Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Guest-Host Relationship
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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Throughout what we have read so far in the Odyssey there are many example of the guest-host relationship. Telemachus and Odysseus experience much hospitality from their hosts whenever they meet a new person in the epic. From the examples in the book I can determine that the host, in most cases, is expected to treat their guest with the utmost hospitality and warmth even if their guest is a complete stranger to them. The examples of guest to host relationships in the book show that the duty of the host is to be completely open to all peoples who are guests in their land and also to treat them with respect, generosity and to entertain them. An example of this in the Odyssey is when Odysseus arrives to the city of Drepane and the people of the city, “burst into applause, urging passage home for their newfound friend, his pleading rang so true,” (7.262-264). This quotation is evidence to the welcoming nature of the hosts. I also believe that the guest has a duty as well. The duty of the guest is to accept the gifts of their hosts and also to express who they are and why they have come. Based on the examples in the book, the host should also be polite, and thankful. An example of this duty of the guest is when Odysseus, “flung his arms around Arete's knees, the godsent mist rolled back to reveal the great man,” (7.168-169). I believe that this shows that the guest must be thankful for his host's hospitality and also be polite when receiving it. The ideal guest to host relationship would be if the guest was very thankful and polite to his host and that the host shows generosity and warmth to his guest, whether it be friend or foe.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Will in his description of the ideal host. According to the culture of the Odyssey, a host must be completely generous and welcoming to a stranger, regardless of whether or not the stranger chooses to share personal information, even including their name, at initial introductions. The reason behind this tradition of unconditional acceptance is the close proximity the Gods had to the people. A man would not want to offend a stranger who was actually a God in disguise, by refusing him hospitality and for this reason the same hospitality was offered to all strangers, visitors, and newcomers alike.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the host is not the only person with responsibilities in the host-guest relationship. The guest is expected to be gracious towards their host and thankful for all that they receive. The guest should not demand things such as greater gifts.
At this point in the Odyssey we have seen Odysseus, our main character exhibit the characteristics of a good guest and of a bad guest. During his stay in Phaeacia, Odysseus accepted the challenge of all the men in Phaeacia, except for Laodamas his host, in the athletic contests. He said, “The man’s my host. Who would fight his friend? He’d have to be good-for-nothing, senseless, yes, to challenge his host and comes to grips in games, in a far-off land at that,” (8.239-41). In this quote Odysseus explains that a man’s host is a friend and that the guest should not cross the line between visiting friend and rival by engaging in such competitions.
Odysseus is not always the ideal guest. During his run in with Polyphemus, the Cyclops, Odysseus rudely demands a guest gift. Polyphemus is offended and angered by this and the two continue to conflict until many of Odysseus’ men have been eaten by Polyphemus and Odysseus blinds Polyphemus and escapes with his remaining crew.
In conclusion, the ideal guest-host relationship is dependent on both parties being respectful of each other. The host must be unconditional and welcoming without demanding too much personal information, and the guest must be grateful without being overly demanding.
I completely agree with both Grace and Will, and there are many examples of a guest-host relationship in the Odyssey. In both of these examples there is one main idea and that is: Greek’s must really enjoy company and believe in unconditional hospitality because even if a complete stranger comes to their house, the host immediately takes action and does whatever they can to make their guest happy, and respect is expected on both sides.
ReplyDeleteI would like to point out another example of this relationship, and I think a good example is when Telemachus finds his way to the King and Queen of Sparta.
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 passage not only shows us that Telemachus received a wonderful feast fit for a king, but shows us that the guest host relationship must be a big part of Greek culture if Menelaus received hospitality on his way home. Menelaus is kind enough to provide wine, appetizers, carved meats and most of all shelter even when a wedding is taking place just to show he is a good host. And in return the guest, Telemachus, continually calls Menelaus “my lord” as a way of showing his respect towards him. In the guest host relationship the host and guest have to mutually treat each other with respect and kindness for it to work. When both the guest and host are polite they both they both end up happy. (In this case, Telemachus finds out that his dad is still alive.) On the other hand Odysseus shows up at the palace of King Alcinous and Queen Arete. Odysseus receives not only shelter but continuous feasts, games and poems. The king and queen are willing to do anything for their guest and in this case the guest is someone they do not know at all, because it was someone who just showed up at their door and flung to Arete’s feet. Odysseus, as the guest, is very polite and continually thanks the bard, king and queen. In both of these examples there is one main idea and that is: Greek’s must really enjoy company and believe in unconditional hospitality because even if a complete stranger comes to their house the host immediately takes action and does whatever they can to make their guest happy.
