Xenia in the Odyssey Essay - 760 Words

The concept of guest hospitality is extremely important in ancient Greece. Hospitality, or Xenia, is so essential in Greek society that Zeus, in addition to being the king of the Gods, is also the God of travelers (Wikipedia). This created an obligation for the host to be hospitable to their guests, and conversely, the guests had their own responsibilities as well. If either the host or the guest was to break any rule set by Xenia, there would be severe penalties dealt by Zeus and also by society (Wikipedia). In The Odyssey, Xenia is a theme which is shown repeatedly throughout the book: Nestor and Menelaos take in Telemakhos warmly as a guest and Eumaios plays an excellent host to Odysseus, while Odysseus is disguised as a wandering†¦show more content†¦However, the suitors did the worst thing a guest could do and, although in vain, plotted to kill Telemakhos as they feared that he would return from his trip to Pylos and Sparta with news of Odysseus. This is perhaps the big gest violation of Xenia that a guest can possibly commit and is punishable by death. In addition to overstaying their welcome and basically taking over the palace as their own, they also treated other guests of the palace poorly despite being guests themselves. In Book XX, Odysseus returned to his palace disguised as a stranger when the suitors were enjoying one of their banquets. Odysseus went around collecting scraps from the suitors so that he would learn to distinguish the good from the bad among them. However, Odysseus inspection was not appreciated by Antinoos, and instead of giving him food as the others had done, he threw a stool at Odysseus, and struck him on the back (Greek Mythology Link). Without knowing it, the suitors, through Antinoos’ actions, had attacked their host which was another crime punishable by death. Certainly, the suitors were aware of the consequences of their actions. Otherwise, when Antinoos threw the stool at Odysseus, the others wouldn’t worry that Zeus could be in the guise of the beggar. The suitors have been going against the values of Xenia for so long that they knew it was a matter of time before they’re punished for their actions; it wasn’t merelyShow MoreRelatedXenia in the Odyssey1993 Words   |  8 PagesThe Importance of Xenia in The Odyssey and it’s Consequences One of the most important themes in The Odyssey is the concept of xenia, which is the old Greek word for hospitality. In modern times, hospitality is something we rarely think of, and the first thing that comes to mind is the hotel industry, but in ancient Greece, xenia was not about hotels, or just about etiquette, it was a way of life with many benefits in a world that was still mostly savage. Xenia was more than just being polite toRead MoreAnalysis Of Xenia And The Odyssey 889 Words   |  4 PagesSignificance of Xenia in the Works of Homer: Hospitality in the Illiad and the Odyssey The concept of Xenia was extremely significant in ancient Greek culture. As such, it played a prominent role in the works of authors, most specifically Homer. In fact, some of the most significant information we have about the concept of Xenia, as it relates to cultural norms come from the work of Homer, and the examples of hospitality demonstrated in the protagonist’s journeys in the Iliad and the Odyssey. More specificallyRead MoreWhy Is Xenia Such an Important Theme in the Odyssey?1211 Words   |  5 PagesWhy is Xenia such an important theme in the Odyssey? Explain your views and support them with details from the poem. (45 marks) The concept of guest hospitality was extremely important in ancient Greece. Evidence that Xenia was integral to Greek society can be found in the fact that Zeus, the king of the Gods, was also portrayed as the God of Xenia. Xenia created an obligation for the host to be hospitable to their guests, and conversely, the guests had their own responsibilities too. If eitherRead MoreGood and Bad Xenia in The Odyssey by Homer892 Words   |  4 Pagespresenting good xenia to guests. xenia is commonly used to portray hospitality or a guest/host relationship. xenia, is important in Ancient Greek society. Zeus is the God of travelers, in addition to being the king of the Gods. This forces for the host to feel obliged to treat their guests with much hospitality, and vice versa with guests, serving with high responsibility. Zeus would severely punish those who break the fine rules of xenia and hospitality. In the epic,â€Å"The Odyssey† by Homer, thereRead MoreThe Significance of Xenia in Homer‚Äà ´s The Odyssey1261 Words   |  6 PagesKaitlyn Lambert MR. Bovaird Honors English 9 23 May 2010 The Significance of Xenia in Homer’s Odyssey The