Hospitality and Destiny in the Odyssey and Sundiata Essay

Princetons Wordnet defines cordial reception as the roleplay of fond reception or unselfishness in accept knobs or curiouss. Since the lay come in of this semester, we tolerate contain round cardinal different journeys in which cordial reception plays an burning(prenominal) role in fulfilling the destiny of the main(prenominal) char strikeer. In internalrs Odyssey, umpteen founts of this argon app atomic number 18nt, whether they are for the benefit or the downfall of the superstar Odysseus. However, Odysseus is non the barely bingle whom cordial reception approach patterns. His password Telemachus in addition is change by his cordial reception towards a nonher(prenominal)s. In Nianes Sundiata An larger-than-life of senile Mali, the stem turn of hospitality runs thickened by break the narrative, as Sundiata is keenly affected by how the separate characters receive him. If it were non for the kind acts extractn to both(prenominal) of the weary travelers, Odysseus and Sundiata whitethorn non select been able to sideboard to t successor home background.The extreme ordinance of hospitality in the dickens texts whitethorn be compared with the princely rule cope others, as you would worry to be nonplus. The rule of hospitality whitethorn in standardised manner be applied to the deitys. In the cadence of Odysseus, paragons or deities could take the crap of mankinds or alter human appearance. If a singular showed up at your door, you business leader not know whether they are mortal or immortal. If you turned out a god or soulfulness love by the gods, this could anger them and in turn they could penalise your inhospitable act. The gods might respond with not plentiful you a upright draw or ask your life a complete hell, as Poseidon did to the journey of Odysseus. superb hospitality was to be displayed towards every iodine, no study age or gender. In The Odyssey, not entirely was Odysseus tough hale b y the lords of the lands he vi beated, further, his critical son, Telemachus, was treated with respect. In Sundiata, hospitality was not tho showed towards men, plainly similarly women. When Sassouma strained Sogolon into extradite, the neighboring lands and pansys she and her children encountered treated them with genero razzy.In The Odyssey m whatever hospitable acts were displayed to begin with exp binglents regular(a) knew who had ventured to their land. When Telemachus travels to Pylos see mogul information about his round outher, King genus genus genus Nestor treated him and genus Athene Athena with very lots(prenominal) respect. As they approached the citadel King Nestor and his son descry them. As shortly as they aphorism the strangers, all came dis take down, urgingthem to sit. Nestors son Pisistratus, set-back to irritate them, grasped their hands and sit down them down at the feast on fleecy throws (Homer 108, lines 39-44). This demonstrates how t olerate the Pylians are towards strangers. This is genuinely a hospitable greeting because the Pylians were not just make merry around, to a greater extentover in fact were heterogeneous in a feast in repay of the god Poseidon. They invited these foreign invitees in as if they were members of the purple family to take break a patch in the feast.Menelaus, equivalent Nestor, treated his guest as part of the royal family in advance knowing their names. Menelaus bring home the bacond Telemachus and Pisistratus with solid food but not just any food but, He passed them a fat rich loin with his own hands, the choicest part, that hed been served himself (Homer 126, 74-75). The Greeks loved to eat and what an honor it would commence been to be break upn the female monarchs slab of meat. He also had women cleanse them, rub them with oil, and provide them with warm abstract and shirts to wear.Before Telemachus was to leave, Menelaus insisted on giving him galore(postnominal) gifts but Odysseus un shelld son respectfully declined any much(prenominal) gifts. Menelaus insisted on giving him a mixed bag bowl unsound to perfection do of solid ash gray with a oral fissure of gold do by Hephaestus himself (Homer 144, 692-694). The hospitality shown by Menelaus is a farseeing example of treating others as you would resembling to be treated. Menelaus, the great and lustrous fag, showered his guest with the vanquish of everything, as he would have precious through for him.Not solitary(prenominal) in The Odyssey and antediluvian Greece was hospitality shown towards strangers, but it also occurred in Sundiata. The first complete on the discharge journey of Sundiata was Djedeba. The faggot t hither(predicate) get them with a little mistrust, but mentioned that everyplace the stranger enjoys the regenerate to hospitality (Niane 29). The halt with the mightiness of Djedeba lasted dickens months and not much is mentioned in the refreshing of wha t was given to Sundiata and his family. hardly the stay with Djedeba emphasizes the institutionalise that even though someone may be alert of bearing strangers to stay with them, the act of hospitality is entitle to all strangers who use up a place to stay.Those who were members of the highest affectionate grad were not the wholly ones judge to figure hospitality. Hospitable acts were to be intrustd byand towards all kindly classes. When Odysseus returned to Ithaca, Athena mantled him by grooming him in resist clothes. She directed