Transcript HOSPITALITY IN THE ODESSY

HOSPITALITY IN THE
ODYSSEY
HOSPITALITY OF THE SUITORS
At the beginning of the odyssey we are with Telemachus in his home morning for his fathers
disappearance while his mothers suitors run amok in the palace. It is here that we first
come upon xenophillia, or the lack of it. Xenophillia is the law made by Zeus, in which all
travellers and strangers should be provided with rest, food and drink before any queries
are made. “…Zeus is the champion of suppliants and guests. He is the god of guests: guests are sacred to him, and he goes alongside them.”
The suitors are seen to be taking advantage of the situation of their king being away from
home by acting uncivilised and barbarically
“…he caught sight of Athena… ashamed that a stranger should be caught waiting at the
gates.” “At any rate these banqueters … strike me as domineering and insolent. Any
decent man would be disgusted t the sight of such disgraceful behaviour.”
By having the suitor act so disgracefully, this give homer one of the reasons to send
Telemachus of to look for his father.
It also provides an opening for the story, to give the audience a bit of history to what is
going on at the present time and to what way the story will go.
The suitor acting disgracefully, and been noted this way by Athena, could also be seen as a
warning to the audience on how one should act all the time, as you may not know who
is a god.
HOSPITALITY OF NESTOR AND
MENELAUS
One convinced and helped on the way by the “bright eyed Athena” Telemachus sets sale to
visit Nestor and then Menelaus. Once he arrives at each polis he find that the greeting
and hospitality is very different to Ithaca, as xenophillia is shown to him and his crew,
and limitations are continually been given to the gods – further more emphasising their
civility.
“…followers around them were piercing meat…in preparation for the banquet. But as soon as
they caught sight of the strangers they all…took them by the hand and invited them to
join them.” arriving at king Nestor’s sacrificial banquet to Poseidon.
“’Welcome. Do begin you meal. after you have dined we shall inquire who you may be.’ As
he spoke, with his own hands he passed them the rich piece of roast that had been
given him as the portion of honour…” arrival at king Menelaus’ banquet for the marriage
of his children.
By having the people of Nestor and Menelaus obey xenophillia and act civilised, provides a
contrast of good and bad Greek behaviour with the suitors in Ithica.
This also provides the audience with a good example of how they should act, and how to be
civilised.
HOSPITALITY OF ODYSSEUS AND
HIS MEN
TOWARDS THE CICONIES, LOTUS-EATERS, CYCLOPES AND LAESTRYGONIANS
After journeying with Telemachus, the story moves onto Odysseus tale of his return home, from the war
in troy. He starts his tale with the encounter he and his men had with the Ciconies, then the Lotuseaters, then the Cyclopes, then the Aeolians and later the Laestrygonians. However it is not the
hospitality of these people that are in question, but rather Odysseus and his men.
“I sacked the place and destroyed its menfolk. There was plenty of wine, plenty of livestock; and they
kept on drinking and butchering sheep…” Odysseus speaking of his men in sacking the land of the
Ciconies.
Here Odysseus shows no xenophillia, and gives the Ciconies no chance to show it themselves – choosing
to attack them before approaching them civilly.
This could be seen as a carry on from the Trojan war, acting of a reminder where Odysseus and his men
have come form, or it could simply illustrate the feeling of Odysseus and his men after the war – they
may have felt very powerful after their victory.
This can be seen due to the actions of Odysseus and his men when they land on the land of the lotuseaters.
“Now these natives had no intention of killing my comrades…I had to use force to bring them back to the
hollow ships, and they wept on the way…” Odysseus speaking of the lotus-eaters and the effect of
their food.
Odysseus does not choose to accept the lotus-eaters xenophillia here, as his men show one of the first
sing of succumbing to temptation, probably providing a moral to the audience that a weakness for
temptation leads to the loss of sight for the important things in life.
HOSPITALITY OF ODYSSEUS AND
HIS MEN
TOWARDS THE CICONIES, LOTUS-EATERS, CYCLOPES AND LAESTRYGONIANS
Odysseus and his men then travelled to the land of the Cyclopes, where Odysseus’
assumptions were greater than his reality.