society of Ancient Greece was very much centered around the gods, and a healthy fear of the consequences of not obeying their laws. The next most important staples of the society were the concepts of braver, pride, and hospitality, or Xenia. The significance of these values is shown quite clearly in The Odyssey of Homer. In the first five books of the epic, Telemachos is shown great hospitalityRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s Epic Of The Iliad And Odyssey903 Words   |  4 Pagespersonal narrative, I will analyze two themes from Homer’s epic’s pertaining to the Iliad and the Odyssey. I have chosen hospitality (Xenia) and shame (Aidos) as the subject of interest, and will focus on these as a main source of the topic. Xenia is the ancient Greek word for â€Å"hospitality†, which is the consideration and kindness shown to those who are far from home and/or associates of the person bestowing xenia upon them. The rituals of hospitality created and conveyed a reciprocal relationship betweenRead MoreHospitality As A Code Of Conduct1074 Words   |  5 Pages Hospitality was deeply embedded in ancient Greek culture. Hospitality was very important and seen as a code of conduct. The term used to describe the concept of Ancient Greek hospitality was xenia. Xenia is basically the generosity and courtesy shown to guests, strangers, or those far from home. Xenia consists of two rules. The first rule is from host to guest, in which the host must be hospitable to the guest and provide basic needs (food, drink, and a bath). The host also has to hold all questioningRead MoreAnalysis Of The Odyssey 1368 Words   |  6 Pagesanalysis of xenia in The Odyssey William Shakespeare, in Timon Of Athens Act III Scene line 39 writes : I charge thee, invite them all: let in the tide of knaves once more; my cook and I ll provide† Shakespeare is explaining to his readers that he will invite everyone in and he will cook for them meaning that he will provide everything to his guests. Similarly, in The Odyssey Odysseus without knowing it is providing for all the suitors with a home and food for endless days. The Odyssey has manyRead MoreXenia As A Major Key Of A Civilized Society896 Words   |  4 PagesXenia Hospitality is a very diverse tradition leading all the back to the Mycenaean era. During the time period of The Odyssey, the Greeks considered hospitality a major key of a well civilized society. Throughout The Odyssey, Xenia was an extremely significant theme which was recalled many times throughout the poems. Odysseus throughout the way has shown he is exceedingly hospitable. The Odyssey reflects Xenia through Odysseus’s journey of: Odyessus’s Crew, nymphs, and the Gods. Xenia was shownRead MoreFar Removed From Our Individualistic Society Today Is The1514 Words   |  7 Pagesindividualistic society today is the ancient Greece portrayed in The Odyssey, by Homer, where hospitality and good-will are a given in the lives of decent, moral people. As commanded by Zeus himself, those who wish the favor of the Gods must welcome foreign and domestic visitors with hospitality. The term developed to describe this concept is the Latin, xenia or guest-friendship. In ancient Greek literature, forms of the word xenia (ÃŽ ¾ÃŽ µÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ±), are fairly common: Homer s two books, for example, contain

The Tempest Character Analysis - 1424 Words

â€Å"Good versus evil† is a theme in The Tempest, just as in many fantasy stories. The Tempest shows this theme though its characters. The most obvious pair of characters for this contrast is Ariel and Caliban. Ariel is good and Caliban is bad. This is a common opinion held by many scholars and critics, namely, Charles Boyce and Derek Traversi. However, there are many ways in which these two characters are similar—there are various parallels and similarities which are not always covered by critics. Neither character is purely good or purely evil—they are both round characters with many sides. When critics write on Ariel and Caliban, as noted previously, they point out a lot of things that cause them to seem like opposites. Charles Boyce†¦show more content†¦Some differences are that Caliban is called his â€Å"slave†: â€Å"We’ll visit Caliban, my slave,† and Ariel simply his â€Å"servant†: â€Å"Come away, servant, come!