Throughout the plot of The Odyssey, the subject of hospitality is a widely-recurring theme. It can be highly debated; the Ancient Greeks appear to have a sense of hospitality defying human imagination (at least according to the epic). Generally, the term "hospitality" is associated with kindness and generosity (obviously, these are good things). However, in The Odyssey some of the examples of hospitality can seem rather stupid to the reader.
The first example of seemingly foolish hospitality is shown in the first book of the epic, where the scene is set: the palace of Ithaca, home to the missing hero Odysseus, is virtually besieged by suitors, hoping to wed the queen Penelope. Odysseus and Penelope's son, Telemachus, now a young man, is becoming increasingly agitated by the presence of the suitors, believing that his father is still alive, while Penelope has confined herself in her chambers, refusing to leave them.
It is clear that these suitors are unwelcome, and the fact that Telemachus and Penelope, the heads of the household in Odysseus's absence are annoyed makes this even more clear. However, despite the silent protests of Telemachus, Penelope, and even some of the servants, the suitors continue to be served, entertained, and humored by Telemachus and his servants. Clearly, this hospitality can lead to no good. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Fish and visitors smell in three days." If anyone is familiar with the story of the Odyssey, they know that these unwelcome visitors indeed smell after a few days.
Many more examples of over-kind hospitality occur throughout the rest of the story: when Telemachus sets said to Pylos in order to inquire of the fate of his father, king Nestor and king Menelaus (both good friends and companions-at-arms of Telemachus's father) invite him with open arms into their palaces and supply Telemachus and his crew with all manners of luxuries. Yet, it is only after Telemachus is bathed, fed, and given a place to sleep is he asked questions regarding the circumstances in which he visits Pylos. Again, this may seem foolish to the reader. After all, in this day and age, how likely are you to admit a stranger into your house, bathe him, offer him a feast and a place to sleep, and then ask him questions?
All this leads to the speculation that perhaps the Ancient Greeks really weren't this hospitable, and that Homer (or whoever wrote The Odyssey according to conspiracy theories) merely threw in these overly hospitable acts to represent the values of the Ancient Greeks. Whatever the circumstances for these acts, unless someone builds a time machine and travels back to the age of the Ancient Greeks, we shall probably never know.
It is also very interesting that, as mentioned in the packet that we read before we began reading the Odyssey, Odysseus refuses to be bathed by the servants of Nausicaa in the river saying, "I won't bathe in front of you. I wouldn't be embarrassed-- stark naked before young girls with lovely braids" (175:245-246). This is rather odd, for he allows many other women to bathe him, including Calypso and Circe. The question being why shouldn't the servants of Nausicaa bathe Odysseus in the river. One theory is that since they are all unmarried it would be inappropriate, but in many unmarried women bathe men throughout the Odyssey. A second idea is that since Odysseus is not in the palace of the Phaecians he is not protected by the rules of hospitality. This seems more realistic, because until he has the hospitality of the ruler, it would be wrong to show himself naked to the kings daughter and her maids.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this, at the beginning I was going to say that perhaps the Greeks were sensitive to age, but as I continued reading your comment I think that it's a combination of both, that because Nausicaa is both young and unmarried that Odysseus has qualms undressing before her. Good observation.
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