Monday, April 9, 2012
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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ReplyDeleteIn the Odyssey, one of the epic themes is hospitality and guest-host relationships. Many of the characters throughout the Odyssey often find themselves in strange lands far away from home because of fate, the gods, or when returning home from the Trojan War. For example, when Odysseus finds himself in the land of King Alcinous, he received a warm welcoming from the king’s daughter, Nausicaa. When Odysseus first appears in front of Nausicaa and her maids, her maids fear Odysseus but Nausicaa is not afraid of Odysseus and approaches him fearlessly. For example, when the text reads, “’Stranger’ the white-armed princess answered staunchly,/ ‘friend, you’re hardly a wicked man, and no food, I’d say,” Nausicaa is choosing to get to know and understand Odysseus’s intentions before judging him a dangerous foreigner. (6.204-5). Throughout the Odyssey, guests are received by their hosts in an open manner. In Odysseus’s case, Nausicaa first makes sure that Odysseus’s intentions are good, and after she confirms they are, Nausicaa welcomes Odysseus to her father’s kingdom and offers him food, beverage, clothing, and shelter. The duties of a host to a stranger is to treat them well and give them what they may need, as shown when Nausicca says,
ReplyDelete“’But here’s an unlucky wanderer strayed our way
and we must tend him well. Every stranger and beggar
comes from Zeus, and whatever scrap we give him
he’ll be glad to get. So, quick, my girls,
give our newfound friend some food and drink
and bathe the man in the river,
wherever you find some shelter from the wind” (6.226-32).
Nausicaa’s words show the duty of the host to be open and receiving to help the guest. The ideal guest-host relationship would be where a host provides the guest with generosity, and the guest to be appreciative. In conclusion, the ideals of guest-host relationships in the Odyssey foster openness, generosity, and appreciation.
In chapters three and four, Telemachus and Odysseus both receive king-like treatment from their hosts. While Telemachus is received warmly by King Menelaus, Odysseus is received by King Alcinous and Nausicaa. When Telemachus arrives in Sparta, Menelaus warmly welcomes him into the kingdom with a large feast. Similarly, when Odysseus arrived in Phaeacia, although his initial arrival is not as grand as that of Telemachus, he does receive kind treatment. Even as a stranger, Nausicaa and her maids tended to Odysseus and brought him to the Kingdom of Phaeacia. When he really enters the kingdom, King Alcinous, like Telemachus, is received with a grand feast and sporting events. In both situations, Telemachus and Odysseus are received warmly without question of their motives for arriving. These receptions show us that kindness to strangers is expected of hosts. The feasts that follow after arrival are ways to express this kindness. Along with a feast being thrown in honor of the guests, Menelaus and Alcinous both offer entertainment I the form of stories. In the case of Telemachus, Menelaus offers up stories of his time in Troy, and his partnership with Odysseus. While in Phaeacia, Odysseus is treated to stories from the bard, Demodocus. Hosts are expected to show kindness, hospitality, and treat their guest to the luxuries they may enjoy. Guests are expected to graciously receive these gifts from their hosts, and not to cause any conflicts within the kingdom they are guests in. In summary the perfect host-guest relationship within the Odyssey requires the host to be gracious and hospitable and the guest to kindly receive these luxuries.
ReplyDeleteThe guest-host relationship is a reoccurring them throughout the epic. The responsibilities of the host are clearly exhibited throughout the epic. Both the stories of Telemachus and Odysseus show the duties, expectations, and responsibilities of a host (and a guest).
ReplyDeleteWhen Telemachus reached Pylos he was treated as a king. He was bathed, clothed, and housed. The following passage clearly portrays the treatment Telemachus received by Nestor in Book Three:
"A housekeeper stowed some bread and wine aboard and meats too, food fit for the sons of kings. Telemachus vaulted onto the splendid chariot -- right beside him Nestor's son Pisistratus" (3.535-40).