â €  (1.2.310) (1.2.187). However, in the end, Prospero has complete administration over these characters. Also, there are some similarities in how they each follow Prospero. Neither character blindly follows Prospero or does everything he wants without question. Caliban attempts (and, in some iterations of the play, succeeds) to directly disobey Prospero when he refuses to carry logs for him, but he gives in, in the end: Prospero: What ho! Slave! Caliban! / Thou earth, thou! Speak. Caliban: There’s wood enough within. (1.2.315-316) Prospero: Fetch us in fuel†¦or†¦I’ll rack thee with old cramps, / fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar / That beasts shall tremble at thy din. Caliban: No, pray thee. / I must obey. (1.2.369-375) Later, he condemns his master and plots to kill him. Ariel questions Prospero and asks him for his freedom, but they resolve the issue in the same manner as the issue between Caliban and Prospero: Ariel: Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains, / Let me remember thee what thou hast promised, / Which is not yet performed me. Prospero: How now? Moody? / What canst thou demand? Ariel: My liberty. (1.2.242-245) Ariel: Pardon, master. / I will be correspondent to command (1.2.297-298)Show MoreRelatedThe Tempest Character Analysis1047 Words   |  5 Pagesperspective. In William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero comes to realise not only the limitations of his power, but also the importance of love and redemption in redefining one’s place in the world, as well as one’s view of it. Theodore Melfi’s film Hidden Figures represents the importance of new perspectives on the familiar in order to realise the self, in the face of conflicting and controlling views towards casual racism and sexism. The Tempest, as its title suggests, is partly concernedRead MoreThe Tempest Character Analysis948 Words   |  4 Pagesget it. Yet it is how they obtain this power that shows their true nature. In The Tempest, Prospero and Alonso were born with their power, but other characters like Antonio, Sebastian, Stephano, etc. were not. They are jealous of these characters born with power so they conspire with other characters to take the power away from them. These conspiracies within The Tempest reveal the true nature of those characters. Antonio and Sebastian’s personalities are exposed while they conspire to gain theRead MoreA Character Comparison of Macbeth and Prospero from Shakespeares Macbeth and The Tempest676 Words   |  3 PagesThese two Shakespearean characters, Macbeth and Prospero, from Macbeth and The Tempest can greatly compare to one another. From the very beginning, these two men are hard to understand and seem like your average warrior and ruler. Both of these characters are dealing with struggle of power; however, they both deal with this issue in different, interesting ways with different results. At the end of these two plays, we meet two entirely different characters than the ones that we were introduced toRead More Conflict and Harmony in The Tempest Essay1390 Words   |  6 PagesConflict and Harmony in The Tempest   Ã‚  Ã‚   William Shakespeare describes a utopic world saturated with supernatural images and ideas which works to create the mysterious island where The Tempest takes place.   This is one of Shakespeares best examples of how a natural harmony reveals itself through the actions of discourse and confusion.   To illustrate this idea best one must examine the historical context upon which The Tempest is based.   Because this play was published in the early 1600sRead MoreEssay on Quest for Power In The Tempest1208 Words   |  5 PagesQuest for Power In The Tempest      Ã‚   I suggest that engraved into humanitys essence is the intense desire for power. William Shakespeares play, The Tempest not only depicts this concept, but breaks it down for the reader; enabling effective analysis of this concept. Through notable characterization, Shakespeare is able to convey key concepts regarding the idea of power versus ambition. Specifically, the role that ambition and the moderation of ones ambition play in the effectiveness of controlRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Tempest1229 Words   |  5 Pageswhen writing his play, The Tempest. One of Cohen’s theses though - thesis four â€Å"The Monster Dwells at the Gates of Difference† - appears quite prominently in Shakespeare’s work. The thesis articulates that monsters are divisive and often arise in a culture to make one group seem superior to another. Further, societies devise monsters in order to create a scapegoat for social and political inequities and instabilities that surface in that society. In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the idea applies to CalibanRead MoreExamples of Shakepearian Revenge Tragedey in Othello and tragic Comedy in The Tempest1681 Words   |  7 Pagesis The Tempest. One of the most prominently occurring and important aspects of human nature that appears in Shakespeare’s work is the concept of revenge. In most of the tragic plays of