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The Odyssey : Defying Hospitality Essay

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Mark Spitzer

Mr. Sieker

English 1113

15 November 2016

The Odyssey :

Defying Hospitality

Throughout the development of humanity, the random group of societies have been historically all-equipped to deal with challenges the state of disorganization is not conducive to advancement of society due to the chaotic nature of existence on planet earth. Humans have to impose will on a chaotic world. One way they can do this is through culturally perceived definitions of hospitality. In the Odyssey, written by Homer, Odysseus experiences various forms of hospitality. Odysseus’s journey is so long is that he is forced to the obligation of accepting the welcoming hospitality of people he meets along his path. This helps Odysseus and Telemachus learn about being away from home by some places being welcoming, and some places being not welcome. Hospitality is a way of life in a wide variety of cultures. The ways people in certain cultures act towards their guest may differ. Great hospitality has been apart of Greek culture for a good amount of time now, as it is seen many times in the epic. Characters open up their living area numerous times in the Odyssey. Main characters Odysseus and his son Telemachus were invited into many homes, where they were given anything they wanted on a silver platter until they had to depart on their journey again.

And you, Eumaeus,

the swineherd, then replied. These were your words:

It’s wrong, my friend, to send any stranger packing —

even one

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