Hospitality is the basic root in The Odyssey, by Homer. Every homeowner shows it, and every guest expects it. Hospitality consists of gifts, traditions, and kindness shown throughout. An example of hospitality shown in the form of gifts is when Odysseus is in Polyphemus' cave. Even when death is staring Odysseus in the face, he expects hospitality to be shown to him, since he is a guest in Polyphemus' home, Odysseus says, "So you ask the name I'm known by Cyclops? I will tell you. But you must give me the guest-gift you've promised" (222-223) This shows that Odysseus wasn't thinking of the consequences that could have followed, he wished to be treated with the same amount of hospitality any house-guest would, even if he is a target. Another example of hospitality can be shown in the form of tradition. Every time a guest would visit, the same procedures would follow, one instance is when Athena goes to Telemachus' house for the first time. When she is greeted, she is sat down and, "A maid brought water soon in a graceful golden pitcher, and over a silver basin tipped it out, so they may rinse their hands, then pulled a gleaming table to their side" (Homer, 82). This action and many others are repeated many times throughout the story, I think of it as a tradition. The final example of hospitality can be shown in the form of just plain kindness. If we go back to when Athena, disguised as Mentes, goes to see Telemachus for the first time, Telemachus is not unsure of his guest, and does not question why she was there, he just shows kindness, "Pausing beside her there, (among the suitors) he clasped her right hand, relieving her at once of her long bronze spear, met her with winger words 'Greeting Stranger!' " (Homer, 81) Telemachus does not flinch on showing hospitality to a person whom he has never seem before. Overall, hospitality is the most basic rule a man MUST show in this story, it can almost be called a law.
The aspect of hospitality in the Odyssey is a central theme. Most of the epic is filled with descriptions of the feasting and gift giving by very generous hosts. One concern of hospitality is the relationship between guest and host and focuses on the sharing of wealth, knowledge, and accommodation. Hospitality in this society was made to serve many different purposes, such as pleasing the gods, pleasing guests, spreading a good reputation throughout the known world, and creating bonds between other families and cities. Hospitality to please the gods is shown through the libations given to the gods before every feast. This is shown when Telemachus and Athena go to King Nestor's palace “Say a prayer to lord Poseidon, stranger, his is the feast you’ve found on your arrival.” (pg 108) Another way that hospitality is shown and is believed to please the gods is how Athena disguises herself and helps Telemachus and Odysseus on their journeys home. The way that the people of the Odyssey show hospitality to mortals is through feasts and gift giving. The people hold a feast when a stranger comes to visit and wait until after the stranger is done eating his fill to ask questions about where they came from, who they are, and why they came. For example when Telemachus is at King Nestor's palace Nestor says “Now’s the time, now they’ve enjoyed their meal, to probe our guests and find out who they are. Strangers-friends, who are you? Where did you sail from, over the running sea-lanes? Out on a trading spree or roving the waves like pirates, sea-wolves raiding at will, who risk their lives to plunder other men?” (pg 109) An example of the giving of gifts as hospitality is when Odysseus is with the Phaeacians and they would not let him leave without gifts from them to bring back to his home in Ithaca and to help him on his journey home. Another example is when Telemachus visits Menelaus and Menelaus gives Telemachus gifts to ensure an alliance between Ithaca and Sparta. This also allows Sparta and more importantly Menelaus to gain a better reputation with the people of Ithaca. The reputation of hospitality is passed down from father to son so the bonds of hospitality are intergenerational. Hospitality in the Odyssey establishes good relationships with other families, cities, and the gods. It was set up to promote peace and partnership in a mostly war-ridden world. It was also used first to appease the gods and second to appease mortal men because it was definitely less expensive than the gods’ anger or war.
Hospitality is the basic root in The Odyssey, by Homer. Every homeowner shows it, and every guest expects it. Hospitality consists of gifts, traditions, and kindness shown throughout. An example of hospitality shown in the form of gifts is when Odysseus is in Polyphemus' cave. Even when death is staring Odysseus in the face, he expects hospitality to be shown to him, since he is a guest in Polyphemus' home, Odysseus says, "So you ask the name I'm known by Cyclops? I will tell you. But you must give me the guest-gift you've promised" (222-223) This shows that Odysseus wasn't thinking of the consequences that could have followed, he wished to be treated with the same amount of hospitality any house-guest would, even if he is a target. Another example of hospitality can be shown in the form of tradition. Every time a guest would visit, the same procedures would follow, one instance is when Athena goes to Telemachus' house for the first time. When she is greeted, she is sat down and, "A maid brought water soon in a graceful golden pitcher, and over a silver basin tipped it out, so they may rinse their hands, then pulled a gleaming table to their side" (Homer, 82). This action and many others are repeated many times throughout the story, I think of it as a tradition. The final example of hospitality can be shown in the form of just plain kindness. If we go back to when Athena, disguised as Mentes, goes to see Telemachus for the first time, Telemachus is not unsure of his guest, and does not question why she was there, he just shows kindness, "Pausing beside her there, (among the suitors) he clasped her right hand, relieving her at once of her long bronze spear, met her with winger words 'Greeting Stranger!' " (Homer, 81) Telemachus does not flinch on showing hospitality to a person whom he has never seem before. Overall, hospitality is the most basic rule a man MUST show in this story, it can almost be called a law.
ReplyDeleteThe aspect of hospitality in the Odyssey is a central theme. Most of the epic is filled with descriptions of the feasting and gift giving by very generous hosts. One concern of hospitality is the relationship between guest and host and focuses on the sharing of wealth, knowledge, and accommodation. Hospitality in this society was made to serve many different purposes, such as pleasing the gods, pleasing guests, spreading a good reputation throughout the known world, and creating bonds between other families and cities.
ReplyDeleteHospitality to please the gods is shown through the libations given to the gods before every feast. This is shown when Telemachus and Athena go to King Nestor's palace “Say a prayer to lord Poseidon, stranger, his is the feast you’ve found on your arrival.” (pg 108) Another way that hospitality is shown and is believed to please the gods is how Athena disguises herself and helps Telemachus and Odysseus on their journeys home.
The way that the people of the Odyssey show hospitality to mortals is through feasts and gift giving. The people hold a feast when a stranger comes to visit and wait until after the stranger is done eating his fill to ask questions about where they came from, who they are, and why they came. For example when Telemachus is at King Nestor's palace Nestor says “Now’s the time, now they’ve enjoyed their meal, to probe our guests and find out who they are. Strangers-friends, who are you? Where did you sail from, over the running sea-lanes? Out on a trading spree or roving the waves like pirates, sea-wolves raiding at will, who risk their lives to plunder other men?” (pg 109) An example of the giving of gifts as hospitality is when Odysseus is with the Phaeacians and they would not let him leave without gifts from them to bring back to his home in Ithaca and to help him on his journey home.
Another example is when Telemachus visits Menelaus and Menelaus gives Telemachus gifts to ensure an alliance between Ithaca and Sparta. This also allows Sparta and more importantly Menelaus to gain a better reputation with the people of Ithaca.
The reputation of hospitality is passed down from father to son so the bonds of hospitality are intergenerational.
Hospitality in the Odyssey establishes good relationships with other families, cities, and the gods. It was set up to promote peace and partnership in a mostly war-ridden world. It was also used first to appease the gods and second to appease mortal men because it was definitely less expensive than the gods’ anger or war.
You could give some examples about how this was used in the odyssey that would make more séance to understand.
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