates: Will weeding out the weak in one generation create a next generation that has none?

Hitler: Isn’t this what one does with horses to keep their bloodline pure and strong? This is what the human race needed, a race pure and strong, and one that could lead the world. My race had to be tall, physically fit, free of drinking and smoking and with no mental illness. A perfect race by far. (“Nazism and race”)

Socrates: Perhaps in horses this works, but horses are not held up to the human standard of values. They are only breed based on their physical attributes. Did you judge if they were morally weak or their spiritual weakness?

Hitler: Faith is what matters. If one acts strictly according to the law they will become good. Faith keeps the masses together and strong. Faith allows the human masses to live united (“Adolf Hitler on Faith”).

Odysseus: Faith in what?

Hitler (Growing Darker): Faith in the German people! Unlike those pollutants of our polished German society! My political opponents were filth, not even leaving a mark on history! They weren’t with the people, for the people! They did not look past the happiness of a few for the greatness of many! ‘The day of individual happiness has passed’ (“Adolf Hitler Quotes”). Now, with all my hard work, giving even my life, Germany has turned into the usual ‘modern’ and ‘sophisticated’ society. That is what they call themselves. Not I! I call them uneducated! They are now drifting like pollution on the earth without wills of their own! Don’t they have two eyes! Can’t they even see their own superiority? ‘Those who want to live, let them fight, and those who do not want to fight in this world of eternal struggle do not deserve to live!’ (“Adolf Hitler Quotes” Military).

Hitler grows darker and darker, until Odysseus and Socrates are no longer able to communicate with him.

Socrates: Well then, this conversation is over. He is not ready yet to advance. Did this experience help you realize and fight the nature of evil?

Odysseus: I knew evil was poisonous, but I never knew how twisted it was before this.

Socrates: We all have to fight it, but it is recognizing evil, not only resisting it, which is hard.

They fade from the scene slowly and they walk on a path which was always there, but few saw.

Works Cited "1936 Summer Olympics." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 2 Dec. 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. "Adolf Hitler Quotes." Brainyquote. BrainyMedia.com, 2009. Web. 4 Dec. 2009.