Hospitality Gives Diligent Care to Visitors in the Odyssey by Homer

754 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The Odyssey literary analysis essay

Hospitality can be presented by showing appreciation and diligent care of a visitor by a host. When a visitor is welcomed by a hospitable host all remembrance of that first impression will be pleasant and non-forgettable. The same will be as if the host is mean and non-hospitable, the visitor will never forget that impression as well. If one is to visit a home of a friend and ask for a drink of water, the guest may naturally assume the host will go and get them a glass of water from the kitchen. After all that would be the most hospitable thing to do right? However, the host may tell the visitor to help themselves to the kitchen and get their own glass of water. That would be considered a non-hospitable host and this impression may be never forgotten. In the Greek story “The Odyssey” a lot of hospitality can be seen throughout the story. In the Greek culture, hospitality holds a high respect and value. This was demonstrated all throughout “The Odyssey”. Non-hospitality was also shown throughout the story as well and disregards to this had shown punishment as a result to those that were not hospitable. The gods expected hospitality as well as Odysseus. Other characters in the story displayed non-hospitality and you can surly see how they ended up regretting that they didn’t do such of a great job. A great example of these characters in the story is the Cyclopes, whom were mean. The Cyclopes are examples in the story that shows how non-hospitably defiant someone can be. They were not nice to most they can in contact with other than someone of their own kind. This is why Odysseus had no respect of them throughout the story. The story broadens as it shows different ways of being hospitable and non-hospitable. “The Odyssey” can relate ... ... middle of paper ... ...go to the underworld he felt the need to so that he could repay her for her hospitality. She had feed, clothed and sheltered him and his men and he felt that was the least he could do, for his own sake as well he could get info that he needed from the underworld and him and Circe benefited. Another great displaying act of hospitality can be shown thorough this quote in the story, “Menelaos- Surely we two have eaten much hospitality from other men before we came back here. May Zeus only make an end of such misery hereafter. Unharness the strangers horses then, and bring the men here to be feasted (Simon and Schuster).” In other words, according to Menelaos, he was once shown great hospitality, so he felt that it was only right to show it to another. This shows that the rule of hospitality has been applied in his life and he believes it’s good to pass it on. b

Show More
Related

  • Free Essay on Homer's Odyssey: Hospitality

    547 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hospitality: Greek philoxenia; literally “love of strangers.”  Homer might have had such a definition in mind when he introduced the theme of hospitality to his epic poem the Odyssey.  A multitude of reasons for the prominent position this theme plays, both in the Odyssey and perhaps in Homer’s own society, are hinted at in the introductory books, often referred to as the Telemachy.  Just two of these, namely the hunger for news and the belief in divinity, are illustrated by the words and actions of the hosts Telemakhos and Nestor.

    Read More

  • Hospitality's Role in Homer's The Odyssey

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...of ancient Greek society. The act of; providing strangers a meal, a place to sleep, and a welcoming spirit before they continue their journey, are strongly encouraged. The hosts don’t ask for the guests’ identity—to be polite—and treat them with courtesy. For instance, Nestor welcomes Telemachus to his island, and offers him to join a big feast without having the knowledge of where he came from or who he was. The guests are also expected to return the favor of kindness. On the other side of hospitality, the host-to-guest relationship isn’t as pleasant, and the gods strongly forbid the mistreatment of strangers. Going against their wishes will result in misfortunes. For example Cyclops got his eye blinded, and the suitors were deprived of existence. Thus, although the rules of hospitality aren’t written down, there are clear guidelines between generous and hostile.

    Read More

  • Greek Xenia in The Odyssey

    1934 Words  | 4 Pages

    Other acts of hospitality are seen throughout The Odyssey. Telemachus has left on a journey to find out about his father and he comes across Nestor. Nestor shows multiple signs of good hospitality. When Telemachus first meets him, he gives everyone a feast before even asking who they are (3.76-79). Once Telemachus...

    Read More

  • The Odyssey

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Greek value of hospitality is exhibited in The Odyssey by Odysseus and Penelope. Odysseus and his hungry men entered an unfamiliar cave, which was home to the Cyclops. Once the Cyclops saw the men he asked why they are there, and in Odysseus's explanation he mentions “It was our luck to come here; here we stand beholden for your help, or any gifts you give-as custom is it to honor strangers” (line 194). Odysseus is tried to convince the cyclops to let him and his men live by using the Greek value of hospitality. He wants the Cyclops to view him as a guest, not food. To Odysseus it was second nature to help out a guest or person in need. While Penelope was speaking to the suitors she noted “Here is a poor man come, a wanderer, driven by want to beg his bread, and everyone in hall gave bits, to cram his bag” (line 1116). She shamed Antinous for not helping the man, because in Ithaca its is accustomed to provide the hungry and poor with food. The fact that Antinous “threw a stool” at Odysseus, and “banged his shoulder” appalled Penelope. The thought of doing such a thing was unheard of to Penelope since hospitality is a part of her way of life along with all other Greeks. The people of Ithaca from The Odyssey a...

