The Odyssey A Central Theme Of Every Journey - 975 Words

Xenia in The Odyssey a central theme of every journey. However, Telemachus’ journey consists entirely of exploring xenia. At the start of the Telemache, the prince only knows the pseudo-xenia of the suitors, and his faith is crushed under it. As he travels from his homeland, to Pylos, to Sparta, and finally back to Ithaca, he regains faith, little by little. He begins to believe in himself again, in the gods again, and finally, in his father. In fact, the kind of xenia Telemachus receives reflects the progression of his faith. (transition) Telemachus finally believes in himself again under the xenia of King Nestor. While in Ithaca, Telemachus does not believe he can do anything to solve his situation, calling himself â€Å"a boy inept at battle.† (2.66) He has had little chance to test his natural abilities and develop the skills necessary to deal with the suitors at this point. Thus, while Telemachus’ belief may be correct, it stems from an insecurity the suitor s had not only developed, but fed off of. If Telemachus believes he is powerless, he can be outspoken more easily, as the suitors demonstrated in book 2. This cycle is finally broken by the xenia of Athena, disguised as Mentes, offering Telemachus the first true xenia he has ever experienced. Though it is incomplete, lacking the exchange of gifts, the xenia of Athena gives the prince enough courage to take control of his household (1.414). Further, he admits another insecurity of his under this xenia- that he is notShow MoreRelatedThe Odyssey Essay967 Words   |  4 PagesNadia Mendoza Ms. Kittelson English 9 March 14, 2011 The Odyssey In the epic poem â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, the journey of a Greek king is traced. Though sailing can sound extremely easy like driving, in this epic poem things are slightly different. 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