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Dishonor In Relation To Greek Culture In Homer's The Odyssey

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Culture is presented everywhere in the world, whether it’s in the form of stories, clothing, food, and language. The Odyssey expresses this throughout the book using many different descriptions and imagery. Although there are incidences of dishonor in The Odyssey in relation to Greek Culture, The Odyssey gives insight into xenia, food, and beauty.
Hospitality is a big part of the culture. It is the relationship between the host and guest in the name of xenia. Greeks seem to be more hospitable because they had to rely on others for the needs of living in between their expeditions by boat and foot. When Odysseus and his crew traveled to the House of Death for the first time, Circe offered them a place to stay until morning. In her words, “Come, take some food and drink some wine, rest here the livelong …show more content…

Women are judged on their looks constantly and that is the only thing that matters about them. Although women in The Odyssey do many different things, beauty is is the one thing they are judged on the most whether it be by their husbands or a bunch of suitors who live in their home and eat their food. Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, is a good example of this. As she sits at home and waits for her husband to return after twenty years, she is harassed by suitors in her home. Athena “Queen of Tactics” believed that to get the suitors’ attentions, it would be best to make Penelope seem to be more desireable(Bk 16, 314). Athena completed the tasks of beauty to Penelope: “She made her taller, fuller in form to all men’s eyes, her skin whiter than ivory freshly carved, and now, Athena’s mission accomplished, off the bright one went as bare-armed maids came in from their own quarters, chattering all the way, and sleep released the queen”(Bk 18, 222-226). For the Greeks, the initial beauty is not on the inside like we are all told, it is always on the outside where none of their insecurities

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The Ancient Greek practice of “xenia” is highly valued, and in Homer’s The Odyssey the practice of “xenia” is vital to receive good one’s fate. For example, the cyclops, Polyphemus, does not value “xenia”, so instead of welcoming Odysseus and his crew, the monster decides to eat the men. As a consequence, he lost his sight, which was primarily from Polyphemus 's blatant disregard for the Ancient Greek practice. His fate could have easily been avoided if he had not eaten his visitors.

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Following, right before the competition starts for Penelope’s heart, Athena “endowed her with immortal grace to hold the eyes of the Akhaians…” (18.241-245). She makes Penelope more beautiful and appealing to the suitors, so that they will be compelled to fight harder. When she comes to greet the suitors, “weakness took those men in the knee joints, their hearts grew faint with lust; not one but swore to god to lay beside her” (18.265-267). What Athena does to Penelope works, and the suitors want to win the competitions so they can sleep with her because of her immortal beauty. Again, a women’s image is being sexualized to please the man.

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Although Odysseus has been on a terrible journey, he has not always reacted with honor and dignity like Penelope does. Penelope shows honor and dignity when she practices xenia, does not marry a suitor, and forgives Odysseus. In Greek society, xenia is a concept which dictates the relationship between the guest and the household. The household will clothe, feed, and room the guest, while the guest in return shows respect and gratefulness.

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