Examples Of Hospitality In The Odyssey

The Odyssey

Back in ancient Greece hospitality was a major belief in greek culture. Guests were suppose to be treated like family, and no questions asked about who they were or where they were from until they enjoyed their first meal with their host. Treating people with hospitality was essential because Greeks believed the gods would often come down to earth disguised and test you. In the epic The Odyssey by Homer hospitality is a recurring concept throughout the storyline. Both positive and negative examples of hospitality exist in The Odyssey; Homer uses these examples to suggest that good hospitality gives you good luck while bad hospitality gives you bad karma. During The Odyssey while trying to return home a trojan war hero named Odysseus

They sail onto a land of cyclops and wonder into one's cave. Odysseus and his soldiers help themselves to the cyclops’s food expecting he will treat them generously as guests. “The basis for this characterization is chiefly their ill-treatment of guests. Of course, Odysseus and his comrade have not been invited by the cyclops. Nonetheless, Odysseus immediately appeals to the cyclops, not only to leave them unharmed but to ‘show us some hospitality’ and even ‘such presents as visitors may reasonably expect’” (Smith). The men and Odysseus are so quick to think the cyclops's follows their greek customs. The cyclops is later killed by Odysseus and his men for his bad hospitality and aggressive manner. Odysseus home later is overtaken by suitors hoping to marry his wife Penelope. The suitors soon began taking advantage of Penelope’s hospitality. Since Penelope did not want to upset the gods she showed the suitors generosity and kindness. In Greek culture guests were suppose to be polite and not make any inconvenient requests. “The suitors are slain, and that they deserve this is shown, not only by the fact that they waste Odysseus’s goods and plot to marry his wife, but also by the mistreatment of guests” (Smith). The suitors take advantage of Penelope’s hospitality towards them and disrespect greek customs. Odysseus ends up killing all of the suitors to earn revenge for them taking advantage of his home as