Shakespeare, the avenger has his thoughts of committing revenge and towards the end causes his own downfall and also death and destruction of several other good and supporting characters. The main focus of this essay is to show how Revenge leads to Destruction in Shakespearean plays – Othello and The Tempest. The mainRead More Lost Illusions, Bitter Wisdom and Fragile Hope in The Tempest1274 Words   |  6 PagesLost Illusions, Bitter Wisdom and Fragile Hope in The Tempest   Ã‚   Is Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, a drama of lost illusions, bitter wisdom and fragile hope? Before this question can be considered, one first has to interpret these terms. Perhaps bitter wisdom and fragile hope are fairly simple concepts to understand, lost illusions is somewhat less clear, particularly in the case of The Tempest.    There are three main interpretations of lost illusions that could be madeRead MoreThe Tempest By William Shakespeare1705 Words   |  7 PagesLiterature Mr. Nath 5 December 2014 The Tempest Written between 1610 and 1611, The Tempest by William Shakespeare is the final play penned by the famous Bard. The play portrays the illusory struggle of power and conscience through the character of Prospero and his egocentric motives. Politically, the play can be seen as an analysis of important political issues relevant to that of oppression and imperialistic tendencies of the time. Artistically, The Tempest emphasizes the nature of art, more prominentlyRead MoreEssay on Isolation of the Individual in Society in The Tempest1458 Words   |  6 PagesIndividual in Society in The Tempest In William Shakespeares play, The Tempest, characters such as Caliban, Prospero, Miranda and Ferdinand, experience varying degrees of consequences, due to their change in behaviour, while isolated from society. Although isolation from society affects the characters in different ways, some see it as being advantageous while others see it as being a curse. This essay will show how characters in The Tempest suffer consequences due

Civil Law Negligence in Tort Law

Question: Discuss about theCivil Law for Negligence in Tort Law. Answer: Introduction In the given scenario, we can clearly see that Rebecca sustained severe injuries due to the negligent behavior of Michelle. Michelle continued to drive her car in spite of the fact that she was in an inebriated state and driving under the influence of alcohol. So, Rebecca is well within her right to sue Michelle in a court of law for the injury sustained by her as a result of Michelles driving under the influence of alcohol. Michelle being the driver of the car owed a duty of care towards her friend and fellow passenger Rebecca which she clearly failed to perform. Thus, Michelle could be charged under the tort of negligence and she would be liable for the injury that has occurred to Rebecca in the first place. Thus, Rebecca has the right to claim compensation from Michelle for the injury and damages which has been sustained by her due to the gross negligence of Michelle (Oberdiek, 2008). Negligence in plain and simple terms merely denotes carelessness. However, in the legal context, the act of negligence essentially denotes that there has been a failure on the part of a person to exercise a standard of care which the perpetrator as a reasonable person should have exercised in those circumstances under which the accident took place. In the case scenario given before us, we can clearly see that the Michelle had a legal duty to take care of her co-passenger Rebecca when it was reasonably anticipated that failure to perform her duty was likely to cause injury to both Michelle and Rebecca. According to Winfield and Jolowicz, negligence is defined to be a breach of duty towards a person which results in some kind of damage or harm to the person who was under the duty of the person causing the harm. In other words, negligence is considered to be the omission of certain affirmative action which could be expected from a reasonable man and which has not been performed in a cer tain situation thereby resulting in grievous injury or damage to another person (Goldberg et al. 2008). Rebecca and Michelle were two friends who went to attend a performance called An Ever Oprah which has Oprah Winfrey. The performance was delayed owing to a ticketing issue and hence both the parties involved in the cases had engaged in activities like consumption of alcohol at a bar near their venue. During the time of the performance, Rebecca saw the condition of Michelle and realised the fact that Michelle was too drunk to drive her car properly. She was skeptical and doubtful about Michelles driving skills but nevertheless accepted Michelles