A Positive Hospitality In Homer's Odyssey
In ancient greek mythology, hospitality is used as kind gesture to the the travelers who are coming from long distances. In the Odyssey hospitality was shown positively and negatively by the other gods towards Odysseus, his wife, and his son. As the sailors arrive to the islands along their journeys they expect to be treated with positive hospitality, but that is not always the case. In the Odyssey, the custom of hospitality is used, but there is times when negative hospitality causes some of his men to be killed and his positive hospitality gives his men the necessities.
Positive hospitality is when a stranger comes to a persons door. When that happens the host is suppose to let them in and give them anything they need before asking questions.
…show more content…
When Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of Aeaea, Circe tricks a group of Odysseus’ men by welcoming them in and acting like she was going to show positive hospitality, but then turning them into pigs and showing negative hospitality. “Circe came out and welcomed them inside. All but Eurylochus accepted the invitation. He had a premonition. And sure enough, after she had given them food and honeyed wine mixed with a pinch of something, she waved her wand and turned them into swine (mythweb.com).” Circe shows negative hospitality by welcoming Odysseus’ men in, giving them food, getting them drunk, and turning them into swine. Cyclops island is the fourth island they land on along the journey, they meet one of the cyclops named Polythemus. While Odysseus and his men are on the island they show negative hospitality towards Polythemus but Polythemus should show positive hospitality while they stay in his home. “Zeus? We Cyclops are stronger than Zeus. I’ll show you hospitality. With that he snatched up two of my men and bashed their brains out on the floor (mythweb.com).” Even though Odysseus and his men are rude to Polythemus, he should give them at least some sort of hospitality since it is a ancient greek custom and Odysseus and his men are staying in his home. If you are the guest you as well should be respectful to the host. Odysseus and his men are very rude and show negative hospitality as guest by eating Polythemus’ cheese and then later on stabbing him in the eye while he was sleeping. “Polythemus came awake with a roar, tore the spike from his eye and began groping for us in his blindness (mythweb.com).” Although Polythemus does not give Odysseus and his men hospitality and does not allow them to leave his home, Odysses is not showing positive hospitality as a guest. Circe, Polythemus, and Odysseus show negative hospitality
How Is Odysseus Portrayed In Book 9
674 Words | 3 PagesThough she promises eternal and continuous hospitality and care, Odysseus’ longing for his family overrides his duty to accept and respect Circe’s hospitality – as he had already been doing for a year. Odysseus misses his wife, son, and home too much, and almost in a form of gratitude for having her hospitality respected, Circe lets Odysseus leave. She also directs him to the Underworld to get directions to Ithaca. The Odyssey is more than just a story about the return of a veteran back home, it is also a story of a veteran understanding the importance of honouring a host. It is only once he learns this that Odysseus can come
The Negative Effects Of Curiosity In Homer's The Odyssey
1064 Words | 5 PagesEarlier in the epic, Odysseus frequently abuses his role as captain of his crew because of his curious nature. He makes several stops on their journey home in search of more opportunities to prove his skillfulness, even though he is already a king and has won a major war. One of these stops is at the Island of Polyphemus, home to the cyclops famed for eating all humans that enter his cave. Even though Odysseus is well aware of the danger ahead, his curiosity tempts him to
Examples Of Xenia In The Odyssey
1259 Words | 6 PagesOn Odysseus’ journey home he is consistently offered places to stay and given everything he needs without question by people that he has just met. The actions by these people are good examples of how to properly follow the rules of hospitality. While Odysseus has good experiences with hospitality on his journey home, his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus are not having the same positive experiences. They are instead being forced to offer hospitality to a group of suitors who are attempting to sway Penelope into marrying one of them. Although Penelope and Telemachus are following the rules of hospitality by offering the suitors food and a place to stay the suitors have taken it too far and are taking advantage of the situation by doing things such as butchering and eating the animals owned by the homeowners without asking permission first.
