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Culture of hospitality in the odyssey
Importance of hospitality in the odyssey
The importance of hospitality in the odyssey
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In the era of Homer, hospitality is a crucial part of social existence, and all Greeks put an emphasis on hospitality no matter the circumstance. Taking place in the 10 years after the events in the Iliad with the Trojan War, Homer’s the Odyssey displays notable depictions of the themes hospitality and home. In this epic, hospitality and home can be said to be major themes in the sense that it is involved in nearly every situation and ultimately affects the protagonist, Odysseus, throughout the poem. First and foremost, hospitality and home are the reasons why Odysseus suffers a prolonged journey returning home to Ithaca, specifically when he comes across Kalypso, Polyphemos, and Circe. In the years of Odysseus’s absence, his wife, Penelope, …show more content…
abstained from remarrying, meanwhile 108 suitors have come to her home and they invite themselves to stay there, yet Telemachos allows them in his home due to his excellent hospitality. Finally, when Odysseus returns to Ithaca in disguise, he is welcomed into his own home as a stranger and greeted with great hospitality from Penelope, and Odysseus later slaughters the 108 suitors for violating hospitality as guests in his home. Within the ten years that Odysseus spent in attempts to get home to Ithaca, he suffered through multiple obstacles where hospitality was largely present, with the most prominent obstacles being with Kalypso, Polyphemos, and Circe.
The first encounter that is addressed in the poem is with the nymph, Kalypso, who holds Odysseus captive as a sex-slave for seven years. Kalypso still shows Odysseus a fair amount of hospitality, and he reciprocates it as he continues to please Kalypso, until he wishes to leave the island to go home, and he has to refuse her hospitality. He explains to her with reassurance, “She is mortal after all, and you are immortal and ageless. / But even so, what I want and all my days I pine for / is to go back to my house and see my day of homecoming” (5.218-20), and he later shows Kalypso one last night of love. Next in the poem, Odysseus shares his confrontation with the son of Poseidon, Polyphemos, who mocks the concept of hospitality and violates the relationship between the host and the guest. Polyphemos displays his interpretation of hospitality, and taunts, “Then I will eat Nobody after his friends, and the others / I will eat first, and that shall be my present to you” (9.369-70). Hospitality and welcoming guests into one’s home is not apart of Polyphemos’s culture, and therefore providing a great obstacle for Odysseus when he finds himself in the Cyclops’s presence. After, Odysseus reminisces about the year spent with the sorceresses, Circe, who …show more content…
displays a mixture of good and bad hospitality. When Odysseus and his men find themselves on Circe’s island, she graciously welcomes them into her fine home, and she then invites the men to feast on food that she drugs in order to turn the men into swine. This is poor hospitality, but Circe demonstrates other hospitable actions that are redeemable, as she offers her home and her bed to Odysseus after they both establish an agreement. Odysseus narrates, “So I spoke, and she at once swore me the oath, as I asked her, / But after she had sworn me the oath, and made an end of it, I mounted the surpassingly beautiful bed of Circe” (10.345-47), and he continues to explain the various features of hospitality offered by Circe, enchanting him to remain in her home. Essentially, the themes of hospitality and home are ones that hinder Odysseus’ return home due to his hospitable and inhospitable encounters on his travels. This major premise in the Odyssey can be associated with the hospitality shown by Telemachos in Odysseus’s home, as Telemachos allows 108 suitors to live in his home, which adds a tremendous amount of tension to the possibility of Odysseus ever returning home. Furthermore, Odysseus’s son and wife, Telemachos and Penelope, are left home for years waiting for their beloved warrior to return home, and they find themselves feeling like they have an obligation as respectable Greek citizens to provide hospitality to the 108 suitors who come to the palace. Odysseus’s own home is taken over by these suitors who take it upon themselves to live there. They remain in the palace as they attempt to impress Penelope, and they constantly feast, ultimately overstaying their welcome. When Athene appears at Telemachos’ home in disguise as Mentes, he greets her with exceptional hospitality, “Welcome, stranger, / you shall be entertained as a guest among us. Afterward, / when you have tasted dinner, you shall tell us what your need is” (1.122-24), and it is this hospitality that prompts Athene to assist and give guidance to him after Telemachos explains his situation with the suitors that are intruding his home and taking advantage of his hospitality. This is a good example of why the Greeks must always show hospitality, in the case that a guest is a god in disguise. By showing Athene the hospitality that is praised by Zeus and the gods collectively, it reflects on not only Telemachos’ situation, but his father’s as well, and ensures that the gods will favour both men. Before Athene departs, she urges “next you must consider well in your heart and spirit / some means by which you can kill the suitors who are in your household, / by treachery or open attack” (1.294-96). Ultimately, the suitors don’t respect the hospitality given by Telemachos and Penelope, and this results in all of their deaths. Telemachos and Penelope extending hospitality to all his guests still apply when Odysseus returns home as a stranger. Once Odysseus returns home to Ithaca, the swineherd, Eumaios, greets him with tremendous hospitality, and Penelope does so as well when Telemachos brings him home in disguise, which helps Odysseus plot against the 108 suitors.
