Homer's "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey"

Paper Summary:

This paper introduces and discusses three similarities of hospitality in Homer's "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." The paper points out that while the theme of war makes these two works very violent, there are also instances of common decency between the men who fought these wars. Here the author breaks down the discussion book by book, first discussing the individual instances of hospitality and then examines the some of the weaknesses in the thesis.

From the Paper:

"In "The Odyssey," there are many acts of hospitality; the Greeks prided themselves on opening their arms, even to strangers. However, Odysseus has been away from home for over ten years, and Calypso is holding him on her island, trying to make him fall in love with her. While she treats him well, this really is inhospitable at best, because she is keeping him from what he wants to go home. This daughter of Atlas has got hold of poor unhappy Ulysses, and keeps trying by every kind of blandishment to make him forget his home, so that he is tired of life, and thinks of nothing but how he may once more see the smoke of his own chimneys. You, sir, take no heed of this, and yet when Ulysses was before Troy did he not propitiate you with many a burnt sacrifice? Why then should you keep on being so angry with him?" (Homer)."

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