Hospitality in the Odyssey

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.. o 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, 377-380).

Telemakhos then travels to Lakedaimon, land of Menelaus. When Telemakhos and Nestor's son, Peisistros arrive at King Menelaus's castle, one of the king's people saw them and asked Menelaus if he should let them in, or send them on to another lodging. In anger, Menelaus answers, "You were no idiot before, Eteoneus, but here you are talking like a child of ten. Could we have made it home again.

.. f other men had never fed us, given us lodging? Bring these men to be our guests: unhitch their team! " (Book IV, 33-39). What Homer shows here, is that it was expected that everyone be hospitable to those that are travelling/wayfarers.He also illustrates Menelaus as being overly hospitable and having an apparent fondness for Telemakhos.

He speaks about how a host should never hold a visitor in the residence, but contradicting himself after telling a story, saying, "Now you must stay with me and be my guest eleven or twelve days more... (Book IV, 627-629). In Book Fifteen, Menelaus agrees to let him go but is lags in the process and when asked to send him home, Menelaus responded: "If you are longing to go home, Telemakhos, / I would not keep you for the world, not I. / I'd think myself or any other host as ill-mannered for over-friendliness as for hostility.

/ Measure is best in everything. / To send a guest packing, or cling to him when he's in haste-one sin equals the other... Only let me load your car with gifts and fine ones you shall see..

. " (Book XV, 91-103).An instance of abused hospitality is that of the suitors and their lack of consideration and respect for Telemakhos, Penelope and Odysseus' estate. These are the individuals that Homer has depicted as taking advantage of the hospitality that was unwillingly given to them to begin with.

When Odysseus didn't return from Troy and no news was heard of his whereabouts or death, suitors from all over Ithaka came to the home of Odysseus to court Penelope and plunder his estate. Telemakhos says, "He's gone, no sign, no word of him; and I inherit trouble and tears-and not for him alone...For now the lords of the islands..

. are courting my mother; and they use our house as if it were a house to plunder.. " (Book I, 286-294).

Telemakhos and Penelope soon felt obligated to provide hospitality even though they did not want to, as was custom. They showed up at the doors of the palace when Penelope and Telemakhos intended for them to stay for a feast or two. The suitors more or less intruded and welcomed themselves far longer than they had wanted them to. Telemakhos realized that they had far exceeded their stay and had this to tell them: "My distinguished father is lost, who ruled among you once...

y home and all I have are being ruined... My mother wanted no suitors, but like a pack they came..

. These men spend their days around our house killing our beeves and sheep and fatted goats.. soaking up our good dark wine, not caring what they do..

. They squander everything...

My house is being plundered: is this courtesy?Where is your indignation? Where is your shame?... " (Book II, 49-69). The example used shows how the suitors responded to the hospitality given to them at the house of Odysseus. In response to the suitor’s lengthy stay, Telemakhos states, ".

.. f your hearts are capable of shame, leave my great hall, and take your dinner elsewhere, consume your own stores..

. If you choose to slaughter one man's livestock and pay nothing, this is rapine...

I beg Zeus you shall get what you deserve: a slaughter here, and nothing paid for it! " (Book II, 147-154). The suitors ignore what is said to them continuing to eat and drink, at the cost of Telemakhos and Penelope’s household. In Book 14, Odysseus, disguised as a beggar, approaches his old and faithful servant, the swineherd, Eumaious.As Eumaious is not rich, and does not have the treasures and wealth that other grand people possess, all he can offer is what he has.

In this case it is bread and a small amount of wine. "You must eat something, drink some wine and tell me where you are from and the hard times you've seen" (Book XIV, 54-55). Eumaious also says, "Tush, friend, / rudeness to a stranger is not decency, / poor though he may be, poorer than you. / All wanderers and beggars come from Zeus. What we can give is slight but well meant.

. all we dare... " (Book XIV, 66-71).

