Greek Hospitality In Homer's Odyssey

“You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice.”- Ezra Taft Benson. In the Odyssey, by. Homer, Greek hospitality plays an important role in Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca. If it weren 't for Greek hospitality and the great generosity of others, Odysseus may not have ever made it home. The greeks believed that all guests were godsent and were to be treated with courtesy, meaning I’ve got your back and in return you’ve got mine. While it 's a choice whether one wants to comply to this code, the benefits and consequences of that choice are beyond one’s reach and affect not just the choosing party but other party in the same way. Greek hospitality has a positive outcome to both parties when demonstrated, …show more content…
Likewise, the same is true with the code of Greek hospitality. When Greek hospitality is demonstrated, there is a positive outcome for both participants. After Odysseus’ boat was struck by Zeus’ lightning bolt, Odysseus washed up onto the Island of Phaeacia, where he was found and because of the code of Greek hospitality, treated like royalty. The Narrator explains, “That night at the banquet, the stranger who was washed up on the beach is seated in the guests place of honor. A minstrel guest is called and the mystery guest gives him a gift of pork, crisp with fat and requests a song about Troy” (pg.656). “Odysseus is laden with gifts and is returned in secret in one of the magically swift Phaeacian ships...” (pg.690). The Phaeacians kindness and honoring of their guest benefited Odysseus greatly. Odysseus would not have made it home if it weren 't for their generosity. He had no ship or anything needed for survival and guidance. He was given the gift of pork with crisp fat, that filled up his stomach so he wouldn 't starve to death and they built him a boat with the necessities needed to head out to sea and continue his journey home. The Phaeacians also had a positive outcome from this tremendous act. This helped the Phaeacians to gain a positive relationship between them and the Ithacans, because to recall, Odysseus is one of the kings and leaders of Ithaca. If they were in ever need of anything for example with Greek hospitality or other in such, the favor is most likely to be returned because of this positive bond. In this part of the story, Odysseus is challenges stage of the Hero 's Journey. Here he is being tested, tested of how bad he really wants to go home and stay committed to this journey, all the way to the end. Odysseus had just lost all of his crew members and his boat. You’d think he’s finally done and ready to give up. Instead, Odysseus gets back