Respect in Homer’s The Odyssey is influenced by other people’s actions through hospitality, loyalty, and revenge. Homer highlights that the importance of respect is that people receive the respect they deserve. So if they show respect in good hospitality and staying loyal, then they will receive the same treatment. Hospitality is displayed by Telemakhos and the Phaiakians. Loyalty is shown through Odysseus and Penelope’s relationship, along with Orestes and Agamemnon’s. Homer also shows that if people do not display respect then they will be punished using revenge. Revenge is presented by Helios and Polythemous, with the help of the gods Zeus and Posiedon. Homer illustrates the significance of showing respect multiple times through various …show more content…
The importance of respect is represented through each character of The Odyssey. Respect through hospitality, is shown through every character in The Odyssey that has a home. Each time a guest comes to visit a house, good hospitality is expected of the host. Since the gods visit people, sometimes disguised as mortal men or women, it is common for the host to be polite to any visitor, in fear of disrespecting a god. Respect is also shown through the family by loyalty to each other. A husband-wife relationship that exhibits loyalty is Odysseus and Penelope. Out of their respect and love for each other they waited, and were finally reunited. Another example of loyalty in the family are the father-son relationships. A loyal father-son relationship is exhibited through Orestes and his deceased father Agamemnon. After Agamemnon’s wife’s betrayal, Orestes is loyal to his father, and sides with him. Respect, or the lack of it, is shown through characters need for vengeance through the epic. Since respect is such an important theme, when someone is disrespected by another, justice is encouraged by the gods. When Odysseus’s crew disrespects Helios by disobeying his orders, Helios’s calls for revenge. In another instance, Odysseus disrespects Polythemous who also calls for revenge. IT is very unlikely to disrespect someone and not receive justice. Homer strongly emphasizes throughout the epic that respect is earned. To receive proper respect, you must give proper respect. If proper respect is not given than not only will it not be received back, but punishment through revenge is very likely to come from the person insulted. Respect is determined by everyone’s individual actions in hospitality and loyalty. While the lack of respect given will determine the
Loyalty is a very typical theme found in many pieces of literature. Homer's story “The Odyssey” conveys this abundant use of loyalty by displaying the adventures and temptations the main character of this story goes through to stay loyal to his spouse. Adventures The protagonist of this story, Odysseus, went through many adventures throughout 10 years to make it home to his wife, Penelope. For instance, during his journey, he was captured by Calypso (Homer 562).
The god’s relationship with Odysseus symbolizes loyalty and disloyalty. For instance, Poseidon’s relationship with Odysseus. Odysseus mocks the gods and states that “the gods could not stop the Trojan War'' (Iliad, near the end). This is disloyalty to the gods, specifically Poseidon, as the gods help
Another similar terrible sin is not being loyal to your spouse. Thankfully, Odysseus was a faithful husband to his wife, Penelope. Homer agrees when he writes “But in my heart, I never gave consent” (Homer, 917). Even though goddess and immortals desired him, he always only loved and longed for Penelope because of his admirable loyalty. Moreover, the only reason Odysseus remained with Calypso for so long was because she forced him to.
The Greek gods and goddesses are the ultimate representation how Greek culture. Since the gods and goddesses did not mention Odysseus’ lack of sexual fidelity, this shows that the values for men in Greek culture were not infringed upon. Sexual fidelity and how it is dealt with by the story’s most important characters in The Odyssey show the morals of Greek
In Homer’s Odyssey, gods and other supernatural beings dominated every aspect of mortal life. All living things and phenomena that occur in the world can be traced back to the gods. Seeing as how gods are responsible for the lives of mortals and the state of the natural world, performing deeds that anger the gods would prove to be disastrous while performing deeds that please the gods would prove to be beneficial. Odysseus’ journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War was took ten years due to angering gods like Poseidon and Helios. However, it was through Athena’s aid that he was able to make it back home.
