“Jove [Zeus] takes all respectable travelers under his protection”-Eumaeus
This rule is called xenia, meaning the mutual “friendship” between the host and the guest. However, not all beings find it necessary to abide by this rule, and the following paragraphs will demonstrate who, and what.
The Phaeacians were incredibly hospitable. They allowed Odysseus to sleep with the princess, and even …show more content…
sent him to his homeland with an abundance of treasure. The Phaeacians seem to be the only truly hospitable people. Even after they heard about Poseidon’s hatred for Odysseus, they still chose to help him.
“Alcinous, majesty, shining among your island people, make your libations, launch me safely on my way-- to one and all, farewell! All is made good, my heart’s desire, your convoy home, your precious, loving gifts, and may the gods of Olympus bless them for me!”- Odysseus
This shows how much Odysseus appreciated the Phaeacians hospitality, but also how eager he was to go home.
The being who contrasted most from the Phaeacians was probably Polyphemus the Cyclops. He ate Odysseus’ men, and he continued even when Odysseus threatened him with the wrath of Zeus. Talk about how the cyclops was VERY inhospitable, even when Odysseus threatened him with the wrath of the gods, implying that Polyphemus was stronger than Zeus. In The Odyssey, if the people that treat him with courtesy, they are usually more civilized. Polyphemus was the one who told Poseidon what Odysseus had done to the Cyclops, so didn’t need to fear Poseidon, and he had no fear of Zeus, so essentially, he could treat anyone any way he wished.
Eumaeus is the one person who’s hospitality is comparable to the Phaeacians.
Even though to Eumaeus Odysseus was only a beggar, he still treated him the best he could. Even after Odysseus tested his hospitality, he continued to host him. When Odysseus told Eumaeus that he was going to go to the palace, Eumaeus warned him about the suitors, and tried to protect him. Even though Eumaeus couldn't give him riches and gold like the Phaeacians, he genuinely cared about Odysseus.
“Bring in your fattest hog! I’ll slaughter it for our guest from far abroad. We’ll savor it ourselves. All too long we’ve sweated over these white-tusked boars-- our wretched labor-- while others wolf our work down free of charge!”-Eumaeus Guest who take advantage of or don’t follow xenia are punished. The suitors who resided at Odysseus’ palace were killed, because they harassed Telemachus and his mother, and nearly ate all of their food. When Odysseus stabbed Polyphemus in the eye, he was punished by Poseidon.
Quote from website.
Hospitality is a critical theme in The Odyssey. The Odyssey is based on xenia. Talk about how hospitality is important to the Odyssey, how him being a bad guest, or his host being a bad host is how he lost all of his men, essentially. Evidence, examples, etc. Closing sentence.
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In conclusion, the Phaeacians and Eumaeus are nice and everyone else is not nice and is
punished.