Theme Of Civility In The Odyssey

The first example is the house of Menelaus. Telemachus and Peisistratus come to Lacedaemon. “And so they came to the rolling lands of Lacedaemon, deep in the hills, and drove up to the palace of the illustrious Menelaus” (The Odyssey). After Telemachus and Peisistratus reached Menelaus’s house, one of his servants, Eteoneus, told Menelaus who had arrived. Once Menelaus had heard this, he ordered his servants to unyoke the horses and bring them to the feast. “They led the sweating horses from under the yoke and tied them up at the mangers in the stable, throwing down beside them a feed of grain mixed with white barley…When they had feasted their eyes on the sight, they went and bathed in polished baths, and after the maids had washed them,
Nestor showed great civility when Telemachus came to his house. “Nestor provides another great example of good Greek hospitality, playing the Ithacan Prince with gifts, food, and even transportation to his next destination” (Shmoop). He, like Menelaus, showered his guest with his riches. When Telemachus is with his mother, Penelope, he described Nestor’s house. “We went to Pylos and there visited King Nestor, the shepherd of his people, who received me in his great palace and showed me every hospitality. He might have been my father, and I his long-lost son just back from my travels, so kindly did he and his royal sons look after me” (The Odyssey). One can see that King Nestor showed great hospitality to Telemachus. While Telemachus was visiting Nestor, Nestor threw a big party for Telemachus. After the party was over, Nestor refused to let Telemachus head back to his ship to sleep. “May Zeus and the other immortal gods forbid that you should get to your ship and turn aside from my house as though it belonged to some destitute pauper who hasn’t enough blankets and rugs for himself and his guests to sleep between in comfort…And I swear that the son of my friend Odysseus shall not lie down to sleep on his ship’s deck so long as I am alive…” (The Odyssey). One can see that Nestor’s hospitality is outstanding. He allowed Telemachus to come into his house, threw him a big party, and helped Telemachus by sending one of his own sons to assist in
When Odysseus arrived back in Ithaca, he went to Eumaeus’s hut. “Odysseus turned his back on the harbor and followed a rough track leading through the woods and up to the hills towards the place where Athena had told him he would meet the worthy swineherd, who of all the servants Odysseus had acquired had shown himself to be the most faithful steward of his property” (The Odyssey). After reaching the hut, guard dogs came after Odysseus, but Eumaeus’s stopped them, and let Odysseus in his hut. “The good swineherd let the way to his hut, ushered Odysseus in and invited him to sit down on some brushwood that he piled up for him and covered with the shaggy skin of a wild goat, large and thick, which served as his own mattress” (The Odyssey). One can see that Eumaeus is a true servant to his guest. After letting Odysseus in, the swineherd went out and prepared an abundant meal for Odysseus. “He selected two, carried them in, and slaughtered them both…When he had roasted it all, he served it up piping hot on the spits, set it in front of Odysseus, and sprinkled it with white barely-meal…he took a seat facing his guest, and encouraged him to eat” (The Odyssey). Through Eumaeus, Homer gave a great example about how one should treat their neighbor with kindness. Once Odysseus had finished telling Eumaeus his story, Eumaeus made a bed for Odysseus so he could sleep in the hut with him. “The swineherd jumped up, placed a bed for him by the fire