The Double Standards of the Gods

A much-discussed moral theme in The Odyssey is the idea of xenia, or “guest-friendship”/hospitality. Xenia is arguably one of the key moral/behavioral standards in the world of the Odyssey (it’s certainly the one we’ve been discussing the most, in the few days we’ve been allotted). This concept of hospitality is the most defined difference I’ve perceived between the Odyssey’s ideas of “good” and “bad”: anyone who violates xenia (Polyphemus, the suitors) is deemed as some sort of villain, while those who keep xenia (various kings, Aeolus, Calypso and Circe to some extent) are portrayed as allies. This xenia is also discussed as being of the gods, as it is born out of the fear that anyone could be a god (and therefore one should welcome visitors as such). Additionally, the text often implies that Zeus is the patron god of xenia, further enhancing its gods-ordained status. During his visit with Polyphemus (right before everything goes to pot), Odysseus proclaims that “Zeus is on our side, since he takes care of visitors, guest friends, and those in need” (page 248). Polyphemus is only revealed as a true villain when he expresses his disregard for xenia (and therefore the gods), eating the crew with the justification of cyclopes being stronger than the gods. 

            Xenia, then, is likely one of the key “moral standards” that Zeus is basing his allegedly clear system punishment and reward upon. (We can assume that there is some such system, as Zeus says that mortals make the gods “increase [their suffering] by folly” on page 106, implying that the gods do play a part in “justice”). Along the same lines of godly retribution, Odysseus deems Polyphemus’ breach of xenia as direct cause for his suffering – “you had no shame at eating your own guests! So Zeus and the other gods have paid you back” (page 255). Poseidon, however, even while being one of those “other gods”, grants xenia-violator Polyphemus’ wish to punish Odysseus directly after he says this. This struck me as strange the first time I read it – why is it Odysseus that is being punished, when Polyphemus is the one breaking Greek ideals? Yes, perhaps it was because he was Poseidon’s son, or because he wasn't mortal, or because Odysseus taunted him after blinding him – but there are so many other examples of this in the parts of the epic we’ve read so far. The best example of this double standard is the gods’ treatment of the Phaeacians. It would be one thing if only Poseidon had decided to punish them (as they helped a man they knew to be hated by Poseidon), but Zeus, the very keeper of xenia, violates his own rule by goading Poseidon on in his punishment! Athena, his own daughter, made sure that the Phaeacians received him (“I made sure that you were welcomed by the Phaeacians”, page 326), but the Phaeacians are punished by Zeus and Poseidon for doing just that (“Poseidon hates us for our habit of helping travelers get home again”, page 322). If, however, they had done the opposite and rejected Odysseus, they likely would have been punished by Athena for violation of xenia (and it didn’t look like they had much free will in the first place anyway). 

            Is there, then, a real system of justice, or are the gods just playing with the mortals as they please? Are their motives and systems really as clear-cut as they say they are? Is there any sense of real justice? I think these are all difficult questions to grapple with, especially with the gods claiming to be exactors of fairness in the beginning. They do, however, all act in inconsistency with one another - a compulsory order from one god turns into a damning punishment from another. I do think this is an inevitable result the gods being the fickle, flawed characters that they are, instead of an all-righteous monolith that more modern deities seem to be. It's unfortunate for the mortals that the gods are also fleshed-out narrative figures - they'll probably get screwed over, no matter what they do.