Nausicaa And Odysseus Relationship
636 Words | 3 PagesOdysseus's recent experiences with Circe and Calypso attempting to bewitch him or keep him prisoner has scared him. After Odysseus has heard voices and begins to wonder whether he is in the presence of mountain goddesses or humans. Odysseus asks himself “What kind of people have I come amongst? Are they cruel, savage, and uncivilized, or hospital and humane” (6.119-120)?
Pathos And Ethos Of Culture In Homer's Odyssey
1177 Words | 5 PagesThe pathos and ethos of cultures is often discernable in literary narratives as expressions of the sentiment of approval or disapproval. Thus, the impact of literary narratives on cultures cannot be understated; the arts do impact and influence culture in both positive and negative ways. This is not a new phenomenon and can be observed in cultures as early as 6 Century B.C. and can be traced throughout human history. An example of this can be seen in Homer’s Odyssey, in which there are certain characters within the narrative that portray what is known as “arete.” Arete is viewed as a desirable character trait which some define as the display of perseverance, quick-wittedness, prowess, valor, etc.
Of Odysseus In In The One-Eyed Giant's Cave By Homer
416 Words | 2 PagesIn the section “In the One-Eyed Giant’s Cave” from Homer’s The Odyssey, Odysseus is portrayed as a hero through his character traits and behaviors. When Odysseus and his men attack the city of Ismarus, the Cicones’ strong hold, Odysseus made sure to fairly distribute the spoils among his men. Odysseus’s behavior shows that he is a great leader, a characteristic of a hero. While Odysseus and his crew are in the Cyclops’ cave, Polyphemus, the cyclops, notices them. Polyphemus asks who they are with a monstrous tone, “‘Strangers!'
Xenia In The Odyssey: The Law Of Hospitality
906 Words | 4 PagesXenia, The Law of Hospitality The theme of Xenia was one of the most spotted out in The Odyssey, which is the Law of Hospitality. The Law of Hospitality is being polite to strangers who need assistance but it is more than it’s a host and guest relationship. Xenia is seen throughout The Odyssey. Xenia provides an effort of making the community a safer and better community.
Universal Human Experiences In Homer's Odyssey
153 Words | 1 PagesUniversal human experiences: occurrences that happen to all people. Throughout the Odyssey, Odysseus struggles with engendering, and searches for, connections to other people. The universal human experience portrayed in the Odyssey of connecting with other people is shown through Odysseus's struggle with honest, loyalty, and From some of the events that happen in the Odyssey, it is clear that Odysseus struggles with honesty. This is especially shown in some of the interactions with his crew. After receiving the wind bag from Boreas (Homer ), Odysseus is given explicit instructions to not open the bag.
Hospitality In The Odyssey
757 Words | 4 PagesThis passage that is spoken by Eumaeus represents two themes. The first is the theme of hospitality. Throughout The Odyssey, a common theme of hospitality has been shown. Eumaeus has welcomed the traveler into his home and has given him shelter and food despite the fact that he has little to offer. Compared to some of the other people that have hosted Odysseus,
Oppression Of Women In Homer's Odyssey
780 Words | 4 PagesCirce’s aggressive display of hospitality is the opposite of the general standard of how women are expected to perform. For instance, when Odysseus’ men arrive at her island, she deceives them into eating a meal with “her own vile pinch, to make them lose desire or thought of [their] dear father land” (Homer 10.30-31). While other women are expected to welcome men with open arms, Circe disregards the common notion and goes against them. Her ability to control and manipulate the situation for her own benefit shows how she holds a strong authority over anyone who might wish to challenge her. Including her firm control, her knowledge and intellect causes her to have a great effect on Odysseus’ future.
Importance Of Good Life In The Odyssey
759 Words | 4 PagesFrom Odysseus’ time with Calypso in Ogygia up until the moment he takes back his home and wife from the suitors in Ithaca, the struggles he faces help answer what makes for a good life. Homer uses Odysseus’ journey throughout “The Odyssey” to identify four aspects of a good life: mortality, honor, hospitality, and experiences. Homer reveals that mortality is necessary for a good life when Odysseus denies the opportunity for immortality that Calypso offers, he shows the significance of honor in his description of Odysseus’ bravery in the Trojan war and the consequent respect that Odysseus’ crew has for him, Homer reinforces the importance of hospitality in each city Odysseus travels to, and he conveys that experiences, good or bad, define a good life. The Greeks held their gods in high esteem and therefore when Homer or other characters in the epic refer to Odysseus as being “godlike,” this is one of the highest compliments he could receive.