Its not the amount and quality of the foods, but the amount you can afford to give, and whatever you give is still important. Odysseus is grateful for his good manners, and says "May Zeus and all the gods give you your heart's desire/ for taking me in so kindly, friend" (Book XIV, 62-63). Hospitality can be explored through the rich and through the poor, it doesn’t matter about the amount given to a guest, but by the way and quality in which they receive it. However, throughout these differences, one common expectation of these cultures remains the same: that you must be hospitable.Uncivilized hosts make their visitors and guests feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Hospitable hosts are viewed as friendly and civilized. Book Seven, Odysseus enters the land of the Phaeacians, and comes upon Queen Arete and King Alkinoos. Odysseus, is nothing more than a wandering stranger to the Phaeacians. Even without any knowledge about who Odysseus is, they still give him the proper hospitality that is shown of a civilized people.

The King welcomes the begging Odysseus, "Alkinoos, calm in power, heard him out, / then took the great adventurer by the hand/ and led him from the fire.Nearest his throne / the son whom he loved best, Laodamas, had long since held place; now the king bade him rise and gave his shining chair to Lord Odysseus" (Book VII, 180-185). Later Queen Arete says, "...

Let our seniors gather in the morning to give this guest a festal day... In due course we shall put our minds upon the means at hand to take him safely, comfortably, well and happily, with speed, to his own country, distant though it may lie" (Book VII, 204-210). Not only do the Pheaecians treat him with respect and hospitality, but so do the royal King Alkinoos and Queen Arete.Although Homer explores the theme of hospitality in more good ways than bad, he also used bad hospitality.

During Book 9, Odysseus travels to the land of the Kyklopes. Upon surprising the Kyklopes, Polyphemos, Odysseus said, "... here we stand, beholden for your help, or any gifts you give-as custom is to honor strangers.

.. Zeus will avenge the unoffending guest" (Book IX, 288-293). Polyphemos responded, "You are a ninny.

.. telling me, mind the gods! We Kyklopes care not a whistle for your thundering Zeus or all the gods in bliss... I would not let you go for fear of Zeus-you or your friends-unless I had a whim to.

.. (Book IX, 296-302).This goes to show the bad hospitality and how little those, such as the Kyklopes, felt about Zeus and the law of hospitality.

Homer, also depicted the Laestrygonians, as being inhospitable. Odysseus’ men found a daughter of Antiphates who pointed them to the house of her mother and father. When the queen called Antiphates, he tore apart one man and ate him. The other men ran as fast they could to the ships, and the Laistrygonians gathered on the skyline, shooting giant boulders from slings at the men and ships.Not only did Homer show how the Laistrygonians broke the hospitality code but that they were cannibals of their own kind as well. Following this turmoil, they arrived at he hall of Kirke, who was deceivably hospitable.

When Odysseus’ men approached the hall of Kirke, they heard her singing and weaving, and thought it harmless to approach her, except for Eurylokhos. Once the men entered the hall, she sat them on thrones and chairs, preparing a meal of barley and cheese with amber honey and Pramnian wine. She put something in the wine so that they lost their thoughts of home.Not long after did the men turn to swine and she herded them into a pigsty. This trickery of hospitality, got the men to be comfortable enough to welcome the food and wine offered but it was all to entrap the men. Hospitality makes the travels of individuals possible and sometimes easier.

It enables the person(s) to rest and relax from their journeys. During that time, beggars or travelers often knocked on a stranger’s door in hopes of procuring a place to stay. It was thought that the gods would punish those who broke or strayed from the code of hospitality. Those who followed the code and adhered to it, were thus rewarded.Opposite of those views of the characters in the Odyssey and of Ancient Greece, today, hospitality is thought of as entertaining friends and hosting parties.

To them, hospitality meant offering all you had if only to feed and house a complete stranger. All in all, the main idea with this theme and for hospitality as a whole, is that you never know whom it is you are coming into contact with. So to be courteous, generous and kind to those people and not expect anything in return is what an individual should strive for. It's as the saying goes "Do unto others, as you would have others do unto you.

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