“We find ourselves here as suppliants…you may give us hospitality, or even give us the kind
gifts that hosts customarily give their guests…remember your duty to the gods…”
Odysseus speaking to the Cyclops.
By assuming that the Cyclopes are a god fearing race, Odysseus is setting himself up into a
trap, this scene could be viewed as a warning against assumptions.
This scene also builds up part of the story, leading onto the cause of Poseidon's wrath
towards Odysseus leading to his delay home.
Odysseus then went onto journeying to the land of the Aeolians, but first I would like to look
at his encounter with the Laestrygonians.
“…I sent a party inland…the famous Antiphates…promptly made his murderous intentions
clear, pouncing on one of my men to eat him…” Odysseus speaking of the
Laestrygonians chief.
Here Odysseus also takes to chance and assumption and fails, with a loss of a considerable
amount of men.
HOSPITALITY OF AEOLUS
Before arriving on the lands of the Laestrygonians, Odysseus and his men took rest and
comfort on the land of the Aeolians. The Aeolians greeted Odysseus and his men with
xenophillia on their first meeting…
“For a whole month Aeolus entertained me…”
However when Odysseus’ men foolishly opened up the bag of wind Aeolus had given
Odysseus, and Odysseus returned back to Aeolia - Aeolus did not consider xenophillia.
“Get off this island instantly! The world holds no one more damnable than you…a man
detested by the gods.” Aeolus speaking to Odysseus on his return to Aeolia.
This reaction can be used to see how much the Greeks value the gods opinion and favour,
for Aeolus to abandon xenophillia in order to keep Odysseus away from him, so as not to
infect him and his people of the god dislike upon him.
This could also be seen as a warning for the audience that if xenophillia is miss used on the
first time, the second time xenophillia must not be expected.
HOSPITALITY OF CIRCES
After leaving the Laestrygonians, Odysseus and his men arrived on the shores of Circes. She
lures them by singing, and then show Odysseus’ men xenophillia by inviting them in and
giving them food and drink with out question, however her motives are deceitful and she
leads them into a trap.
“…that lovely voice. Its either a goddess or a woman.” “… gave them…a mixture of cheese,
barley-meal, and yellow honey flavoured with Pramnian wine… she introduced a noxious
drug…” Circes deceitful xenophillia.
This is another example of the result of following temptations of the heart, rather than the
logic of the mind – acting as another warning to the audience.
This is further more emphasised by the actions of Eurylochus and Odysseus, by them not
succumbing to temptations they have been able to save their comrades and prevent any
ill fortune.
HOSPITALITY OF CALYPSO
Once leaving Circes island Odysseus encounters three more obstacles before landing on the
island of Calypso. Calypso here shows xenophillia towards Odysseus, and uses her charm
and deceit to keep him on her island.
“The imprisonment of Odysseus in Calypso’s home…”
However towards Hermes an un welcome guest she is polite, but does not show xenophillia
towards him.
“The divine calypso seated Hermes… and asked him: Hermes of…” “The goddess now put
some ambrosia on a table…”
By showing xenophillia to Odysseus and not to Hermes we can see that Calypso wishes for
Odysseus to remain with her, and this shows a venerability of loneliness in her.
Whereas the response to the messenger god Hermes shows a the resentment she holds
towards the gods.
This scene in the story would also help to portray the out comes of wanting, and loosing
sight of wanting to temptation, that you will receive it, even if weighting a long time is in
order.
HOSPITALITY OF THE PHIECIANS
When Odysseus leave the island of Calypso, he is swept onto the shores of the Phiecians
where he meets Nausicaa. Due to the state of Odysseus, Nausicaa and her maidens were
frightened by him, and so insensately he is not shown xenophillia, but due to his begging
and the help of “the bright eyed Athena”, Nausicaa gave him food, drink, bath and fresh
clothes.
“Grimy with salt he was a gruesome sight, and the girls went scuttling off in every
direction…”
“Princess, I am at your knees.” Odysseus speaking to Nausicaa
“…since you have come to our country and our city here, you certainly shall not want for
clothing or anything else…”
This can be seen as a second reminder (the first see the hospitality of the suitors) as to
giving to xenophillia to all, as you may not know who they might be.
This scene also portrays the hardship Odysseus has gone through, whether his own fault or
not, and his desperateness to get home to his people and land.