Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Strangers in a Strange Land
Thus far in the Odyssey, both Telemachus and Odysseus have been strangers in a strange land. What kind of reception did they receive? What does this reception tell us about the duties of a host? Do guests have a corresponding duty? What is the ideal guest-host relationship?
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Throughout the Odyssey, all the places, which Telemachus and Odysseus have visited, have been very receptive to their arrival. In many of the places, which they visited, there have been people there to bathe them, and make them feel as if they are at home. Furthermore, there are feasts that are put on, and in most cases, in the guests’ honor. In one instance when Telemachus has arrived on the island of Pylos, King Nestor put on a celebration to welcome Telemachus to their island. Upon arrival, “Nestor, noble charioteer, began the celebration” (3.465). This quote is saying that there are celebrations for the arrivals of guests, and they are treated very well while in their host’s kingdom. These types of celebrations make the duties of a host clear because in many cases, there are feasts, which are put on to, welcome the guests. The duties of a host include making their guests feel welcome, and to also give them gifts upon leaving their kingdom. When leaving the land of the Phaecians, Odysseus received “gold, durable bronze and fine-spun robes” (13.421). This quote clearly explains that it the host’s job to not only welcome, but also give lavish parting gifts to the visitors who are leaving. In many of the places in which Odysseus stayed, he left with many lavish gifts, which he was to bring back to Ithaca. Most of the gifts include some sort of gold and bronze because these were materials in which armor was made and also used as decorations. Finally, an ideal relationship between a host and a guest would be the host putting on many feasts to celebrate the arrival of their guest, and to also give gifts and supplies which would be enough to bring them back home. The role of the guest would be to accept the gifts and to tell the tale of how they arrived at the kingdom. In the Odyssey, the perfect guest host relationship was between Odysseus and the Phaecians because the Phaecians were very generous, and Odysseus told of his triumphs and struggles of his journey back to Ithaca.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the book The Odyssey, Telemachus and Odysseus visit multiple places. In which they were received graciously. Most of time they are greeted with a feast. Upon Telemachus’ and King Nestor’s son arrival Menelaus says, "Menelaus, son of Atreus, and you my good friends, sons of honorable men feast here as you will, and listen while I tell you a tale in season,” (Book 4. 400.) in this quote is saying that they shall celebrate upon the guest’s arrival. The guests are treated very well throughout the stay at his palace. These lavish celebrations perfectly display the responsibilities of a host because it shows that that in order to host a guest properly you shall make them feel welcome and give them gifts before they leave your palace. When Odysseus leaves Paecian’s land he receives gold and bronze. When Odysseus receives these things it shows that a host’s job is not only to make the guest feel welcome but also to give them departing gifts. When Odysseus left most of the time he received wonderful gifts which he hoped that he would be able to take back to Ithaca. Lastly, an ideal relationship between guest and host would include giving the guest many tools or gifts upon departure. The guest’s duty is to appreciate the gifts and to explain to all how he earned them. The most ideal guest to host relationship is the one between Telemachus and Menelaus because Menelaus does his part in preparing a feast and also tells Telemachus the tale of his father. The tale is Menelaus’s gift to Telemachus
ReplyDeleteThe reception that Odysseus and Telemachus receive when they enter a new land is usually grandiose to say the least. In that age in time, hospitality is something that is taken with the utmost seriousness and if you didn’t receive someone with open arms, it was taken much to heart and could cause some problems. On Odysseus’s side, he is usually taken in with extravagant parties and is often sent off much wealthier than he was when he arrived. An example of this can be found when he first arrived in Phaeacia. Immeditealy the king Alcinous wanted to through Odysseus a party in his honor and wanted to hear all about his travels and what he has experienced so far during his journey. To celebrate Odysseus, the king had, “… slaughtered a dozen sheep to feed his guest, eight boars with shinning tusks and a pair of shambling oxen. They were skinned and dressed, and then laid out a feast to fill the heart with favor” (8.68-71). The king wants the best of the best for his dear guest. He also puts on a sports competition and brings in festive dancers and singers to impress Odysseus. This is very similar to the way Telemachus is welcomed into the home of the King of Sparta, Menelaus. Telemachus is welcomed by the king saying “Help yourselves to food, and welcome! Once you’ve dined we’ll ask you who you are. But your parents’ blood is hardly lost in you. You much be born of kings…” (4.68-70). Telemachus is welcomed with open arms and is treated to such flattery and complements. As a guest, it is their responsibility for them to do what the hostess would like them to do. Weather that is to tell them their life story or to participate in a sporting competition. Although, there have been some times were hospitality is not in the guest favor. An example of this is when Odysseus goes into the Cyclops’s cave and instead of being welcomed with open arms, the Cyclops kills and eats two of his men. I do think that it’s important that guests are welcome with kindness because that can change their entire reason for why they stopped by. I think it shows that the hosts do really care and want to put their best foot forward.