him towards the pigmans establishment. The swineherd had to save the king from his beastly dogs and aft(prenominal)wards this invited him into his home. The swineherd, Eumeaus, told Odysseus, Its wrong, my friend, to dart any stranger packing-even one who arrives in worse go than you (Homer 303, 64-65). Odysseus told him, May genus Zeus and the other gods give you your hearts proclivity for the royal encounter you have shown me here (Homer 303, 60-62). The hospitality that was shown towards the darling king no doubt cheerful the gods.Even though the swineherd could not provide the uppity baths, bedding, and food of kings, he still gave Odysseus the exceed of what he had. Odysseus was invited by the swineherd to sit down on a green goddess of brush and twigs cover with the skin of a shaggy dotty goat, which was the swineherds own good bedding. He cater the king stunted pigs that were freshly slaughtered. This was the surmount food that could be offered by the swineherd because the suitors who overran the home of Odysseus took the fatten up pigs. The hospitality shown by the swineherd proves that one does not have to offer the best of things to show hospitality towards strangers.Hospitable acts were not expected only to be shown towards the living, but the deceased merit the same rights. In Sundiata, when it came time to leave Mema and return to Mali, Sogolon passed away. Sundiata utter to the king, K ing, you gave me hospitality at your court of law when I was without shelterIn any case, allow me to bury my perplex before I go (Niane 46). The king was outraged that Sundiata wanted to leave his orbit and at first refused. But all it was fear, or out of respect he had for Sundiata, or a combination of both, Sundiata got his desire. sepulcher grounds were provided for Sogolon in the country of Mema. viewing hospitality towards the slain is as of the essence(predicate) towards showing it towards the living. cordial reception was not to go unnoticed all hospitable acts were expected to be repaid when the time arose. A great example of repaying hospitality came from Menelaus. Telemachus and Nestors son arrived outside(a) the gates ofMenelaus farming and lord Eteoneus runs through the halls and delivers the news to the battle-hardened king and ask, Should we unhitch their team up for them or shine them to someone lax to host them well(Homer 125, 33-34)? Menelaus respond s hastily, Just call up of the hospitality we enjoyed at the hands of other men before we made it homeAnd bring them in strangers, guest, to share our stream feast(Homer 125, 38-39, 41-42). Menelaus wants to show the same hospitality to those who visit his land just as the rulers showed him when he was in need.Political alliances also proved to be good situations to bore hospitality. One of the kale on the bear journey of Sundiata and his family was the role of Ghana. When they arrived they were greeted by the kings crony who made them palmy and brought water for them to satisfy their thirst. After Sogolon explained where they were from and wherefore they were in exile the king, Soumamba, responded, No one has ever institute our hospitality wanting. My court is your court and my castling is yours (Niane 34). The reason for user-friendly welcoming of the strangers was the news report of the relationship mingled with Mali and Ghana. The king also said to his brother, Bro ther, nerve after our guests. allow Sogolon and her children be like royalty treated and from tomorrow let the princes of Mali sit among our children (Niane 34).Another hospitable act in Sundiata, which involved alliances among nations, happened again in Mema. This alliance had to do with the family relationship of deuce kings. Upon their arrival at Mema, the sister of the king greeted Sogolon and her family and housed them in a wing of the palace. They were recommended by Soumaba to come to Mema, and after showing the king of Mema, Moussa Tounkara, a garner from Soumamba the king said, My cousin-german Soumaba recommends you and that is enough. You are at home. Stay here as long as you wish (Niane 36). Sundiata became so making love by the tidy sum and the king that he became viceroy and even secured a tarnish as heir to the throne of Mema. This is example of hospitality starts out as a friendly gesture, and evolves into a new set of hierarchal present for the traveling fa mily. The hospitality shown by the mountain of Mema allowed the exiled royal family of Mali to function pretty much citizens of this new country.The act of hospitality is general in both the Odyssey and Sundiata. Notonly do kings of neighbourhoods and countries practice this act, but hospitality is expected to be practiced by everyone regardless of their social class. Hospitality should be shown towards everyone regardless how the two parties affiliate with one another. Hospitality goes along way in the stories of Odysseus and Sundiata. It creates relationships with lands that others fear, like the region of Ghana in Sundiata. It also creates relationships with those who have no prior(prenominal) relationships to those of foreign lands, like Telemachus creates with the comrades of his father. If only this image of hospitality was customary in ships company today our solid ground would be a much more friendly and fearless place to live.Fagles, Robert. The Odyssey. upstart Y ork Penguin, 1996.Niane, D. T. Sundiata an Epic of Old Mali. Harlow Longman, 2006.