Hospitality, Family, And Justice In Homer's Odyssey

What are some influences that help make decisions in the Odyssey? One of the biggest influences is ancient Greek value. Some ancient Greek values that influenced the Odyssey are hospitality, family, and justice. Without the characters believing in these values the story would have been very different. Even Odysseus’s journey back home would have not happened without believing in family. In Homer’s epic story ancient Greek values has made Odysseus and many other characters respect hospitality, always return home to family, and bring justice to people who disrespect others.

One of the most important ancient Greek values is justice because it has influenced decisions made by gods and Odysseus. In the Odyssey, the gods have brought justice

Zeus tells his brother, Poseidon, “If any man, so lost in his strength and prowess, pays you no respect, just pay him back”. Zeus also is the one who signals Odysseus to start the slaughter with a mighty bolt flung from the heavens and who ultimately ends the fighting with a “reeking bolt” at the feet of Athena. This seems to suggest that Zeus is behind the retribution given to the suitors, who do not fear him or act properly as guests. This quote also shows Zeus doesn’t let people who disrespect him get away. Justice influenced all these actions by Zeus. Justice influenced Odysseus by wanting to slaughter suitors who have disrespected him and taken over his house. Odysseus was gone for twenty years and all this time he had suitors in his house taking away Odysseus’s hospitality. During the three years before Odysseus returns, the suitors plunder his herds of goats, pigs, and cattle. They carve away at the great King’s wealth, their countless feasts bleeding dry Odysseus’ property. But, in killing the suitors, there is clearly more than a material, dollars and cents, retribution that is enacted. This quote says for three years, suitors have taken over

Most of the Odyssey was Odysseus getting back home to see his family and was trying to get home for 20 years because he believed the ancient Greek value family was important. The Odyssey is a tale of family and home. Odysseus, "his heart set on his wife and his return," does everything he can to make it home from the war. Odysseus has fought gods and monsters, swam for 7 days, sailed for years to make it home. He has defeated all these powerful beings, which many people cannot do. Odysseus has done all these difficult tasks to make it back home because he believed in family. Odysseus’s wife, Penelope, believes in family just as much as Odysseus does. While Odysseus was gone, Penelope has been loyal to her family by not marrying anyone. Penelope is just as devoted as Odysseus to their family, if not more so. She longs for her husband's return, delaying her suitors for years. She has been hosting hundreds of suitors for three years, unweaving a shroud to delay her marriage. She has faith in her family and this ancient Greek value influenced her to wait for Odysseus without getting married. Odysseus reuniting with his family has made him believe in his family more. Odysseus thinks there is nothing better than seeing his family happy and together. His homeland of Ithaca is almost as important as his wife and son. As he says, "I know no sweeter sight on