Yefry Salazar

Professor Jeff Peer

English 2800

10/03/17

Essay Topic Proposal

It seems that hospitality is a big issue in “The Odyssey” by Homer. Poor Odysseus suffers a lot on his journey back home from war at Troy, but every time he steps on new land greetings and courtesy are of big influence in the poem. Not only Odysseus, but any guest who shows up at your home, will be treated as family. Chapter one gives an example of how hospitality is a major key, for instance when Athena appear in Odysseus’ outer porch, Telemachus was indignant that she had made it all the way to the porch and no one had greeted her. We take that from chapter one: “He went straight to the porch, indignant that a guest had been made to wait so long.”(335) But why will Telemachus be indignant for such matter? Were Greeks that courteous, were they afraid of god Zeus punishments, or were they hoping for something in return? Well it seems to me that all of these options are correct.

Zeus was seeing as the god of guests, a stranger could be a god in disguise coming to test Greeks hospitality and poor of those who didn’t greeted strangers right. An example that proves this theory is on chapter 14, when Odysseus showed up as a beggar to his devoted servant Eumaeus. Eumaeus didn’t treated him as garbage or didn’t refuse to offer him shelter, instead he said these words: “It would not be right for me to show less respect even to someone less worthy than you. All strangers and beggars come from Zeus, and our gifts to them are welcome though small, since this is how it is with slaves, always fearful of the masters over them, especially young masters.”(490) Eumaeus was Odysseus swineherd, not a very high class position, but still he gave him food and wine. Even though he seems faithful he makes sure to let readers know how mortals are fearful of Zeus: “And now, you woeful old man, don’t you try to charm me or win me over with lies. It’s not for that I’ll show you respect or kindness, but for fear of Zeus, and out of pity for you.”(497) Good people knew they will be punish by Zeus if they didn’t treated strangers the right way.

In the other hand, an example of Greeks not showing respect to beggars are Polyphemus or the suitors. The Odyssey lets the readers know how Zeus is the big one, god Zeus lord of all mortals and immortals, not showing respect to beggars was disrespecting Zeus and for that reason they’ll be punish with death. Polyphemus the son of Poseidon wasn’t fear of Zeus, he did not care for Zeus aegis or the other gods: “You’re dumb, stranger, or from far away, if you ask me to fear the gods, Cyclopes don’t care about Zeus or his aegis or the blessed gods, since we are much stronger. I wouldn’t spare you or your men out of fear of Zeus. I would spare them only if I myself wanted to.”(431) When Odysseus arrived to Cyclopes Island, he though Polyphemus will give him gifts, but this was not the case. Polyphemus first show courtesy but then devoured two of Odysseus best man. In result Odysseus planed how to kill him, but he only took an eye away from him. Not showing respect to Zeus can bring these type of consequences. Another example, are the suitors. They didn’t showed respect to Odysseus when we showed up as a beggar at his palace. Antinous one of the suitors treated him as garbage: “Swineherd! Why did you bring this man to town? Don’t we have enough tramps around here without him, this nuisance of beggar who will foul our feast? I suppose you don’t care that these men eating away your master’s wealth, or you wouldn’t have invited him.”(535) what an irony to tell Eumaeus he doesn’t care for his master’s wealth bringing a beggar to his palace to eat. They have been eating his wealth for years. Also, they wanted to kill Telemachus to keep all his belongings, material belongings and the most precious one, Penelope. In result, Odysseus with the help of goddess Athena kill all of them.

It also seems that Greeks treated others with courtesy and respect not only for fear of Zeus, but they were returning Zeus a favor. After Troy’s war, the ones that were alive and got home faced many obstacles. Some took months, other years, but every time they stepped foot on foreign land people treated them with courtesy and for that they were grateful. When Telemachus and Nestor’s son went to Menelaus’ palace looking for news of his father. Menelaus remember the time he hoped Zeus will put an end to his hard travelling:” It’s not like you to talk nonsense like this, Eteoneus. How many times have you and I enjoyed the hospitality of others, hoping that Zeus would someday put an end to our hard traveling?”(365) Eteoneus ask Menelaus if he should unyoke their horses or send them somewhere else for hospitality. Even though Menelaus was hosting a wedding he still invited them in. This tells the reader how grateful good Greeks were after they had experienced greetings from others. Another example, is when Athena guided Telemachus in the journey of finding news of his father. She took him to Pylos, Nestor’s great city. Nestor was another warrior who fought at Troy. Not knowing who they were or what they were coming for, Nestor offered them food and wine and after they have feasted he asked questions: “It is seemlier to ask our guests who they are now that they have enjoyed some food with us. Who are you, strangers? Where do you sail from? Are you on some business, or are you adventurers wandering the seas, risking your own lives and bringing trouble to men in foreign lands?”(354) after Nestor asked these questions Telemachus told who he was, son of godlike Odysseus. Subsequently, when Nestor found out it was Odysseus son talking to him he offered him more than just food and wine. He put his sons to Telemachus service, horses and chariots: “So then, go off now with your ship and your crew. Or if you would rather travel by land, we have chariots and horses at your disposal. My sons are at your service, ready to guide you to gleaming Lacedaemon, where Menelaus lives.” I don’t think Nestor would have giving all these services to a slave who needed them. But he knew that if he helped Telemachus he could probably gain something in return.

To conclude, greetings and courtesy was a major key of their life style. How you treated someone can make you live as all the ones who helped Odysseus get back to Ithaca, or it could have caused you problems, for example, those who spoiled Odysseus journey.