Hospitality in the Odyssey Essay Example
Jacqueline Medina
World Humanities
Professor Brown
March 13, 2011
Hospitality: Good or Bad? Hospitality as a theme in any literary work may not seem note-worthy. However, in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, it becomes fundamental to the telling of the story. In addition to hospitality in The Odyssey, the question of is it given out of fear of retribution from the gods or out of true generosity, is raised. What is also shown is the form of which it comes in, whether it be unwanted, given too much or taken advantage of. Homer illustrates the theme of hospitality through the actions of Menelaus, the Phaeacians, Nestor, Eumaious and the suitors. Early in, we are shown Telemakhos' hospitality when Athena comes to him disguised as Mentor. He sits Athena beside himself, offers food and drink, and only asks if he has information on his father. Civilized people in The Odyssey and even today demonstrate their quality of human beings in their hospitality, hoping that in return, should they be the arriving strangers or travellers, that they be treated in the same manner. It was also believed that turning away someone and not providing them this hospitality would result in some form of punishment from the gods. She then tells him to go out and find information on his father, Odysseus, and he soon sets sail for Pylos, land of Nestor. Entering Nestor’s palace, the crowd immediately greets him positively. "Nestor appeared enthroned among his sons...When they saw the strangers a hail went up, and all that crowd came forward calling out invitations to the feast" (Book III, 36-40). After feasting and storytelling, they turned towards the ship but Nestor stopped them saying, "Now Zeus forbid, and the other gods as well, that you should spend the night on board, and leave me as though I were some pauper without a stitch, no blankets..no piles of rugs...I have all these..and while I live the only son of Odysseus will never make his bed on a ship's deck" (Book III,
World Humanities
Professor Brown
March 13, 2011
Hospitality: Good or Bad? Hospitality as a theme in any literary work may not seem note-worthy. However, in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, it becomes fundamental to the telling of the story. In addition to hospitality in The Odyssey, the question of is it given out of fear of retribution from the gods or out of true generosity, is raised. What is also shown is the form of which it comes in, whether it be unwanted, given too much or taken advantage of. Homer illustrates the theme of hospitality through the actions of Menelaus, the Phaeacians, Nestor, Eumaious and the suitors. Early in, we are shown Telemakhos' hospitality when Athena comes to him disguised as Mentor. He sits Athena beside himself, offers food and drink, and only asks if he has information on his father. Civilized people in The Odyssey and even today demonstrate their quality of human beings in their hospitality, hoping that in return, should they be the arriving strangers or travellers, that they be treated in the same manner. It was also believed that turning away someone and not providing them this hospitality would result in some form of punishment from the gods. She then tells him to go out and find information on his father, Odysseus, and he soon sets sail for Pylos, land of Nestor. Entering Nestor’s palace, the crowd immediately greets him positively. "Nestor appeared enthroned among his sons...When they saw the strangers a hail went up, and all that crowd came forward calling out invitations to the feast" (Book III, 36-40). After feasting and storytelling, they turned towards the ship but Nestor stopped them saying, "Now Zeus forbid, and the other gods as well, that you should spend the night on board, and leave me as though I were some pauper without a stitch, no blankets..no piles of rugs...I have all these..and while I live the only son of Odysseus will never make his bed on a ship's deck" (Book III,