Omar Hernandez

95-1809

06/15/03

The Hospitality in the Odyssey

        In the epic, by Homer, “The Odyssey”, hospitality is demonstrated at various points. It is never really genuine, but forced upon due to circumstance.  Throughout the entire epic Odysseus finds himself stranded on many islands and is greeted by a being that either dwells or has control over the island, and at one point or another they display some form of hospitality.  Kyklops, Aiolos, and Kirke have self-motivated reason for showing hospitality, but never the less they are hospitable.

        Kyklops, a one-eyed giant that consumes humans, showed very little hospitality.  The only time that he was hospitable to Odysseus is when he was drunk, and asked Odysseus for more wine.  In return for the wine, the Kyklops promised him a gift.  The gift was that he would eat Odysseus last.  Even though it does not seem like much of a gift, Kyklops felt like it was a great honor.  The only reason that Kyklops was sociable at all was because he desired the wine and Odysseus was the only one that could bring him the wine.  The act of kindness had absolutely nothing to do with the idea of being kind, it was all to gain something greater in return.

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        The Aiolia Island belonged to Aiolos Hippotades, the King of the wind.  When Odysseus arrived he welcomed him with great hospitality, but made him stay for one month and tell him the story of his journey in great detail.  Odysseus then requested that he be granted leave so that he could sail home.  Aiolos Hippotades granted his leave, and upon Odysseus requests was allowed to replenish his supplies.  Hippotades was extremely generous and added a bull’s hide and bottled storm winds to guide his ship to Ithaca swiftly and safely.  Hippotadoes actions not  out of generosity, but rather Odysseus had ...

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