Sophia Elias

Mr. Palcsey

Honors English 10

12/21/17

Hospitality

Hospitality is the disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm and

friendly way. It is a vital part of the world created by Homer in The Odyssey, and is a major

theme that the epic hero Odysseus encounters along his journey. Without the warm welcome that

he and his crew received by kings, queens, and goddesses such as King Alcinous, Queen Arete

and Circe, throughout their journey, they would not have been able to survive. They received

comfortable places to sleep, food, wine, and entertainment at many of the islands. He and his

crew received a hero’s greeting as the well known Odysseus arrived at each resting place.

Hospitality played an important role on Odysseus’s journey home, as well as to his follower’s

lives along the way, even though at times hospitality was shown in a nonconventional way.

On Odysseus’s journey home, he encounters many hospitable people that made it

possible for him to make it home safely. Nausicaa, the daughter of Alcinous, is accommodating

to Odysseus when his ship washes up on her shore. “You shall not lack clothing, nor anything

needed By a sore-tried suppliant who represents himself. I will show you where the city is,” says

Nausicaa in Book 6. Next in Book 8, he is welcomed by Queen Arete and King Alcinous when

they offer him a place to stay along with a great feast, music, dancing, and athletic competitions.

With the help of Athena, more celebrations take place in his honor. Not only was hospitality

important to Odysseus on his journey home, but it was equally important to his followers. His

crew was an integral part of his expedition. He could not have made it alone. His men received
warm welcomes on many of the islands that they stopped to rest at. In Book 9, while they were

on the Cyclopes’ island, “spirit-women, daughters of Zeus, Roused the mountain goats so that

my men Could have a meal.” They were also guided through the fog by a god as they were

passing by, and once they landed on the island of Circe, they were kept safe and nourished.

“Feasting on meat and sweet red wine. When the sun set and darkness came on, My men lay

down to sleep,” says Odysseus in Book 10. Without the help of the gods and the hospitality of

those that welcomed Odysseus and his crew, they would not have been able to make it home

safely. However, the hospitality that was shown to Odysseus and his crew was not always

conventional. For example, Circe turned Odysseus’ men into swines, but kept them fed and safe

while she lured Odysseus into her bed, bathed him, and treated him like a king. Later, in Book

10, Circe turns them back into men saying, “Younger than before, taller and far handsomer.”

Prior to that, while getting food and water on the island of the Lotus Eaters, they are welcomed

and given lotus to eat, which in Book 9 Odysseus reveals, “Whoever ate that sweet fruit lost the

will to report back home, preferring instead To stay there.” Even though they meant no harm,

this welcome did not go as expected.

Ithaca, the home of Odysseus, had been known for being hospitable to all that passed.

While he was away, unfortunately that hospitality became clouded with suitors plotting to take

over his home. The hospitality that Odysseus received on his way home played an important role

in his journey, as well as to his follower’s lives along the way, even though at times it was not

conventional. Fortunately for Odysseus and his crew, they found warm greetings on their journey

and they were provided with food, wine and shelter along the way. The Odyssey clearly portrays

the importance of hospitality in Greek culture, and it is vividly seen by many of the characters

throughout the book especially by gods, goddesses, King Alcinous, Queen Arete and Circe.