While everything that Grace, Will and Sarah said appears to be true, there were some moments that did not exactly follow the guest-host relationship pattern. First off, when Odysseus and his group of men from Sheria that was given as a gift from King Alcinous. Yes, Odysseus was treated with respect and everyone was perfectly fine with a visitor coming and, in a sense, invading their home.
ReplyDeleteBut, once Odysseus and his men set sail, they invaded Ismarus, Cicone’s stronghold. There they, “sacked the city, killed the men, but as for the women and plunder, that rich haul we dragged away from the place – we shared it round, so no one, not on my account, would go deprived of his fair share of spoils” (9:45-49). This quotation really shows that Odysseus did not care about the guest-host relationship at all. He went against all that he was shown with King Alcinous, killed a ton of men, and assaulted many women, stealing their goods, and leaving them defenseless. That doesn’t really sound like a good relationship to me.
Polyphemus, the Cyclops, did not show the guest-host relationship at all. Odysseus, when he and his men came to the cave and saw all the cheese wanted to take it and flee before the host came, but Odysseus wanted otherwise. He wanted to wait for the host to “see what gifts he’d give.” Of course, Odysseus regretted once he saw Polyphemus. Polyphemus gave Odysseus a very negative response, when Odysseus said, “we’re at your knees, in hope of a warm welcome, and a guest-gift, the sort that hosts give to strangers” (9-:267-9). Polyphemus replied that he was not at the hands of Zeus or the gods that make the humans give gifts and that his gift would be to eat Odysseus last. Though, eating Odysseus last would be a “gift” per say, the gifts and the relationships has to be pleasant.
In conclusion, though a gift and the guest-host relationship is always present, the way the host’s and the guest’s react varies from each situation.
I agree with Will, Grace, Sarah, and Kate. The guest-host relationship is a mutual relationship, where both sides have to do their part to make the relationship work. In the Odyssey almost all of the time guests are greeted and received with great enthusiasm and respect. People greet complete strangers and are happy to host them and treat them to many gifts. This reception tells us that the host must be very open and respectful to strangers. Also, the host has the duty of providing for their guests. In the Odyssey hosts provide for their guests in many ways such as, giving them a place to sleep, making feasts for them, and entertaining them. Hosts have many duties, but as I said earlier in a guest-host relationship both sides have to do their part. Guests have a duty to be kind, thankful, and polite to their hosts. If guests do not show this respect to their host, the host would have no desire to continue helping them. As well as respecting their host, it is a guest’s duty to not bother their host for more gifts, and to not push their host too far. Again pushing a host too far would just result in a conflict, such as when Odysseus demanded a gift from Polyphemus. When Odysseus requested a gift from Polyphemus, he did not get the type of gift he was hoping for, because Polyphemus was not pleased by the way he was being treated. This example reinforces the idea that guests must be respectful of their hosts. Finally, If both the guest and the host follow these individual duties, they will be able to have the ideal guest-host relationship; the host welcoming, the guest gracious, and mutual respect.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the ideal guest-host relationship is comfort and compashionship. I think this because one can be a mean and derogatory but give great parting gifts. This would not be the ideal situation. One could give very great comfort, such as a bed, good meals, etc, but very bad parting gifts. This is also, not an ideal form of guest-host relationship. I believe that the best guest-host relationship is someone who gives a mix, so a bed and decent meals, along with a few parting gifts along the way, which might help them in the near future. Some of these parting gifts could be; fishing net, food, blankets, etc. The Phaeacians in books six and seven gave Odysseus possibly the best guest-hope relationship ever. They gave him a place to stay in a castle, as well as great meals. Also, they obtained a bard that sang songs about his life, (but they did not know who he was at the time), and finally, they gave him great parting gifts. They gave him a ship, as they were people with outstanding skills in sailing, swords and weapons incase he got into any danger, and several other things that could or will help him on his journey home. “’Hear me, Lords and captains of Phaeacia, hear what the heart inside has to say> Now, our feast finished, home you go to sleep. But at dawn we call the elders in to full assembly, host our guest in the palace, sacrifice to the gods and then we turn our minds to his passage home’”. (7.221-227) This quotation shows that they focus on helping Odysseus get home, and not about their own people. This shows great dedication towards Odysseus, and it represents a form of hardship for their people.
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