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Social Standards In The Odyssey

602 Words3 Pages

Throughout The Odyssey we are told a lot about Ancient Greece’s cultural phenomenons and moral principles. These are the very human behaviors and laws that our societies today are based off of .But we’ve adapted the Greeks welcoming gestures and standards of behavior to fit the world we live in now. The way humankind sees the world has changed over thousands of years. Our ideas of what is moral and what is not have changed, as has our trust in other people. We can’t be the kind, hospitable societies that were portrayed in the Odyssey, because time has progressed. Nor can we be or do the barbaric things that were the “norm” in Ancient Greece. The social standards of today are a lot different than what they used to be. Today we fight for equality, women's rights, and freedom; we don’t solve everything with fists, but with words. We respect all different kinds of people (or at least try to), and everyone lives by the same laws. What was once uncivilized is civilized now, and vice versa, what was once civilized is now uncivilized. …show more content…

Odysseus was the hero, he could do no wrong. But some of the decisions he made and actions he took that made him a hero to all, would bring him all the wrong kinds of fame in our society today. After winning the Trojan War, Odysseus and his men ransacked the Ciccone's island of Ismarus. They “killed the men” and dragged “the wives and plunder” away (Homer 212). This kind of disregard and blatant disrespect for other people would make Odysseus the opposite of a hero today, he and his men would be the kind of people that parents pray their children don’t turn into. They would be ostracized from communities, not welcomed into them. This is an example of how once civilized, normal actions, became

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Odysseus Hero Quotes

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I believe Odysseus is not a hero because he let many people die. He also didn't save his men from the Cyclops “He couldn't save his people.” I personally think that he didn’t try to save them at all. Odysseus did not save his people in time. According to Homer, “ While he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home.

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Examples Of Xenia In The Odyssey

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In the story “ The Odyssey “ by Garreth Hinds, we can identify a universal theme of hospitality or “Xenia” in Ancient Greek Culture. For instance, when King Alcinous helps Odysseus when he was shipwrecked we can see the type of culture and manners that are expected by Greeks. Another prime example is when Menelaus welcomes Odysseus in Sparta and offers drinks and food. The author uses these examples throughout the story to reiterate the general theme.

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The Odyssey touches on two important features of ancient Greek society which are generous hospitality and devotion to the gods. These traditions not only give the story depth and variety to The Odyssey, but they also shine the light on ancient Greek culture.

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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.

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Odysseus Use Of Justice In Homer's Odyssey

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While Odysseus’ actions taken to punish the suitors may appear immoral in modern society, by considering the ways in which modern society differs from Homeric society, Odysseus’ actions are just in the context of the poem. As violence has an extremely negative connotation in modern society, the use of the death penalty is morally ambiguous, and is a highly debated topic; however, violence is far more legitimized in the society of the Odyssey, and therefore, death is a far more acceptable form of punishment. This idea is exemplified by the way in which violence is discussed between characters within the Odyssey. In particular, this general acceptance of violence is demonstrated through the fact that many of the characters within the Odyssey share an almost unanimous belief that the suitors should be put to death to pay for their crimes.

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631 Words | 3 Pages

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The relationships between the Greek gods and mortals have always been complicated. The gods can be generous and supportive, but also harsh and destructive towards the humans. They claim to be all powerful beings with unlimited power and influence, but in truth, they are far more human than they are perceived. They meddle with human lives, not because they are wise, but because of their own selfish reasons. In Homer’s

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