Hospitality In The Odyssey

By now Odysseus is left alone. Calypso starts to help him build a new boat and fills is up with supplies from her island. She was really emotional when he left. After about 18 days, Odysseus sees Scheria which was the island of Phaeacians. As Poseidon was returning home he notices what the other gods have done when he was gone.

Odysseus could show up at a stranger's door and expect to be welcomed inside, no questions asked, which is very different from today's policies, and for good reason. Odysseus was able to count on food and shelter when he was traveling and once told Polyphemus, “Since we've chanced on you, were at your knees in hopes of a warm welcome, even a guest-gift, the

Modern literary scholars of The Odyssey have argued that Odysseus is a hero. Although closer perlustration shows that he is not a hero because he came back from war with no men, he’s selfish, a hypocrite, and he killed innocent people. The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus and his journey to and from the Trojan War. And the story of his family and their life in Odysseus’s absence. Odysseus is selfish and hypocritical person, after twenty-years of being at war he expects to walk in like he has never left.

By settling down and remaining in one spot for extended periods of time, those who once had to scavenge for food, could grow enough for them and dozens of others to survive. Even if the hunter-gatherers were able to feed themselves, agriculture allowed them to thrive. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu had been able to survive on his own, but being introduced to beer, bread, and other foods he had previously never been exposed to, allowed him to stop expending so much energy on finding food. With civilization also came clothing and shelter, eliminating the need for Enkidu to battle with nature. With constant access to food, clothing, and shelter, Enkidu no longer had to deal with the majority of his problems, making life

Homer clearly demonstrates the positive and negative effects of the frequent offering of hospitality throughout Odysseus’s journey in the Odyssey. Throughout Odysseus’s journey, he encounters many whom are hospitable and provide him the resources and advice that are essential to completing his journey. Odysseus comes across Circe, who “from the Underworld, put on her finest clothes and came to see us. Her serving women brought meat, bread, and bright red wine,” (Book XII, 18-20) When the men arrive at Circe’s island, she provides them a feast and welcomes them kindly. She gives them further advice and directions that would aid them throughout their journey.

Pi’s life changing traumatic event came while aboard a ship with his family. The ship sank and all but himself and few zoo animals survived. Pi lost his family and had to survive under the worst of circumstances. He was without a great supply of food and water. Also, Pi was without a family.

Hospitality proved to be an essential value in The Odyssey. It shows the respect for people as well as the gods. For example, Odysseus approaches Eumaios’, one of Odysseus’ loyal servants, home as an old beggar. Eumaios still takes Odysseus in and offers him food and wine. Eumaios also states that “rudeness to a stranger is not decency...All wanderers and beggar come from Zeus” (15.67-70).

Odysseus agrees to help him when he returns from the underworld. Correspondingly, in Virgil’s The Aeneid, Aeneas is told by the Sibyl that his comrade Misenus had been killed by Triton over jealousy of his trumpeting skills. Also, Aeneas runs into the ghost of Palinurus in the underworld who died while the ship was at sail. Palinurus had fallen asleep and fell overboard into the ocean. Aeneas like Odysseus honors his fallen comrade’s requests of proper burial, and does so immediately upon return from the

Along with being sympathetic to old Mrs. Dubose, Atticus has supported many people through rough times. Despite race, class, gender, etc., He has a strong reputation for being there in anyone’s time of need. An example of this is helping out the Cunninghams. Penniless but proud, the Cunninghams can hardly afford food, but Atticus was there for them when they needed him the most, and in turn they, being farmers, paid Atticus back in the food that they grew and wood that they chopped. About anyone else would have turned the Cunninghams away, but Atticus knew that helping them was the more honorable approach.

Throughout The Odyssey there are many examples that prove the significance of the Homeric value of “hospitality.” Due to the unadvanced ways of transportation and communication, many days could be spent in an unknown location and the hosts of the location were supposed to treat the guests very well. For instance, as Odysseus arrives on the island of the Phaeacians, he is greeted with welcoming hospitality. Nausikaa, “But now that you have taken refuge here, you shall not lack for clothing, or any other comfort due to a poor man in distress (VI.205-207.104.) Clearly Nausikaa and Phaeacians are aware of the challenges Odysseus has endured and offered him clothes, food and any comfort he wants, all hospitable acts. On a different note, as Odysseus