It showed others respect, kindness, and allowed them to feel welcome. Homer demonstrates this value through the actions of his characters. The characters’ actions exemplify the meaning of kindness during that time in Ancient Greek culture. By using examples such as courtesy to the gods and goddesses and examples that represent the generosity of the Phaeacians, Homer successfully incorporates the theme of hospitality in his epic
From Odysseus’ time with Calypso in Ogygia up until the moment he takes back his home and wife from the suitors in Ithaca, the struggles he faces help answer what makes for a good life. Homer uses Odysseus’ journey throughout “The Odyssey” to identify four aspects of a good life: mortality, honor, hospitality, and experiences. Homer reveals that mortality is necessary for a good life when Odysseus denies the opportunity for immortality that Calypso offers, he shows the significance of honor in his description of Odysseus’ bravery in the Trojan war and the consequent respect that Odysseus’ crew has for him, Homer reinforces the importance of hospitality in each city Odysseus travels to, and he conveys that experiences, good or bad, define a good life. The Greeks held their gods in high esteem and therefore when Homer or other characters in the epic refer to Odysseus as being “godlike,” this is one of the highest compliments he could receive.
Every show of hospitality exposes the host for who they really are. The people who help Odysseus along his journey allow him to come into their home and eat and drink until he is rested and well content. Those
A theme in both the epic and the film is: if one is respectful to the gods he will be helped, but if one is disrespectful he will be punished. The first example of help is shown in the poem through Odysseus’ rescue from Calypso’s island. Odysseus was stuck on the island against his will and wanted to get back home. (Homer 1.56-57)
The relationships between the Greek gods and mortals have always been complicated. The gods can be generous and supportive, but also harsh and destructive towards the humans. They claim to be all powerful beings with unlimited power and influence, but in truth, they are far more human than they are perceived. They meddle with human lives, not because they are wise, but because of their own selfish reasons. In Homer’s
Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, chronicles the homeward bound voyage of the main character, King Odysseus of Ithaca. After Trojan War which lasted ten years, Odysseus sets foot on another adventure, which also spans ten years, to return to Ithaca. Odysseus is gone from his home for a total twenty years, but upon his arrival back to Ithaca, he finds that his title has been defended by his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus, who have been awaiting his return this entire time. Odysseus and Penelope are meant to be a model couple, so people often argue about which of the two is more admirable. To be admirable is to have faced a struggle with honor and dignity.
However, some characters in the epic display many great qualities. In The Odyssey by Homer, loyalty, courage, and trickery are displayed throughout the book in a positive manner, showing that they are the Greek’s cultural values. First, loyalty is shown as a cultural
As mystery author Dan Brown said, “No love is greater than that of a father for his son.” In The Odyssey by Homer, father/son relationships play a strong role, the most prominent being Odysseus and Telemachus, Odysseus and Laertes, and Polyphemus and Poseidon. These relationships drive many major parts of the story these relationships display characteristics that the Greeks valued. The Odyssey focuses on these relationships which shows that they are central to the story, and the characteristics that the relationships display are the characteristics that were valued by the Greeks. The father/son relationships between Odysseus and Telemachus, Odysseus and Laertes, and Polyphemus and Poseidon in the Odyssey are very important to the story, and
Honor is one of the major themes in The Iliad. However the concept of honor in The Iliad is not the same as our current understanding of honor. Honor plays a key role in how the characters in the Iliad act, why they make certain decisions, and why the events in the Iliad occur the way they do. Nowadays, we refer to honor as an idea or concept which is closely related to fame, respect, reputation etc.
A major theme in the Odyssey is reciprocity: people getting what they deserve. Reciprocity is an important theme in the Odyssey because it explains why Odysseus’ journey was very long and treacherous. Eurylochus, Antinous, and Odysseus all suffered consequences due to poorly made actions. Each of them made the wrong decisions which lead to death and a long/adventurous journey. Eurylochus was the first to be killed by Odysseus and his men due to his actions.