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Essay On Hospitality In The Odyssey

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Essay On Hospitality In The Odyssey
In The Odyssey a Graphic Novel, by Gareth Hinds, based on Homer’s Odyssey, there are many life lessons, or lessons on Ancient Greek culture that can be learned. it’s shown that people may have offered hospitality initially, in fear/honor of Zeus or just in pure kindness. You can see this in action when Odysseus visits Phaeacia, ( Books 6 and 8 pages 73- 89), when Odysseus is stuck in Polyphemus’ cave (Book 9 pages 95-107), and finally when Odysseus gets home and encounters the Suitors. (Books 17- 22 pages 174-230). Today in our American culture, few people offer hospitality probably because there’s no one forcing them to, people offer hospitality today because it’s out of their selfless, kind heart. The moment where Odysseus washes up on …show more content…
They offer little to no hospitality to Odysseus. Although one suitor does offer hospitality to Odysseus after he wins a fight ( page 187) , it's very brief. The suitors do not fear or honor Zeus because of their own carelessness and foolishness. They underestimate the power of Zeus. This is ironic because this part of the story teaches the consequences of being inhospitable. On page 211 it shows the support Zeus has for Odysseus, and the suitor’s deaths. Zeus fires off a lightning bolt right before the suitor’s deaths. Earlier in the story ( page 146) it shows the opposing opinion on Odysseus, from Zeus since he destroys his whole ship. Zeus destroys the ship since Odysseus’ crew eats Helios’ sacred cattle. This turn from unsupporting Odysseus to supporting him shows that something makes Zeus change. That something could either be a bloodlust or revenge for not following the hospitality code. It's probably both honestly. This book ( Book 22 ) also shows that you should always be hospitable to everyone because you don’t know if a god or a king is a filthy looking beggar in disguise. This fear of gods, maybe being a beggar in disguise, shows that people in Ancient Greece would have been to afraid to deny
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