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Vincent Tang
Professor Papadopoulos
Classics 10; TA: Elliot Piros
6 February 2014
Paper 1, Prompt #2

Cultural Values in the Characters of Homers The Odyssey

As one of the oldest works of Western literature, Homers The Odyssey has profoundly
impacted the literary and archaeological world. The book describes Odysseus journey to return
home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, taking almost ten years due to the many obstacles and
enemies he encounters. Because of its enthralling story, alluring imagery, and timeless themes,
The Odyssey has rightfully earned place in Western canon. Aside from its literary significance,
The Odyssey has great historical value, celebrating the achievements, history, and culture of the
Ancient Greeks. Through the interactions of characters in the epic, Homer reveals the notions
and cultural principles of multi-faceted Ancient Greek society. Thus, through portrayal of their
personalities and actions, characters in the story embody and reflect important aspects of Greek
culture, particularly the host-guest relationship and the importance of ones homeland and
cultural identity.
The treatment of a guest in ones home is an important value in Greek culture and a
reoccurring theme in The Odyssey. Not only does the quality of hospitality help the reputation
and social class of the host, but it also earns the favor of Zeus. Although there are various forms
of hospitality, most involve offering copious amounts of food and drink before asking for the
identity and back story of the guest(s). In addition, the host usually presents gifts to the guest(s)

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before departure, which may further strengthen the guests inclination to laud the host in other
lands.
With such gravity placed on the treatment of guests, anyone who does not adhere to this
custom is detrimental to Greek culture. An example of a bad host is portrayed by the cyclops
Polyphemus. When Odysseus first meets Polyphemus, he expects a warm welcome, even a
guest-gift / the sort that hosts gives strangersthats the custom (Fagles, 9.301-302) and says
that Zeus guards all guests and suppliantsstrangers are sacredZeus will avenge their rights.
(9.304-305). Polyphemus not only refuses his guest(s) food and questions them first but he also
kills and eats several of Odysseus crew. Eventually, Polyphemus receives his just desserts when
Odysseus blinds him. As evident, by Greek standards, Polyphemus is an example of a bad host.
His behavior severely strays from tradition, as he does exactly opposite of what a good host
should do. Instead of offering food and drink to guests, he makes food of the guests. He
questions his host immediately, imposing hostile suspicion toward a strangers identity rather
than interest. As Odysseus suggests, the importance of guest treatment is not only cultural but
also religiousthat Zeus would deliver blinding divine justice to those who go against his sacred
traditions. Therefore, using Polyphemus fate as an example, Homer suggests that poor treatment
of a guest is not only deterrent to Greek values but also blasphemous.
In stark contrast with Polyphemus, the nymph goddess Circle is an example of a good
host. Despite her initial cruel intentions, Circe treats her guests accordingly to Greek traditions.
When Circe first meets Odysseus, without knowing his true identity, she immediately offers him
food and drink before questioning him. Initially, she wanted to bewitch him, but after Odysseus
overcomes her magic, she becomes an excellent host. Not only does she turn Odysseus crew
back into men, but she also feeds and bathes them, saying what punishment you endured from
hostile men on land / But come now, eat your food and drink your wine/ till the same courage

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fills your chests. (10.505-507) She is such a good hostess that Odysseus and his crew stay for an
entire year. Moreover, she becomes a tireless benefactor to Odysseus, bestowing advice and gifts
upon departure. Unlike Polyphemus, Circe respects the needs of her guests, is sympathetic to
their struggles, and is very generous with her wealth. By asking questionsconversingafter
feeding her guests, she shows a genuine interest in the mens cultural backgrounds. In contrast
with Polyphemus, is a monster and a bad host, Circe is a goddess, a sacred being epitomizing
hospitality. Her character suggests that a good host achieves some religious value, perhaps
toward something equivalent to a saint. Ultimately, Homer shows that proper guest treatment is
an important aspect of Greek culture and religion.
In addition to the valuing the treatment of guests, the Ancient Greeks had great pride and
love for their homeland. Odysseus never gave up on his journey to return home because, as
Odysseus notes, so nothing is as sweet as a mans own country, / his own parents, even though
hes settled down / in some luxurious house, off in a foreign land.(9.38-40) Home, to the
Greeks, is a persons cultural, ancestral, and social roots. Almost every character in the epic
introduces himself by his hometown and family. A Greeks home is literally his identity.
Because home is important to Odysseus, it was vital that he did not forget his mission to
return to Ithaca. No matter how great the obstacle, Odysseus is always able to conquer itas
long as he remembered his home. If he lost his desire to return home, the journey would end.
Thus, the Lotus eaters were the biggest threat to Odysseus. Although the Lotus eaters have no
intention of inflicting harm, they offer fruit to their guests without questioning and anyone who
ate the fruit lost all desire toreturn/ their only wish to linger there with the Lotus-eaters /
grazing on lotus, all memory of the journey home / dissolved forever. (9.107-110) The Lotus
eaters symbolize a lawless society, foreign to the Greeks, lacking identity and culture. Moreover,
by not asking questions, the Lotus eaters showed no interest in their guests cultural identity. The

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Lotus eaters had no purpose except to indulge in the intoxicating, amnesia-like effects of the
fruit. Unlike many characters in the story, Homer does not introduce the Lotus eaters with any
distinguishable characteristics or history. However, they would present the greatest threat
because they had the ability to make Odysseus and his crew forget about home. For the Greeks,
forgetting home is the equivalent of losingforgettingones identity. The Lotus eaters serve
to highlight the significance of Greek tradition and serve as a warning for the future: without
identity or culture, there is no purpose.
Homers The Odyssey was not only one of the greatest literary works in the Western
world, but also an embodiment of Ancient Greek notions and values. Among the various
principles illustrated by the epic, the sacred nature of guests and the importance of ones
homeland and cultural roots are the most important. As demonstrated by the characters of
Polyphemus and Circe, the guest-host relationship is sacred to Greek culture and religion. It is
rewarding to follow the guidelines and punishing to those who do otherwise. As demonstrated by
the Lotus eaters, ones homeland is very important. To forget ones homeland is to forget identity
and culture, and thus, purpose. Ultimately, home is the overarching theme; Homer wants to tell
readers to value identity and culture and to share it with those who show interest in it.