Theme Of Hospitality In The Odyssey

One of the main themes of hospitality in the novel “The Odyssey” by Homer is observed by the god’s to be very important. During the novel hospitality is displayed by hosts to their guest in many ways. “The Odyssey” does a great job of presenting hospitality in excess, balance and deficit throughout the novel. This is achieved by the house of Alcinous being the representation of excess of hospitality, the houses of Nestor and Menelaus being the balance of hospitality, while the suitors represent the deficit of hospitality. Thus, causes each group of people to be dealt with accordingly by the gods. Alcinous is the king of the Phaeacians. His daughter Nausicaa had found Odysseus washed up at sea one morning and decided to take him back to …show more content…
This is usually the order of customs in the novel when strangers foreign to the land appear at your shores. Alcinous demands one of his servants "Come, Pontonous! Mix the wine in the bowl, pour rounds to all our banqueters in the house so we can pour out cups to Zeus who loves the lightning, champion of suppliants — suppliants' rights are sacred (Homer 185).” This displays the absolute abundance of hospitality Alcinous shows to Odysseus a stranger in his home before investigating his name and story. Upon the departure of Odysseus, Alcinous overextends his hospitality by offering to send his men to take Odysseus home in one of his best ships. Alcinous is aware Odysseus is cursed by the gods and still overextends his hospitality by helping this unfortunate man, which in turn puts his men at risk by the gods. This was a mistake of Alcinous to go against the desire of the gods to help Odysseus and for this he had to pay the price. Alcinous recalls "Oh no — my father's prophecy years ago ... it all comes home to me with a vengeance …show more content…
Their form of hospitality exemplified to Telemachus is balanced. The right amount of hospitality a host should show a guest in their home. The gods decide not to punish Nestor or Menelaus because they show the young man hospitality by welcoming him into their home, feeding him, then questioning him and lastly sending him on his way with gifts, however they do not overdo it. Over at the palace of Nestor the hospitality was in the form of feast then bath as illustrated “Once they'd feasted their eyes with gazing at it all, into the burnished tubs they climbed and bathed (Homer 121).” Telemachus is fed, bathed and rubbed down in oil which is customary treatment for a highborn guest like himself. Similarly, over at the palace of Menelaus "Wonderful!" the red-haired king cried out. The son of my dearest friend, here in my own house! That man who performed a hundred feats of arms for me. And 1 swore that when he came I'd give him a hero's welcome, him above all my comrades (Homer 146).” The reader views the graciousness shown toward Telemachus for being the son of Odysseus. Odysseus’s old friends of war treat his son as if he were their own. This behavior pleases the gods and exemplifies the right amount of hospitality which is reveal through no punishment upon the departure of Telemachus to his hosts. This behavior is very different from the behavior of the