Hospitality
The epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer relates Odysseus’ heroic journey to his home in Ithaka after the defeat of Troy. His prideful boasting about the victory has the god, Poseidon, pitted against his voyage home, and in Odysseus’ absence, suitors take over his home and threaten his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemakhos. In her attempts to bring Odysseus home, Athena urges Telemakhos to begin his own travels in search of his father. On his voyage, he visits with kings who fought with his father in the war on Troy and receives hospitality unknown to readers today. In Homer’s era, kings and others in an attempt to appear civilized make an investment in hospitality to prove their quality as human beings. They demonstrate their hospitality by welcoming travelers unknown to them with food, lodging, and gifts. This hospitality, or a lack of it, affects Penelope and Telemakhos throughout the epic time frame before one meets Odysseus.
As a result of Odysseus’ absence, suitors invade his family’s home pursuing Penelope’s hand in marriage and “spend their days around [their] house killing [their] beeves and sheep, fatted, goats, carousing, soaking up [their] good dark wine not caring what they do” (II 59). In hopes of Odysseus’ return, Penelope deceives the suitors by weaving and unweaving a tapestry, completion of which …show more content…
In Odysseus’s absence, the suitors take the opportunity to invade his home seek Penelope’s hand in marriage, displaying a great lack of hospitality. Athena, however, supports Telemakhos in his attempt to find his father. During his journey, he encounters kings who offer him a warm reception. They accommodate Telemakhos by presenting him with food, drink, housing, gifts and support. Hospitality, or its absence, greatly influences Telemakhos and Penelope throughout the time before Homer introduces
The epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer relates Odysseus’ heroic journey to his home in Ithaka after the defeat of Troy. His prideful boasting about the victory has the god, Poseidon, pitted against his voyage home, and in Odysseus’ absence, suitors take over his home and threaten his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemakhos. In her attempts to bring Odysseus home, Athena urges Telemakhos to begin his own travels in search of his father. On his voyage, he visits with kings who fought with his father in the war on Troy and receives hospitality unknown to readers today. In Homer’s era, kings and others in an attempt to appear civilized make an investment in hospitality to prove their quality as human beings. They demonstrate their hospitality by welcoming travelers unknown to them with food, lodging, and gifts. This hospitality, or a lack of it, affects Penelope and Telemakhos throughout the epic time frame before one meets Odysseus.
As a result of Odysseus’ absence, suitors invade his family’s home pursuing Penelope’s hand in marriage and “spend their days around [their] house killing [their] beeves and sheep, fatted, goats, carousing, soaking up [their] good dark wine not caring what they do” (II 59). In hopes of Odysseus’ return, Penelope deceives the suitors by weaving and unweaving a tapestry, completion of which …show more content…
In Odysseus’s absence, the suitors take the opportunity to invade his home seek Penelope’s hand in marriage, displaying a great lack of hospitality. Athena, however, supports Telemakhos in his attempt to find his father. During his journey, he encounters kings who offer him a warm reception. They accommodate Telemakhos by presenting him with food, drink, housing, gifts and support. Hospitality, or its absence, greatly influences Telemakhos and Penelope throughout the time before Homer introduces