In book 15 of the Odyssey Xenia is the one of the most present themes. Eumaeus show his hospitality numerous times to a lowly beggar. If you were in this situation would you have done the same thing? Why or why not? (Keep in mind that you don’t know the beggar is Odysseus and the culture involved) Why has this concept of xenia declined throughout history and modern people would almost never let a stranger stay in there home and shower them with gifts?
Nowadays, it gets harder and harder to trust a stranger. One minute they could be begging you for a place to stay, and the next, you wake up in the middle of the night with a knife at your throat and someone asking you where the jewelery is. If I were in this situation, I wouldn't have invited a stranger in. To let someone in my house, I would need to be able to trust them not to betray or try and rob me. Xenia has declined throughout the years because people have gotten more and more greedy, more possesive over such items such as jewelery and money. A good job with good pay can be scarce when the economy is down, and this drives more and more people to desperation. You may think you're inviting a harmless old lady into your house, and later realize that all your antique gems have vanished and you are suddenly missing a credit card or two.
ReplyDeleteIn these times it is hard to trust a stranger because they could be someone who wishes you harm or wants to take your valuables. I would not have invited a stranger in because there is little room for trust with strangers. The concept of xenia has declined throughout the years because people become more cautious with their property and they don't want to share it with anyone else. Today we wouldn't even talk to a stranger.
ReplyDeleteIf there was a poor beggar that came to your house the feeling you would show would have been differently expressed through time. Back then there was a fear of the gods and the main god Zeus enforced Xenia. That is why when they were treated badly they would question if the host feared Zeus. There also was more kindness, respect, loyalty, and honesty between the host and guest. Over time the stranger had taken advantage over the hospitality and stolen objects or lose respect for their host. Nowadays if a beggar came to my house my actions would be mostly defensive due to the lack of trust between us.
ReplyDeleteIf I were put in the same situation I think that I would let them in. Even though through time xenia has declined, I would have let the beggar in. The reason I would let them in is because that is the right thing to do. I think that Xenia has declined over time because thats just the way people have adapted. Its almost as if the roles of xenia have been switched. Now a days when you go to someones house you bring THEM gifts and are not showered with gifts yourself. Now a days I think that no one would let a stranger in because they don't know them and they could be a bad guy. It also shows that people now do not trust strangers as much as they did back then because back then the Greek Gods kind of made everyone by Xenis.
ReplyDeleteHad I been put exactly in the same situation as Eumaeus, I do think that I would have let him in. I think that during that time period it was almost expected to let them come inside. Xenia was a command from Zeus, and so it was something that people took very seriously. Xenia was also a big part of greek culture. It is expected for them to show kindness even to a lowly stranger. However, in modern times things are quite different. If you let every stranger come and live in your house, you might end up either dead or completely robbed. I don't know exactly why people have such a different response to strangers now than before. The crime rate is probably much higher now than back then though. I really wish that everyone could be trusted enough to just be let into a house. I think that the greeks xenia is a beautiful part of a culture and something i admire. i just wish that everyone in our culture was nice enough for xenia to become a more common thing.
ReplyDeleteIf I were in Eumaeus' situation, during that time period, i think i would have let the beggar in because, like Julia said, it was expected. however, xenia has declined through the years and partly because there are so many bad things that go on in the world now-a-days that some people cannot be trusted to come inside one's house and be showered with gifts. i also agree with Annie that in recent years guests give gifts to the hosts which is another reason xenia has declined through years.
ReplyDeleteIf I was in this situation I definitely would have done the same thing, as I like being nice. The idea of xenia has declined in the modern world because the world is overcrowded and we can't afford to give away much possessions. We also do not do it because we cannot trust just any stranger now.
ReplyDeleteIf i lived in the time of the Odyssey i would have most defiantly let a beggar in and treated him with great hospitality. But, if a beggar came to my house in this time period, asking to stay here for the night i would not have let him in. I would not because nowadays it is hard to trust somebody that you dont know. the use of xenia has slowly declined because many different religions have been created, making peoples views on thing different. I also think its gotten hard to trust people these days
ReplyDeleteIf I was in the same situation, I would do the same thing because xenia is a very important train the the time that the Odyssey took place in. The concept of xenia has declined in the years because of the advanement of crimials, and this makes people more causious about their surroundings instead of letting any random stranger into their house. Some people today turn to crime in times of need today to make money, so it makes people more worried about criminals acting upon them.
ReplyDeleteIf I had lived in that time period, or around those time periods, where the cultural aspects of hospitality, or xenia, were similar, then I would definitely help the beggar. If this happened in modern day, then I would probably not do so, and the only case that I would do this, if I was feeling very sympathetic, or hospitable then. I think that this culture of hospitality to strangers entering your homes has declined throughout the ages because of many reasons. Some of theses reasons may include how crimes are committed by strangers to innocent people, such as people who let in every person they want to be hospitable to. The big difference is mainly how the crime rates, and other things like that, have changed drastically, especially when compared to the time period of the Odyssey's time setting. Also, back then, they were probably more hospitable because nobody would really ever commit such crimes, such as robbery, or murder, when let into someones house, as an act of kindness, and xenia. Also, as Julia had said, xenia was a command of Zeus, so Greeks back then took it much more seriously, to obey the gods commands/orders.
ReplyDeleteMatthew, thank you for connecting the themes in this book to our contemporary culture. This is a great way to ignite a discussion!
ReplyDeleteit definetly matters the timeframe in this question. If i was in greece at this time i would definetly let this stranger stay because that would be what was expected of me. If it was today there would be no way a homeless man could stay with me. not only would it be way to dangerous but everyone else would just veiw it as extremely strange. Xenia has declined throughout history becuase of more crime and stuff, if now a days you let someone stay with you you would probably be killed or something and also people just arent as nice as they used to be, its not as important to be nice and with new generations theres just less and less respect. Also people are selfish now, there stuff is there stuff theyre not goping to give their most prixed possesions to strangers.
ReplyDeleteIt definetly matters the timeframe in this question. If I was in ancient Greece I would definetly let this stranger stay because that would be what was expected of me. If it was today there would be no way a homeless man could stay with me. not only would it be way to dangerous but everyone else would just veiw it as extremely strange. Xenia has declined throughout history because of more crime and a change in values, if now a days you let someone stay with you, you would probably be killed or raped and also people just arent as nice as they used to be, its not as important to be nice and with new generations ther'es just less and less respect. Also people are selfish now, their stuff is their stuff they're not going to give their most prized possesions to strangers.
ReplyDeleteIt matters the timeframe in this question. If I was in ancient Greece I would feel obligated to allow this stranger stay because that would be what was expected of me. If it was today there would be no way a homeless man could stay with me. Not only would it be exceptionally dangerous but everyone else would just veiw it as extremely strange. Xenia has declined throughout history because of more crime and a change in values, if now a days you let someone stay with you, you would probably be killed or raped and also people just arent as nice as they used to be, its not as important to be compassionate or congenial and with new generations there's just less and less respect. Also people are more selfish now, their belongings are their belongings and they're not going to give their most prized possesions to strangers.
ReplyDeleteIf a beggar appeared at my door back in that time period, I would let him in, offer him food, clothes, a bath, and gifts. But nowadays I don't think I would be able to trust a beggar enough to welcome him into my house. I would probably give him some money instead. The theme of xenia has changed through time just because the way people have adapted.
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