Upon returning to Ithaca, Euromaios is the first person that he encounters, and he is an excellent host, offering Odysseus everything that he has even though he is a poor man and lives in a small hut. When Telemachos arrives to Euromaios’s hut, he sees Odysseus disguised as a beggar. Athene removes Odysseus’s disguise so that he can reveal his true self to his son, and when he does so, Telemachos is astounded by this transformation and finds it difficult to accept that it is truly his father. They then begin to plot against the suitors. When Odysseus is finally brought to the palace still in disguise, he is insulted by Antinoös who causes trouble, and Penelope hears this and she requests that she speak with the beggar. Once Penelope meets Odysseus as the beggar, she acts as a good hostess, and she orders, “Come then, circumspect Eurykleia, rise up and wash / the feet of one who is the same age as your master” (19.357-58). By offering her hospitality to Odysseus, she is establishing a good guest-host relationship, making it easier for Odysseus to advance his plan in his revelation of himself and slaughtering the suitors. This element of hospitality also leads to the maid, Eurykleia, discovering Odysseus’s identity from his scar, and allows her to get
involved with his plot against the suitors. Although Telemachos knows of Odysseus’ true identity, he continues to display hospitality, keeping a steady guest-host relationship, protecting Odysseus from the abuse of the disrespectful suitors, which also allows Odysseus to continue to manoeuvre his revenge. One of the most prominent acts of hospitality towards Odysseus is when Telemachos and Penelope allow him to string the bow, and this gives him the opportunity to reveal himself and use the bow as a weapon when he goes to kill the suitors directly after this revelation. Penelope refuses the suitors’ objections against Odysseus stringing the bow, and she states, “it is neither fair nor just to browbeat any guest of Telemachos who comes to visit him” (21.312-13). Both Telemachos and Penelope establish their status as good hosts by showing this hospitality. Ultimately, it is this hospitality that allows Odysseus to succeed in killing the suitors, and revealing his identity, letting everyone know that he is finally home. It is clear that in Homer’s The Odyssey, hospitality and home and major themes in the sense that they are always present throughout the epic, and are constantly affecting Odysseus. The themes of hospitality and home are present during Odysseus’ voyage back to Ithaca after the Trojan War, as they are the reason why his voyage extends to ten years, with the most prominent encounters being with Kalypso, Polyphemos, and Circe. Hospitality is shown at the home of Telemachos and Penelope towards the 108 suitors that gather over the years of Odysseus’s absense, even though it is not deserved. Finally, Odysseus returns to Ithaca and is greeted with overwhelming hospitality though he is in disguise as a beggar, which allows him to conspire against the suitors for their violation of hospitality, and eventually murder them. Conclusively, hospitality and home are themes that are largely present throughout the duration of the poem, and the importance of both cannot be overlooked.
Home was a prevalent concept in Ancient Greece. Not only was there a goddess of the hearth and home, Hestia, but hospitality towards others was highly stressed. Home was regarded as a place to escape from chaos in the outside world. Homer and Euripides in The Odyssey and Medea, respectively, use the motif of home to show the difference in an individual’s public manner versus their personal, more natural manner. This difference is caused by the different levels of comfort individuals have in different settings. Specifically, the two works portray the difference through experience of the characters, mistrust developed towards others, and the maintenance of dual identities.
“I often gave to vagabonds, whoever they might be, who came in need.” (Homer, 351) Hospitality was evident in Homer’s time period and eventually was seen as an institution in the Greek culture. A guest-host relationship, known as Xenia, takes place throughout The Odyssey whether it’s to gain relationships or to avoid punishments from the gods. It is a major theme and is apparent in every book of The Odyssey. Hospitable characters who use xenia are what keep this novel going. Xenia affects the plot in many ways and influences characters actions and choices throughout the novel.
