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Example research essay topic: Gift Giving Second Example - 1,002 words

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Hospitality is a way of life in a wide variety of cultures. The ways the people in different cultures act towards their guests may differ. Good hospitality is and was an important part of Greek tradition. In The Odyssey there are examples of Xenia being followed and violated. Xenia is shown time and again throughout The Odyssey. People open their homes up to whoever happens to stumble across them.

Throughout their many journeys, both Odysseus and his son Telemachus were invited into many homes. There, they were bathed, fed, and waited upon until they were ready to set out on their own once again. These hosts that took strangers into their homes believed its wrong to send any strangers packing every stranger and beggar comes from Zeus (XIV: 64 - 66). Although some of these people did this out of the graciousness of their heart, the gods seemed to play a role in their reasoning also.

The fear of the gods seemed to have a great influence on their actions towards their guests. Once a guest was prepared to leave, the host usually sent gifts along with him. These gifts could be to help him for the remainder of his journey, or just as a token of his gratitude. The first example of gift giving is when Telemachus reaches the palace of King Nestor. When the son of Odysseus arrived to Nestors kingdom he was given a royal treatment. Telemachus was fed and entertained by stories told by the king himself.

Afterwards, he was provided with a place to stay for the night. In the morning, he was given another feast before he is ready to leave. When he was ready to leave, Nestor ordered his servants to bring Telemachus horses, a good full-maned team (III: 532 - 533). Along with the horses, inside the chariot, a housekeeper stowed some bread and wine aboard and meats too, food fit for the sons of kings (III: 537 - 538). Nestor provided all these things along with his son to escort them along their journey. The second example of gift giving is when Telemachus met King Menelaus.

After being instructed by King Nestor, Telemachus set out to meet Menelaus. After Telemachus explained that he must leave, Menelaus offered him many gifts. Menelaus wished to give Telemachus three stallions and a chariot burnished bright and a gorgeous cup (IV: 662 - 663). Telemachus regretfully declined these gifts for his own reasons. In exchange, Menelaus instead gave Telemachus a mixing bowl solid silver finished off with a lip of gold (IV: 692 - 693).

The third example is the gifts that the Phaeacians gave to Odysseus. After welcoming Odysseus into his palace and listening to his many tales, King Alcinous sent him on his way. He is not sent alone though. The Phaeacians took Odysseus on a great ship to his homeland of Ithaca. When they arrived to the shores of Ithaca, the Phaeacians laid him down on the sand asleep (XIII: 133 - 134). Not only did the Phaeacians take Odysseus all the way to his homeland, but they also lavished him with many beautiful gifts.

The Phaeacians loaded Odysseus with boundless gifts-bronze and hoards of gold and robes (XIII: 154 - 155). Giving gifts is an extremely important aspect of Xenia. Not every character in The Odyssey that has guests come into their homes respected and followed the customs that go along with Xenia. There are also numerous ways that Xenia can be violated. This can be anything from turning guests away, being a poor host, or even killing and robbing them. The first example of someone violating Xenia is the meeting with the Cyclops.

Along his journey, Odysseus and his crew came upon the land of the Cyclops. Odysseus and a select part of his crew traveled to a cave, which was home to one of the hideous one-eyed giants. After settling into the giants home, the Cyclops returned surprised and angered. Instead of being hospitable and warm to his guests, the Cyclops lunged out with his hands snatching two at once, rapping them on the ground their brains gushed out all over (IX: 324 - 327).

The second example of Xenia not being respected at the appropriate time is when Odysseus and his crew came upon the Laestrygonians. When Odysseus sent part of his crew to find out about the people there, they were not faced with a warm welcome. Instead, one of the Laestrygonian men snatched one of my men and tore him up for dinner (X: 127). As the rest of his crew escaped, the giant men of the island threw large boulders at their vessels and killed some of the men. The third and final example of people showing no regard for Xenia deals with the suitors.

In this example, the guests and not the host are dishonoring Xenia. The suitors were in the great house of Odysseus. There, these men were all trying to win the love of Odysseus wife Penelope so that one of them might marry her. Penelope, not knowing for sure if her husband is dead, struggled with the decision of whether or not to marry another man.

The suitors, on the other hand, showed no respect while they awaited her decision, they continue to bleed his household white (I: 292). Even though they were guests, it was still possible to violate the many actions that go along with Xenia. These men accomplished this by going into the home of another man and eating all his food, drinking all of his wine, and showing no respect towards his son or the rest of his belongings. Xenia is practiced and respected in great detail by many Greeks. It is a very important and meaningful aspect of Greek society. However there are also those that show no regard at all for the age-old custom.

Welcoming a stranger into your home is the simplest form of hospitality. Although, there are numerous ways to welcome someone into your home.


Free research essays on topics related to: telemachus, gift giving, first example, odysseus, second example

Research essay sample on Gift Giving Second Example

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