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ReplyDeleteIn The Odyssey, Telemachus visits many houses to find out about his father and Odysseus has to stay at other’s houses because he was stranded for 10 years at sea. When they arrived at the homes of others they were always welcomed kindly and their hosts were very hospitable. They took care of their guests without even knowing who they are, “Give the stranger food and drink, my girls,” (6.273). This was spoken to Odysseus when he washed up on the shore of the Phaeacians’ city in front of their princess. She had no idea who Odysseus was yet she decided to feed him because he was hungry and thirsty. The princess accepted the fact that a stranger and guest on her land needed help and she helped him. This shows the duty of a host because the host must accustom the guest and gives them whatever they need at the time. Telemachus decided to visit the home of King Nestor, in the beginning of the book, in order to find out information about his father. As soon as he arrived, he was invited to join in their feast that they were having. This all happened without introduction or any questioning by King Nestor and his family, “As soon as they saw the strangers, all came crowding down, waving them on in welcome, urging them to sit,” (3. 38-9). Even though King Nestor did not know them he still invited them to sit and eat with them; which is what a good host does. A host, especially in The Odyssey, is very hospitable to their guests and often welcomes them with a feast; like King Nestor did for Telemachus. One of the most ideal guest-host relationships that are seen in The Odyssey is the relationship between Odysseus and the Phaeacian people. This is because the Phaeacian feed him, entertained him, and give him what he need; including some extra gifts. But in turn, Odysseus told them the interesting story of his travels and the hardships he encountered. This is an ideal guest-host relationship because both parties involved benefited from this situation. The Odyssey shows how a host should treat a guest or stranger when they arrive in many different situations and what an ideal guest-host relationship looks like.
ReplyDeleteDalya Oprian
Both Odysseus and Telemachus have faced a warm welcoming reception while arriving at a new land. In numerous occasions we have seen hospitality play a major role when the people of a land are accepting a stranger in their boundaries. The guest is welcome to stay for months with the people taking care of him. The duties of a host are to provide all the help they can give to the stranger. They must give them guidance and a place to sleep at night for the time they will stay in their land. In return, the guests are obligated to treat their hosts with respect yet it does not seem like there is much of an evident role of the host. In simplest terms, the host is the “servant” to the stranger. There were many cases in the Odyssey where both Telemachus and Odysseus where treated with generous hospitality upon reaching a new land. When Telemachus was a stranger in Pylos, Nestor welcomed him with an open heart. He told him the stories of Menelaus and Agamemnon and guided him in how to continue the search to find his father. Telemachus owed Nestor nothing in return for his help; it was an obligation out of kindness for Nestor to help him. Odysseus reached numerous lands on his journey back to Ithaca. Along the way there where many times where Odysseus was welcomed with gracious hospitality. While in Phaeacia, Odysseus was treated as if he was a king. “But now, seeing you have reached our city and our land, you’ll never lack for clothing or any other gift, the right of worn- out suppliants come our way.” (6.210-212) This quote was said by the Phaeacian princess in regards to the warm welcome of Odysseus. She was a great help to Odysseus and represents the natural welcoming hospitality the Odyssey showcases every time a stranger is hosted. The ideal guest-host relationship is when a guest is welcomed graciously into the land and is given all the help the guest might need to finish his journey back home.
ReplyDeleteThroughout The Odyssey, the receptions that Odysseus and Telemachus have received in foreign lands are overall extremely friendly. The only receptions that have been uninviting are in lands where the beings are not humans, such as the Cyclops and Laestrygonians. One point in The Odyssey where Odysseus is welcomed warmly into a foreign place is when he arrives in the land of the Phaeacians. Here, the princess bathes him, feeds him, and brings him into her father’s great kingdom. The princess tells him, “But now, seeing you have reached out city and out land, you’ll never lack for clothing or any other gift, the right of worn-out suppliants come way” (6. 210 – 212). From here, he is recognized as the great warrior Odysseus and is welcomed into an enormous feast where his story is told by the bards. He is allowed to stay for months in this one place without them being bothered by him. Clearly, Odysseus is welcomed with open arms into the Phaeacians land and shown extreme hospitality. Telemachus is put in a similar situation when he arrives at Menelaus’ kingdom. He is welcomed into an enormous feast and told stories about the Trojan War. In both of these situations, Odysseus and Telemachus are treated with kindness and welcomed into the foreign kingdoms. As guests, I believe that they are turn are expected to treat the kingdom and its people with respect, just out of appreciation for their hospitality. The guest-host relationship is extremely important and relevant throughout The Odyssey.
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