Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, depicts various forms of hospitality in Greek society that characterized a character as civilized or uncivilized. Homer tells the story of King Odysseus on the island of Ihaka, who struggles to return home after a long and perilous journey. Throughout Odysseus’ journey, he encounters numerous forms of hospitality, either generous or harsh, which distinguishes the civilized host from the uncivilized. For example, the generous hospitality of the Phaiakians is greatly admired and appreciated in Greek society, whereas the cruel hospitality of the Kyklops leads to his punishment and suffering.
Throughout the epic, hospitality, or the lack thereof, affects Odysseus, and the reader can judge civility by the degree of hospitality offered. Odysseus’ own home has been taken over by a swarm of suitors who take advantage of Ithaca’s long-standing hospitality tradition. Telemachus and Penelope lack the strength to evict them, and they can’t expect much help from the community because the suitors come from some of the area’s most powerful families. Odysseus receives impressive assistance from the Phaeacians and, at first, from Aeolus during his wanderings.
Telemachus’ hospitality serves as the standard against which the following instances of hospitality (or lack thereof) are measured. By giving them food fortune, Homer can subtly teach readers the virtues that he believes define a man’s character. Athena gives Telemachus hope that his father will return and instructs him on how to learn more from Pylos and Sparta. Telemachus arrives in Pylos, where King Nestor greets him with open arms as he “sits them down at the feast of fleecy throws” (3.40-1). They set out together to learn more about his father.
Circe is a great help after Odysseus defeats her, and the Lotus-eaters may be a little too helpful. The Sirens, on the other hand, are sweet-sounding hosts of death, and Cyclops (Polyphemus) makes no pretense of hospitality. Polyphemus, in fact, scorns the concept and the gods who support it. Even though Zeus, the king of the gods, is known as the greatest advocate of hospitality and those who seek it, he allows the sea god Poseidon to punish the Phaeacians for their generous tradition of returning wayfarers to their homelands.
Work Cited
Fagles, Robert. The Odyssey. Penguin, 1997.