Homer
(Homer, poet behind the Iliad and Odyssey. Image found here.)

The Odyssey of Homer was a very interesting story, with many weird and unexplainable occurrences and happenings.A certain interesting fact from the Odyssey was the continuing hospitality shown and given by Penelope (the wife of Odysseus) and Telemachus (the son of Odysseus).In Ancient Greece there was a tradition called xenia. Xenia is an interconnecting network of guest-friendship. Many households have a sort of connection in that if one house has a problem the other houses will help. And guests that randomly show up at the door that the house has no idea who they are are welcomed and given, food, clothing, and shelter. I find what happened in the Odyssey to be normal in that a husband has been missing in war for years and a bunch of men want to marry the wife, and get all her belongings. Even though the majority of these men (suitors) were rude and obnoxious, they were correct in all their doings. They were trying to receive Penelope’s hand in marriage. She was a big prize that was not going to be let wasted. As much as I respect and understand the position the suitors are in, the traditional values shown by them are dishonorable in this ancient Greek society.

The way the suitors tried to win over Penelope was very pathetic and confusing considering there would be no possible way a woman would respect what the suitors did. The constant pillaging of Odysseus’ possessions, food, weapons, clothing was disgraceful in Penelope’s eyes and obviously not a good way to win her over. The actions the suitor should have taken were ones of respect. Pick flowers for her, or give her presents. Have a feast in her name, with their own food and not Odysseus’. The traditional values of old were wasted. The fact that the suitors planned on murdering Telemachus in order to have him out of their way to get to Penelope showed that these suitors' actions to win Penelope were wrong.

Penelope discovered by the suitors
(Penelope Discovered by the Suitors, John Flaxman. Penelope is caught in her attempt to delay the inevitable. Image source: An Illustrated Guide to the Trojan War)

The hospitality that was shown by Penelope and Telemachus show what type of people they are. Respectful and understanding of the cultural values expressed during that time. Giving food, shelter, and clothing to people that knock on their door. They did this. However, the consistency that the suitors had to win Penelope and waste Odysseus’s possessions was wrong and should not have happened. The parents of the suitors should have noticed the misdoings of the suitors in the sense of traditional values and should have told them what the best course of action would be to take.

The values that the suitors should have shown to Penelope and Telemachus should be ones of respect, understanding of what they are going through with the loss of their father, compassion, and giving. The suitors should have cared for Penelope and Telemachus by being supporters of them not people that take advantage of people that are confused and at a loss.

I understand what the suitors were trying to do, and the fact was that Odysseus was gone for 20 years. I would have done the same in trying to receive Penelope’s hand in marriage; however, the actions that were taken were the wrong ones and the traditional values used in Ancient Greece at the time were not respected. And so because the suitors did not appreciate these values the end result to them was just. The suitors received what was coming to them.

(Alternatively, if you're curious about xenia as it was supposed to function within its normal social context, here's a page on the drama of Homeric hospitality. And it is drama. Discusses both social and religious impetus for providing hospitality, as well as an interesting take on other abuses of xenia in the Odyssey.)

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