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Social Lens In The Odyssey

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In society, many people treat others differently based on what they may wear or like. This type of behavior dates back to the early times and can be found in literature such as The Odyssey. Written by Homer, The Odyssey depicts Odysseus' journey home from the Trojan War. In The Odyssey, the poem shows through a social lens how the high-status and joyful people treat the lower class. Respect and kindness were highly valued in ancient Greek culture. When people did not follow the cultural "rules" they were punished. For example, Penelope is kind to the beggar and treats him with respect because the beggar said he had news about Odysseus. Penelope met with the beggar and told him about Odysseus, and after the conversation, “Penelope called his nurse to wash the beggar's feet”. (934 Fitzgerald). For this reason, Penelope followed the culture of ancient Greece. She treated the beggars with kindness and respect. She was then rewarded with Odysseus. He was back so she didn't have to marry her suitor. Penelope saw that Odysseus was back and after …show more content…

For example, suitors treated beggars unkindly. Suitors even threw stools at him. A beggar disguised as Odysseus stood in the hall "where the 'beggar' is mocked by an evil suitor" (Fitzgerald 933). The beggar just stood in the hallway and the suitors abused him. For this, the suitor was severely punished and even killed. For the suitors had ruined all of Ithaca and disrespected the beggars. When Odysseus completed a challenging task that none of his suitors could accomplish, he killed all of his suitors." Odysseus' arrow caught under his chin and passed through his throat. All the suitors were so unfriendly that Odysseus killed them all. They ruined his house and tried to separate his wife from him. Odysseus drew his bow and shot an arrow, proving that he was Odysseus. The suitors asked for forgiveness, but Odysseus did not forgive them and killed

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