offer of driving her to her home. When Michelle started driving dangerously, Rebecca cautioned her and asked her twice to step out of the car but she did not respond to her demands and continued to drive in an inebriated state under the influence of alcohol. Eventually, her negligent behavior led her to crash the car which resulted in a serious injury for Rebecca. Due to her negligent and rash driving, Rebecca broke her leg in the resulting accident (Mingyi, 2010). In order to prove her case in front of the courts, Rebecca needs to evidence to prove that that defendant (Michelle) was negligent and was therefore liable for the injuries sustained by Rebecca from the accident. There are various elements regarding the tort of negligence which Rebecca needs to prove if she wants to pursue her case and get compensation from Michelle for the damages and injuries which has been sustained by her from that accident. These elements are discussed below: Duty in Cases of negligence the verdict depends on consideration whether there was relationship of performing a duty towards the plaintiff by the defendant.The aspect of duty essentially arises because the law considers the relationship between the plaintiff and defendant and thus the court expects the defendant is obligated to act in a certain manner towards the plaintiff. The judgment is essentially going to be delivered by considering the fact whether Michelle owed a duty of care towards Rebecca and if it is ascertained that such a duty exists then the judgment will be delivered in Rebeccas favour (Van Dam, 2013). Breach of Duty this could be explained as negligence on the part of the person for fulfilling his/ her duty. A defendant is said to have the liability in such a scenario when he or she fails to fulfill duty towards the plaintiff. In this case it has been noticed that the defendant has been charged with breach of duty as the defendant could not exercise care while performing his duty towards the plaintiff. The breach of duty is essentially determined by a jury as a question of fact. If in the present scenario, the court finds Michelle guilty of breaching her duty towards Rebecca, she is like to face charges for drunken driving and Michelle has to pay compensation to Rebecca for the injuries sustained in that accident (Deakin et al. 2012). Cause in Fact This is also termed as the but for causation. In this case, the plaintiff tries to prove that the injury would not have occurred in the first place had the defendant acted in more responsible manner. It must be proved in the courts that the defendant actions were solely responsible for the injury that have been sustained by the plaintiff and only then can the plaintiff claim compensation from the defendant for the injuries sustained by her. Proximate Cause Proximate cause essentially determines the scope of a defendant's responsibility in any case of negligence. A defendant in a negligence case is only responsible for those harms that the defendant could have foreseen through his/her actions. If the damages caused are beyond the scope of the risks which could have been foreseen, then the plaintiff would not be able to prove that the injuries sustained by them were solely caused due to the defendants actions (Oberdiek, 2008). Damages In any negligence case, the failure to exercise reasonable care must result in actual damages to that person whom the defendant owed a duty of care. This legally recognised harm could be in the form of physical injury to the plaintiff or damage to their property. If Rebecca is able to prove that she was suffered actual harm due to the irresponsibility of Michelle, then she can definitely sue her and claim compensation for her injuries (Lunney Oliphant, 2008). References Mingyi, Y. E. (2010). The Differentiation Between Intention and Negligence in Tort Law and Its Significance [J]. Science of Law (Journal of Northwest University of Political Science and Law), 4, 013. Van Dam, C. (2013). European tort law. OUP Oxford. Goldberg, J. C., Sebok, A. J., Zipursky, B. C. (2008). Tort Law: Responsibilities and Redress. Aspen Publishers. Anson, W. R., Beatson, J., Burrows, A. S., Cartwright, J. (2010). Anson's law of contract. Oxford University Press. Deakin, S. F., Johnston, A., Markesinis, B. S. (2012). Markesinis and Deakin's tort law. Oxford University Press. Lunney, M., Oliphant, K. (2008).Tort law: text and materials. Oxford University Press. Oberdiek, J. (2008). Philosophical issues in tort law. Philosophy Compass, 3(4), 734-748. Swisher, P. N. (2011). Virginia Should Abolish the Archaic Tort Defense of Contributory Negligence and Adopt a Comparative Negligence Defense in Its Place. U. Rich. L. Rev., 46, 359.