The Greeks have been known for their hospitality and politeness, especially when treating guests- whether strangers or not. This is demonstrated near the beginning of the Odyssey when Telemachus went to Pylos to visit Nestor. Nestor, not knowing who he was taking into his home as guests, treated them with great honor and respect. "Now is the time," he said, "for a few questions, now that our young guests have enjoyed their dinner. Who are you, strangers? Where are you sailing from, and where to, down the highways of sea water (p 299)?" If ever Greeks were to serve themselves before their guests or even a little better than them, then they were breaking the most basic of all Greek customs, for this tradition of hospitality was passed down from generation to generation, and breaking it would bring embarrassment and dishonor upon the home.
Altogether, hospitality was an important theme for Odysseus, during his adventure back to Ithica. Hospitality also played an important role for Telemachus, and the search for information about the whereabouts of his father. Without this tradition of Greek hospitality, the sequence of events in The Odyssey could have changed drastically. Not only was this Greek custom of hospitality important in The Odyssey, it was also important to Greek citizens. Just the simple tradition of hospitality, whether positive or negative, can explain much about Greek citizens, and how they treat each other.
When Eurycleia is told by Penelope to wash the beggar, she notices a scar on his leg that is strikingly similar to the one her master had before he left for war. Immediately, she recognizes Odysseus but is sworn to secrecy as to not inform anyone of his arrival home. Obeying her beloved master, Eurycleia overcomes the instinct to run to Penelope and tell her that her husband is finally home. Not only does this event show how loyal Eurycleia is to Odysseus but “The incident also prepares for the importance of Eurycleia in the coming Homilia: she is more dangerous right now than the suitors” (Scodel 6-7). Illustrating the importance of Eurycleia in the final half of the epic, she is vital to Odysseus’s plan and has the power to easily ruin it with three words: Odysseus is home. If she says those three words to any other person in Ithaca, word will spread to everyone else like wildfire. Surely, then, the Suitors will be informed of Odysseus’s presence and instantly plan to murder him before he is able to regain his
Before letting him leave the island, Circe tells Odysseus that he must face Scylla, a sea monster, and Charybdis, a whirlpool. Circe says, “Better by far to lose six men and keep you ship” (274). Odysseus is told beforehand that no ship could pass unscathed, but he chooses to not to tell his crew. He knowingly sacrifices his crewmembers’ lives and has no qualms about it, which shows his inner selfishness. He makes sure to protect his own life, but he sees his crew as disposable. Homer characterizes Odysseus this way in order to convey his views about humanity: humans are instinctively selfish. Odysseus also carelessley kills his remaining crew when he taunts the Cyclops. After hearing Odysseus’s name, Polyphemus prays to Poseidon and asks that Odysseus “never reaches home” but if he is destined to return, make sure he returns “a broken man—all shipmates lost, alone in a strangers ship” (228). If Odysseus had never told Polyphemus his name, he and his crew might have made it home more quickly and safely. Instead, his hubris causes an inescapable curse. Odysseus cannot bear the thought of forfeiting his fame, which leads to even more hardship on his quest to return home. Homer uses Odysseus to demonstrate the danger of egotistical
Odysseus returns to Ithaca in the form of a beggar. He first comes to Eumaeus the swineherd. Telemachus shows up, and when introduced to the beggar he wants to make him as comfortable as possible while on Ithaca or allow him to return to his destination of choice. Since the palace is full of suitors Telemachus is trying to figure out the best plan for their new guest when he says he will give him food, and clothing, and “send him off wherever his heart desires. Or if you’d rather keep him here at the farmstead” (341). Telemachus is showing an example of xenia after experiencing this guest-host relationship during his travels, and instead of being the guest he has mastered the role of the host. Once Odysseus reveals his true identity to Telemachus they make a plan to be rid of the suitors for good. While in the midst of their scheme Telemachus steps up with a proposition. Athena had inspired Penelope to require a task of the suitors in order for her to choose one of them to marry. The task was to string Odysseus bow, and while they are attempting to do so Telemachus says “ I’d even take a crack at the bow myself” (418). He then proceeds to tell them what will occur if he succeeds. Telemachus is being very assertive, and is about to take part in the challenge however Odysseus motions
Hospitality in the Iliad gives us an insight in ancient greece and was a major characteristic of their culture. In the Iliad there are many instances of the applications of hospitality in the lives of the people back then. We use the Iliad as a tool to look into their culture because this would have been passed down orally for generations as some of the only literature they had. SO their worldviews and values would be apparent in these precious tales.