    Read More

  • Hospitality In Homer's Odyssey

    1258 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this day and age, helping a stranger from their troubles without knowing anything about that person is a risk many people do not take. And for people who do show hospitality to strangers, their actions are little more than being friendly to the guest. However, in Homer’s time period, giving stranger’s hospitality was something most Greeks did. In ancient Greece, there were set hospitality laws where both guests and hosts had obligations. Therefore, in Homer’s Odyssey, one of the major themes of this epic was hospitality and the guest-host relationship. Robert Fagles, translator of the Odyssey, and Bernard Knox, introduction and notes writer, wrote in the introduction, “If there is one stable moral criterion in the world of the Odyssey, it

    Read More

  • Examples Of Monsters In The Odyssey

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    The one-eyed Cyclops present a monster with extremely barbaric qualities that the Greeks abhor. When Odysseus first reaches the island of the Cyclops, he is surprised by their uncivilized ways, which are foreign to the Greeks. He describes them as “lawless brutes, who trust so to the everlasting gods/they never plant with their own hands or plow the soil” and explains how the Cyclopes “have no meeting place for council, no laws either,/no, up on the mountain peaks they live in arching caves-/each a law to himself, ruling his wives and children,/ not a care in the world for any neighbor” (9.118-128). The Cyclops live alone in caves, never tending to their crops, and are cared for by the gods. They have no structured civilization or sense of community, and have no regard for one another: they live like wild animals. They have “not a care in the world for any neighbor”, they don’t “plant with their own hands or plow the soil”, and they have “no meeting place for council, no laws either.” The Cyclops seek no comfort of camaraderie. They live by themselves and for themselves, and do not ab...

    Read More

  • Hospitality

    433 Words  | 1 Pages

    A great show of hospitality is when a Greek was taken in to one's home to live with them as part of their family. The best example of this is when the old fisherman, Dictys, discovered a chest containing Danaë and Perseus and took them home to live with him and his wife. "They had no children and they cared for Danaë and Perseus as if they were their own" (148). Without this show of hospitality, Danaë and Perseus may not have survived. Also, without this show of cordiality Perseus would not have been able to become the hero he is and accomplish the great tasks he completed throughout his life. Another example of one's being taken in occurs in the story of Demeter. Demeter, disguised as a poor aged woman because of the misery of her daughter's kidnapping, was found by four lovely maidens, who after talking to their mother, Metaneira, took Demeter in with them. Here Demeter was given food and a house to live in. This hospitality helped Demeter to cope with the abduction of her daughter, Persephone because it not only allowed her to nurse the child, Demophoön, but also to interact with other people. These two myths show how much hospitality was a significant part of Greek culture.

    Read More

  • The Odyssey

    1113 Words  | 3 Pages

    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. In opposition to this, Odysseus’ request for hospitality is followed by the Cyclops stating, “you are a fool…we Cyclopes do not care about Zeus or any of your blessed gods for we are ever so much stronger than they” (92/93). In accordance to this, the greatest reason for one to show hospitality was because they believe...

    Read More

  • The Odyssey and Madea

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are occasions in both works where characters make the mistake of using their personal manner in inappropriate settings. In The Odyssey, Odysseus incorrectly assumes that the Cyclopes, Polyphemos, would be welcoming of him.

    Read More

  • Xenia

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout Greek culture, xenia has been a prominent method for those who are in need. Homer could obviously see the importance of hospitality since he put such emphasis on it in his works. This re-occurring theme has; however, lost some of its relevance through time, but can still be shared through small acts of kindness. The Bible even says to “offer hospitality to one another without complaint” (1 Peter 4:9). Therefore, being generous towards others can help continue on the meaning of being hospitable.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Guest And Host Relationship In Homer's Odyssey

    616 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Homeric Greece there is a high value placed on a cultured elegance, and refinement of character. This is illustrated throughout Homer's The Odyssey using the vehicle of the guest/host relationship. The narrative begins with an interaction between Odysseus's son, Telemakhos, and the goddess Athena (disguised as Mentor). From the outset, it is made clear that there is a very specific set of rules for the receiving of guests into one's household. The degree of ceremony with which these actions are carried out is a direct reflection on the character of the host, and a marker of whether or not they are deemed worthy and honorable. When Telemakhos sees the stranger in his household, he is rushes to greet him, "irked with himself to think a visitor has been kept there waiting" (5). This suggests that each moment of the interaction between guest and host must be treated with reverence, as this connection is infinitely important. As the scene progresses, this same idea is carried farther, and the guest made welcome to the

    Read More

  • Greek Hospitality in The Odyssey

    937 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Greek Hospitality in the Odyssey

    948 Words  | 2 Pages

    A positive host is one who welcomes their guests with open arms. Generous Greek hosts treat their guests with the highest respect. A positive host does not ask a guest of their identity, until after they dine. Greek hosts offer their guests a wide variety of meats and wines. If a host enjoys the company of his guests, he will offer gifts to them. The type of gift offered to the guest would depend on the wealth and generosity of the host. If the guest is a weary traveler and a long way from home, a host may invite the guest to stay for the night at his home. An example of excellent Greek hospitality as read in The Odyssey would be shown in the character Menelaus, towards his unknown guests, Telemachus and Peisistratus. Menelaus is quoted in The Odyssey as follows: “Welcome. Do begin your meal. After you’ve dined we shall inquire who you may be. (IV pg. 42)” Other examples of good hospitality would include King Alcinous and Queen Arete, of the Phaecians, towards Odysseus, and the king of Pylos, Nestor, towards Telemachus. Therefore, t...

    Read More

  • Hospitality in the Iliad

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hospitality in the greek is Xenia which was the guest to host friendship and obligations of the host and guest. The giving of gifts was usually done between guests and hosts. They really strived for a symbiotic give and take relationship in which the host does most of the leg work but a honorable and good guest would give so gift or reward in return. The only time when the host could really reject or throw out a guest was when a guest violated xenia terribly to the point where Zeus would give the order to seek justice for an act of such magnitude. For example when Paris is a guest in the King of Sparta Menelaus’ house as a guest and then steals his beautiful daughter from him and runs away. The theft of a princess is a major offense and would definitely deserve some repercussions it says many times in the Iliad of how the gods disapprove of this act.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Hospitality in the Odyssey

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about Hospitality Gives Diligent Care to Visitors in the Odyssey by Homer

Open Document