Hospitality In The Odyssey Essay

The Odyssey is a book that was written during the Ancient Greek era, 8 century B.C. The story of the Odyssey was passed down from generations, where Homer is believed to be an era- not a person. The Odyssey was about a hero, Odysseus, who spent a decade in the Trojan War and a decade trying to get home, back to Ithaca. Ithaca is is homeland and where he rules. This means Odysseus has not been home in twenty years, the people of Ithaca think that Odysseus is dead, except Penelope, his wife. Penelope shows loyalty to Odysseus by not taking one of the many suitors, while Odysseus shows loyalty to Penelope by not marrying Calypso. Although Penelope shows hospitality to these many suitors she never takes one to marry, she allows them to stay in her house and do as they wish. Odysseus finds vengeance on Penelope's suitors, unloyal servants and greedy crew members. The …show more content…
Penelope was very kind to her potential suitors, after Odysseus went to war. She did not oppose them to staying in her home with her and her son. Hospitality meant more in the Homeric era, and it helped Odysseus on his long travels away from home. Hospitality was mainly shown because the common people wanted to please the gods. There were times when Odysseus was not shown hospitality which was during his journey back from the Trojan war. He fought Poseidon's son, Polyphemus, the Cyclopes. He did not abide by the rule of pleasing the gods because his father was Poseidon and feels that his father will protect him. Circe showed hospitality to Odysseus and his men, even though at first she turned his men into swine. Calypso also conveyed hospitality to Odysseus. Both goddesses showed hospitality, but also wanted to marry him; Odysseus refused politely. The goddesses helped send him on his journey. Odysseus returns home to find that his wife’s suitors were plotting to kill him to take his wife as their own. Even though they were welcomed into his