Terrorism Essays (1852 words) - War On Terror, Organized Crime

Terrorism Terrorism vs. Terrorism On an early Tuesday morning, many families arose for another typical day. Unaware of a nearing attack, they carried out their daily routine. Tragically, instead of taking their children to school and going to work, they would be cowering for their lives. Attacks carried out by terrorists destroyed their homes and places of work. These terrorists came from a foreign nation, and attacked from the sky. They did not attack in hopes of pleasing a god, or to have family members released from prison. Instead, they came with F-16 fighter jets representing the United States of America, in hopes for keeping a steady cash and oil flow to their nation. To many citizens across the Arab nations, the people of the United States are the terrorists. Their families have been killed, and their lives destroyed. In turn, they retaliate with suicide bombers and other fighters claiming revenge and praise from their god Allah. Who then, is the terrorist? The United States and its allies have seemingly been attacked repeatedly and unprovoked. From the 1980's to present, the United States has dealt with the wrath of terrorism. From hijacked aircraft, to bombing of sovereign US buildings, terrorists have tried to get their message across to their enemies by wreaking havoc. One must look at why the United States is perceived as the bad guy and what motives the terrorists have for destroying it, and its allies. In October and April of 1983, Americans were greeted by what would be a start of numerous terrorist acts against the United States. In Beirut, a car bomb exploded in front of the U.S. embassy killing seventeen Americans. Then, in a separate attack in Beirut, over 250 American soldiers were killed, and more than one hundred others were wounded. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for both, calling the bombing part of the Islamic revolution (Goodson, 52). A Jihad, as defined by the Koran, is a holy war. According to terrorists, the holy war must be waged against the infidel, the United States of America. To some Arabs, the holy war is a farce, and is a travesty to all Arabs. To terrorists and people like Bin Laden, it is a justified war that will continue until their mission is complete. Their only motives are to kill their enemy. They do not need a justified reason, just an excuse for ridding their land of evil people. Although the United States imposed some financial and social power in the Arab nations, is this carnage necessary? The Arabs, however, did not care. In June of 1985, Trans World Airlines (TWA) Flight 847 from Athens to Rome was hijacked by a group of men. Their mission, although failed, was once again in the name of an Islamic Jihad, or Holy War. This war would be an ever-lasting mission to rid the world of evil (the allies and citizens of the US). Why the United States, many people ask? Leaders such as Moammar Gadhafi of Libya, and Usama Bin Laden of Saudi Arabia despise western influence in the Arab world. They feel and have stated that the United States tries to impose its culture, and its financial power in their land. With US oil, clothing, and food companies in the Arab nations, the Arab leaders believe that the US is soiling their great land (Beres, 15). They feel that their only way to expunge them is by killing. Just the presence of the United States was not enough to anger the Arab extremists. The multiple attacks that have been targeted at the United States were in retaliation for the United States' actions. In the hopes of keeping oil prices low, and maintaining diplomacy abroad, the United States has sent troops and planes abroad to keep control. These actions led to destruction of cities, and the loss of thousands of lives; both civilian and military. In 1986 Libyan terrorists blew up a German discoth?que killing an American soldier. The United States could not stand idly by. Days later, America launched a series of air strikes in hopes of wiping out Gadhafi, and his followers. According to the Libyans, the strikes failed, and killed hundreds of civilians instead of militants. For three years, Libya