This passage clearly shows the treatment Telemachus was given. He was handed food fit for princes and granted the honor of sitting next to the prince on a chariot, and was given somewhere to reside in the palace of Pisistratus. Similarly, Odysseus had the same experience when he journeyed to Phaeacia. Like Telemachus, Odysseus was bathed and clothed, and even was given a ship to sail home on, as his had been destroyed. Alcinous, the king of Phaeacia, hosted events and banquets in honor of their guest, Odysseus.
This clearly exhibits the duties and expectations of a host. Regardless of who the guest is, the host must treat them well, and meet all of their needs. The examples of Telemachus and Odysseus show us the importance of treating guests well; in Odysseus' situation, the Phaeacians did not even know his name, or where he came from, yet the welcomed him with open arms.
While the expectations of hosts are very high, so are those of the guest. Both Telemachus and Odysseus reciprocated the kindness. While they did not have much to physically give their hosts, they were gracious and kind. In conclusion, the guest-host relationship is an important reoccurring theme throughout the epic, which is clearly portrayed by Telemachus and Odysseus' stories.
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ReplyDeleteEven though Telemachus and Odysseus are far away from each other in different places, they are both warmly welcomed by their hosts. This tells us that hospitality was a large part of the culture at this time. This is an important concept in this epic because it is important to show your guest friendliness and peace after a time of conflict. This is exemplified when Telemachus and Nestor’s son first arrive at Menelaus’s kingdom. Menelaus replies when his servant asks him if they should host the men or send them on, “’Just think of all the hospitality we enjoyed at the hands of other men before we made it home, and god save us from such hard treks in years to come’” (125). In this quotation, Menelaus is ashamed of the idea of not hosting Telemachus and Nestor’s son. This shows that one should always feel obliged to host visitors.
ReplyDeleteThis role of the host also extends to the guest. As shown in Book 8 of this epic, the guest is also required to participate in the doings of wherever he is staying. Odysseus is encouraged to participate in the games being played by the people of Phaeacia when Laodamas suggests, “’Come stranger, sir, won’t you try your hand at our contests now? If you have skill in any. It’s fit and proper for you to know your sports.” (195). In this quotation, Odysseus is asked to play the games with everyone else so that when he goes home, he can tell his family and friends all about the skill of the people of Phaecia. This shows how if hosts are expected to reach out, guests also have to take advantage of that offer.
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ReplyDeleteIf almost every book of the Odyssey so far hadn't begun with a warm welcome and huge feast, it might not be so apparent that a huge theme of this book is hospitality and the relationship between a guest and his host. Recalling how Odysseus and his son were received cordially to the palaces of complete strangers on multiple occasions, I completely agree with what Alyssa, Jesse, Hannah, and Max have said.
ReplyDeleteHospitality and guest-host relationships are undeniably important themes throughout The Odyssey. In an age where travel by land and sea is perilous and long, having a global community of accepting cities is imperative. Without this widely held mindset, Telemachus would have never discovered that his father was alive, positioning the Odyssey to end up like the return of Agamemnon.
“If I can hear of him as alive and on his way home I will put up with the waste you suitors will make for yet another twelve months. If on the other hand I hear of his death, I will return at once, celebrate his funeral rites with all due pomp, build a barrow to his memory, and make my mother marry again." Clearly, if the hosts in this story (Menelaus and Nestor) had not been welcoming, they would have spelled disaster for both Telemachus and his father.
Of course, the guest also has duties when welcomed into the house. First of all, a guest should never invite themselves into someone’s house. Although it is the hosts duty to attend to the needs of a guest, the guest should not sit himself down or begin to do anything that the host has not deemed acceptable.
“When they saw the strangers they crowded round them, took them by the hand and bade them take their places. Nestor's son Pisistratus at once offered his hand to each of them, and seated them on some soft sheepskins that were lying on the sands near his father and his brother Thrasymedes.”
This quote shows how Athena and Telemachus do not sit down or take place in the offering until Nestor’s son sits them down. On the other hand, the hosts immediately sit the guests down on sheepskins and organize a feast.
