In Book 10 of the Odyssey, the character Circe is introduced. She played a crucial role in Odysseus’ eventful journey. The central point of this story is based on the theme of hospitality. Hospitality is what highlights the interactions and relationships between hosts and visitors. This theme is an very important in understanding the challenges Odysseus experiences throughout the story. I will be covering how Circe’s transformation of Odysseus’ counterparts into pigs highlight the power dynamics that change within this passage. The passage that I chose represents an image as to which Odysseus, the guest, its subjected to Circe’s magical powers. Based on imagery and more aspects, I am going to dive deep into how this passage specifically highlights the issues of hospitality.

In Book 10 following Odysseus’ arrival on the Island of Aeaea, also known as Circes island, him and his colleagues were offered by the magical powers. However, Circe’s intentions were far from kindness. He turned Odysseus and his crew into pigs, and imprisoning them. The passage that reveals this is interesting. “So she spoke to them, and the rest gave voice, and called her and at once she opened the shining doors, and came out, and invited them in, and all in their innocence entered; only Eurylochos waited outside, for he suspected treachery. She brought them inside and seated them on chairs and benches, and mixed them a potion, with barley and cheese and pale honey added to Pramneian wine, but put into the mixture malignant drugs, to make them forgetful of their own country. When she had given them this and they had drunk it down, next thing she struck them with her wand and drove them into her pig pens, and they took on the look of pigs, with the heads and voices and bristles of pigs, but the minds within them stayed as they had been before.” (10.229-241). Circe’s actions portray the theme of deceptive hospitality by her welcoming Odysseus and his counterparts into her home and being hospitable. She seems to act very respectful, but she actually wants to turn all of them into pigs. Odysseus and his crew were intrigued by Circe’s seemingly heartwarming hospitality, step into her dwelling with trust and innocence. The imagery being provided here with the warm hospitality and the colleagues of Odysseus were not award of the hidden intentions behind Circe’s behavior. The setting in this passage is also important in understanding the plot. Circe’s dwelling, which appears to be welcoming and comfortable, trick Odysseus and his counterparts into a false sense of security. The diction being use to describe the combination like cheese and honey which created a sense of comfort and pleasure. These elements are being juxtaposed with the intent hidden in the term “malignant drugs”. The metaphors being used here compare Odysseus’ counterparts to pigs, highlighting their transformation, which is very important for the plot. The language of this passage provides a sense of trust and comfort, but the narrative flips when it reveals her extreme intentions. She masks her actions of hospitality, which shows the power of language to deceive.

In conclusion, this passage conveys he nature of two aspects of Circe’s character and the consequences of misplaced trust. It challenges the traditional gender roles by showing her as as a powerful character. This passage focuses on the hospitality of Odysseus, including his eventful journey, relationships, and the impact of language.