Temptation In The Odyssey Analysis
704 Words | 3 PagesTS1 (Thesis): In The Odyssey, Homer depicts Odysseus’ real foe as the theme of temptation with displays of hubris and lustrous goddesses, which portrays the importance of being vigilant to not submit to temptation. ST1: Homer depicts that Odysseus is determined to get home, but Odysseus succumbs to temptation when he leads his crew into the cyclops lair, eats the cyclops’ food, and demands for a gift, resulting in a protracted journey home. 1: Homer displays Odysseus as recklessly brave when he requests, “we’re at your knees, in hopes of… a guest-gift”(9.300) from the cyclops. 2: It is apparent that Odysseus has given into the temptation to be arrogant when he declares for the cyclops to give them, “a guest-gift,” after Odysseus and his men have broken into the cyclops lair, showing even further Odysseus’ isn’t vigilant to
Honor And Dignity In Homer's The Odyssey
1018 Words | 5 PagesHomer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, chronicles the homeward bound voyage of the main character, King Odysseus of Ithaca. After Trojan War which lasted ten years, Odysseus sets foot on another adventure, which also spans ten years, to return to Ithaca. Odysseus is gone from his home for a total twenty years, but upon his arrival back to Ithaca, he finds that his title has been defended by his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus, who have been awaiting his return this entire time. Odysseus and Penelope are meant to be a model couple, so people often argue about which of the two is more admirable. To be admirable is to have faced a struggle with honor and dignity.
Examples Of Xenia In The Odyssey
420 Words | 2 PagesAnother quote is “He reached out and grabbed 2 of my friends… then he smashed them on the floor dead” (Homer 39). This shows that the cyclops does not care about hospitality and xenia because Odysseus was being nice to him by not running away after eating his food. Another example of bad Xenia is when the suitors showed very bad xenia to Penelope and Telemachus and
Cultural Values In The Odyssey In Homer's The Odyssey
1299 Words | 6 PagesYou’ll never plot some new intrique to harm me!” (10. 380-382) Circe had captured one of Odysseus’s crew members, by forcing him to take a drug that turns him into an animal. However, Odysseus found a way past this drug, which caused Circe to adore him. Then, Odysseus cadged for a deal to get the crew member back. Trickery is shown here because he put Circe in a position where she would have to free his crew member, and he used a trick to get to that point where he could make the deal.
More about A Positive Hospitality In Homer's Odyssey
How Is Odysseus Portrayed In Book 9
674 Words | 3 PagesThe Negative Effects Of Curiosity In Homer's The Odyssey
1064 Words | 5 PagesExamples Of Xenia In The Odyssey
1259 Words | 6 PagesNausicaa And Odysseus Relationship
636 Words | 3 PagesPathos And Ethos Of Culture In Homer's Odyssey
1177 Words | 5 PagesOf Odysseus In In The One-Eyed Giant's Cave By Homer
416 Words | 2 PagesXenia In The Odyssey: The Law Of Hospitality
906 Words | 4 PagesUniversal Human Experiences In Homer's Odyssey
153 Words | 1 PagesHospitality In The Odyssey
757 Words | 4 PagesOppression Of Women In Homer's Odyssey
780 Words | 4 PagesImportance Of Good Life In The Odyssey
759 Words | 4 PagesTemptation In The Odyssey Analysis
704 Words | 3 PagesHonor And Dignity In Homer's The Odyssey
1018 Words | 5 PagesExamples Of Xenia In The Odyssey
420 Words | 2 PagesCultural Values In The Odyssey In Homer's The Odyssey
1299 Words | 6 Pages