Through hospitality from strangers, Odysseus gains enough support and new allies to make it home. In book 7, Odysseus is a stranger in the court of Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians. Alcinous shows generosity and kindness to him as he replaces his own son, Laodamas, with Odysseus at his table. The text reads, “[Alcinous] sat him [Odysseus] down on a burnished chair, displacing his own son, ... the son he loved most” (7.200-204). This depicts Alcinous’s true kindness and hospitality because he is placing Odysseus, a stranger to him, over his own son to make him feel more at home. Because of this, Odysseus becomes closer to Alcinous and it makes it easier for him and Alcinous to discuss his way home. This eventually leads to Alcinous being generous and giving Odysseus safe passage home on Alcinous’s own world-renowned ships.
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even if his home's a world away” (7. 226-229). This quote is very important because Alcinous grants Odysseus the full extent of his fleet, his best soldiers, and promises the safe return of Odysseus to Ithaca. Without the generosity of Alcinous, there is a likelihood that Odysseus would have never returned to Ithaca. Another example of hospitality is in book 14. Odysseus has just returned to Ithaca and Athena has disguised him as an old beggar. He cannot return to his palace because he knows that he can’t face all the suitors by himself and he does not want anyone to know of his return to Ithaca, so he goes to Eumaeus house, the swineherd. When asking if he can stay, Eumaeus replies, “Stranger, it would be wrong for me to turn a guest away,... since every beggar and stranger is from Zeus, and a gift, though small, from such folk as us is welcome” (14.xxx-xxx). Without the hospitality of Eumaeus, Odysseus task of getting rid of the suitors would have been near
even if his home's a world away” (7. 226-229). This quote is very important because Alcinous grants Odysseus the full extent of his fleet, his best soldiers, and promises the safe return of Odysseus to Ithaca. Without the generosity of Alcinous, there is a likelihood that Odysseus would have never returned to Ithaca. Another example of hospitality is in book 14. Odysseus has just returned to Ithaca and Athena has disguised him as an old beggar. He cannot return to his palace because he knows that he can’t face all the suitors by himself and he does not want anyone to know of his return to Ithaca, so he goes to Eumaeus house, the swineherd. When asking if he can stay, Eumaeus replies, “Stranger, it would be wrong for me to turn a guest away,... since every beggar and stranger is from Zeus, and a gift, though small, from such folk as us is welcome” (14.xxx-xxx). Without the hospitality of Eumaeus, Odysseus task of getting rid of the suitors would have been near