Examples Of Bad Xenia In The Odyssey

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Nowadays people would never consider letting a complete stranger into their home, let alone providing them with food and shelter. Back in Ancient Greece, however, it was customary for people to be kind to strangers. Xenia was a very important theme in Greek society. In The Odyssey by Homer many different characters displayed good and bad xenia. Homer displays how xenia was so important by showing the consequences that followed depending on whether they displayed good or bad xenia.
In old Greek life, people were expected to display good xenia and if you showed bad xenia the consequences would be bad. Many characters displayed bad xenia in the Odyssey and were punished for it. The suitors were some of the characters who displayed bad xenia. When Odysseus left for war and didn't return, the suitors took advantage of his absence and started living in Penelope and Telemachus’ house. The suitors showed bad xenia by not returning the favor and being rude. “You see these men? They are nobles from nearby lands. Each one wants my mother to marry him. They won't leave until she chooses one of them. They'll eat our food until it's gone” (Homer 9-10). This shows that the suitors had no respect for Telemachus or …show more content…
When Odysseus arrives in Ithaca he is sent to the swineherd Eumaeus. When he arrives, Eumaeus treats him kindly even though Odysseus is disguised and Eumaeus thinks that he's just a common beggar. “‘Come inside, old man. Have some food and wine and tell me your story.’ The loyal swineherd led his guest in. He gave Odysseus his own bed to sit on” (Homer 65). This shows that Eumaeus, unlike the suitors, has great xenia. He greets a complete stranger to him by offering wine, food, and his own bed. Eumaeus is rewarded by showing good xenia at the end of the story when Odysseus kills all the suitors he lets Eumaeus live because of his loyalty to Penelope and Telemachus, and for showing good xenia when Odysseus

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