The hostesses’ duty is to be as hospitable as possible, it is very important to keep a good reputation in this society, so if you ever need to go to the home of another person or need something from a neighbor, they will help you out since you helped them. The host should make their guest feel comfortable and at home, by creating a welcoming atmosphere. One of the epic themes, of the Odyssey is that of hospitality, which is shown throughout the whole epic. You can see this theme from the very beginning through the travels of Telemachus and Odysseus. An example of this is when Odysseus leaves Calypso’s house and starts his journey on his own across the sea, Odysseus stops on an island and hides in the bushes, but Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous, spots Odysseus and he begs her to guide him to the city and find clothing. Nausicaa provided Odysseus with clothing, prestige shower gel to take a bath in the river, drinks, and food. In return for her generosity, Odysseus asks the gods to bless her with her hearts desires. She invites him to the palace, where she lives, and he receives the treatment of royalty. The following passage from the epic, represents how much they cared for Odysseus and how the people of the palace treated him with compassion, Nausicaa says,
ReplyDelete"And the housekeeper invited him at once
to climb into a waiting tub and bathe—
a hot, steaming bath…
He’d been a stranger to comforts such as these
since he left the lovely-haired Calypso’s house,
yet all those years he enjoyed such comforts there,
never-ending, as if he were a god… And now,
when maids had washed him, rubbed him down with oil
and drawn warm fleece and a shirt around his shoulders,
he stepped from the bath to join the nobles at their wine.” (8. 502-512)
The above quotation is Nausicaa speaking about the treatment of Odysseus. Odysseus is living a life in this palace while his time there that most people dream of. Nausicaa and her family are royal but they are still very hospitable and treat their guest with full respect and try to make him feel as welcome in their household as possible.
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ReplyDeleteIn The Odyssey, the theme of hospitality is very significant. In a time of war and conflict, it is essential to show guest(s) (sometimes strangers) kindness. Although Telemachus and Odysseus both have been “strangers in a strange land” they still receive the exact treatment a guest should when entering some one’s abode. When Telemachus and Nestor enter Sparta, they are received by the Spartan King himself, Menelaus. After arrival, even though good lord Eteoneus was not sure about inviting complete strangers into the palace, Menelaus throws a grand feast for Telemachus and Nestor.
ReplyDelete“Just think of all the hospitality we enjoyed
At the hands of other men before we made it home,
And god save us from such hard treks in years to come.
Quick, unhitch their team. And bring them in,
Strangers, guests, to share our flowing feast” (4. 38-42).
This quotation exemplifies how even though Telemachus and Nestor are complete strangers to Menelaus, as a host, he still provides hospitality and throws them a feast. However, Odysseus’s arrival in Phaeacia was not as special and Telemachus’. Before arriving to the kingdom of Phaeacia, Odysseus is tended by Nausicaa and her maids. Like Telemachus, when Odysseus finally enters the kingdom of Phaeacia, King Alcinous also has a grand feast thrown for him, along with games.
Based on these different stories, instead of the host providing everything towards the guest(s), the guest(s) needs to provide as well. An example of this would be in book 8 when prince Laodamas expects Odysseus to participate in the games.
“Come, stranger, sir, won’t you try your hand
at our contest now? If you have skill in any.
It’s fit and proper for you to know your sports” (8. 167-169).
This quote is ultimately explaining how Odysseus is asked to play in the games, thus when he travels back to his homeland, he can explain the great skill the Phaeacians had in the games. Therefore, this quote portrays how even though the host should always provide towards the guest(s), guest(s) also have to provide towards the host as well.
In The Odyssey both Telemachus and Odysseus have been strangers in a strange, unknown land. But most times they had turned up on a foreign land, they had been greated with great hospitality. There is a certain obligation towards guests that a host has; the obligation is there because gods can be disguised and if one is not kind towards a god then they might become unfavorable towards the host and curse them. There is a good example of the hospitality towards guests, in particular, Odysseus in book 8.
ReplyDelete"And the housekeeper invited him at once
to climb into a waiting tub and bathe—
a hot, steaming bath…(8.502-504)
This quote essentially depicts Nausicaa giving Odysseus a place to bath. There is an obligation for the hosts to give guests a relatively comfortabel place to sleep, a good warm bath or shower and a good meal. Ultimately, a little bit a hospitality may go a long way in someones life. Hospitality creates comfort which creates a long lasting thankful memory.