Hospitality

Running head : HOSPITALITY IN THE ODYSSEY

The Significance and Role of the Theme of Hospitality

In Homer 's Epic of the Odyssey

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In Ancient Greece , when the world was still young and vastly unexplored , people relied on good faith in welcoming strangers in their lands hoping that the favor shall also be repaid in kind in the future when they too shall travel . There were poor means of communication between tribes , cities or small communities separated by a wide expanse of empty land

and the open sea . Anyone who decides to set out on an epic voyage to uncharted territories can only trust the unspoken tradition of hospitality among people scattered in unknown places . One can not depend solely on personal renown to be allowed access in strange lands Similarly , while the fame and reputation of Odysseus did precede him throughout the lands , it was not so much because of his prominence that helped him through his voyage . Rather it was due to the practice of unconditional altruism which played an important role in Odysseus 's travels . It is the principle of doing to others what one wishes that others do in return . It is the unspoken bond of humanity among individuals who were then too few in the world and had each other to ask for assistance as brothers and comrades in the nascent world

The theme of travel and wandering prevails in the Homer 's Epic , the Odyssey . After the fall of Troy , Odysseus with his small army set out to sail for home . However , he was destined to suffer years of torment and agony because Poseidon , among a number of other gods , wanted to prevent him from ever succeeding while the rest of the gods in Mount Olympus pitied him and wanted him to succeed . Just like the harsh and uninviting ocean storms , Odysseus ' fate was tossed and turned by the whims of these gods . He was subjected to numerous trials and tests during his protracted journey home until he finally reached Ithaca and proved to be seaworthy , so to speak , in all respects (Aylen , 1964

Yet travel only underscores the salient theme of hospitality during the ancient era . Travel was prevalent during that time of exploration and the growth of Western civilization . People traveled for commerce and trade including the exchange of goods and ideas . Trade routes were established specifically to satisfy a society 's needs to go beyond their bs and establish different friendly relations with other states (Aylen , 1964 . Trade routes were also developed to make sure that voyage to and fro is very convenient , safe and fast . Along trade routes and other important nautical highways were small tribes peppered along the shorelines . One or two may be hostile and unaccommodating to seafarers but even if most of them are highly suspicious of strangers , they still treated them with kindness even extravagance (1964 . To everybody 's minds , it is most likely that people will continue to pass by...