In the Odyssey the people of Ithaca are accustomed to hospitality. In Odysseus’s lengthy journey home he learns to maintain modesty. Odysseus’s family never give up on him throughout his entire 20 year journey, and they kept Ithaca for him when he came back. The Greek values of hospitality, humility, and loyalty are conveyed in The Odyssey.
Hospitality today is nothing like it was in Ancient Greece. Today, good hospitality is being friendly and respectful to a guest. In Ancient Greece, hospitality was something people had to do, or face the wrath of Zeus. Zeus’s law of hospitality is that any stranger that comes to your home, the host must be willing to feed, entertain, and maybe offer them a bath and anything else they might be in need of without question until those things had been given, and also give them a parting gift. The guest, in turn, would not be a burden in any way. In The Odyssey, most people follow the rules of hospitality, but there are others who do not. The Greek concept of xenia shows the serious priority the Greeks place on the laws of the gods.
However, his journey isn’t over yet. This last leg of Odysseus’s journey is perhaps the most important and crucial. Odysseus’s nurse and maidservant, Eurycleia is the first woman in Ithaca to know that Odysseus is back after she recognizes the scar on his leg while she is washing him. Eurycleia vows to keep his identity a secret. Odysseus’s wife, Penelope has stayed faithful to Odysseus for all the years that he was gone. Penelope was consistently unweaving her web to the delay the suitors. The reader even grows sympathetic for Penelope as “we see her struggle to make the virtuous choice about her marriage, despite pressures from her suitors, her son’s endangered situation, and her own uncertainty about Odysseus’s survival” (Foley ). Finally, Odysseus reveals his identity and Penelope is bewildered, but quickly embraces her husband after he tells her the secret of their immovable bed. It is the faithfulness of Penelope and nurse Eurycleia that insures Odysseus’s survival to the very end.
Far removed from our individualistic society today is the ancient Greece portrayed in The Odyssey, by Homer, where hospitality and good will are the way of things. As decreed by Zeus himself, those who wish the favor of the Gods must welcome foreign and domestic with hospitality. A man was supposed to offer the best of his food, his home, and his knowledge before ever asking for his guest’s name or why he was there. There is a sense that those of high status are the main givers of hospitality, but they are not the only ones commanded to offer hospitality. Homer emphasizes hospitality from everyone during Telemachus’ and Odysseus’ journeys, using a man’s xenos, host/guest relationships, with his guest to infer his integrity and character. If a man isn’t pure, then he doesn’t show hospitality and Homer makes sure that man is put in his proper place through the vengeance of those he has wronged.
middle of paper ... ... In Homer’s Odyssey, both Odysseus and his son Telemachus embark on long, difficult journeys; Odysseus trying to return from Troy to his home in Ithaca, escaping Calypso and the island of Ogygia, and Telemachus from Ithaca to Pylos and Sparta in search of his lost father. While The Odyssey tells of the courage both men demonstrate during their respective travels, their quests are the results of the intentions and desires of gods. Odysseus is trapped in exile on Ogygia by the will of Poseidon, whose anger Odysseus attracts when he blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus, son of Poseidon, and by the love of Calypso, who wishes to make Odysseus her husband.
Through characters and situations, The Odyssey promotes and emphasizes many important ancient Greek values such as hospitality, pride, and fate. Stressed greatly in ancient Greek culture, hospitality is evident throughout Homer’s writing, which reflects and expresses many different value systems within it. For example, when in the cave of the Cyclops, Polyphemus, Odysseus confronts him by saying, “we therefore humbly pray to show us some hospitality and otherwise make us such presents as visitors may reasonably expect” (92). To the Greeks, hospitality was very important, to the point that it was an expectation and not just a quality, as it is in today’s culture. If you feared Zeus and the gods, you were to show hospitality.
“The Odyssey” is an epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus and the story of his many travels and adventures. The Odyssey tells the main character’s tale of his journey home to the island of Ithaca after spending ten years fighting in the Trojan War, and his adventures when he returns home and he is reunited with his family and close friends. This literary analysis will examine the story and its characters, relationships, major events, symbols and motifs, and literary devices.