By comparing Eumaeus’s hospitality to Alcinous’s, what point does the text emphasize?

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When we compare Eumaeus’s hospitality to Alcinous’s, the text is drawing a contrast that highlights a universal virtue of hospitality that transcends social status or wealth.
Option 1: 'Eumaeus is secretly wealthier than Alcinous' This claim misreads the scene; the point of the comparison isn’t about hidden wealth but about the quality and purity of hospitality regardless of fortune. The power of hospitality here isn’t tied to money or rank, so this option is off-base.
Option 2: 'Only slaves understand true xenia' This statement wrongly asserts that the understanding of hospitality belongs exclusively to a particular social group. The text uses both Eumaeus (a servant) and Alcinous (a prince) to show hospitality as a virtue accessible to all, so this is a misconstrual of who can embody xenia.
Option 3: 'Alcinous and Eumaeus are blood relatives' The Homeric narrative emphasizes social roles and duties rather than familial kinship between these two characters. Their relationship is not the core focus; the emphasis is on the act of hospitality itself and its implications for social equality, not on kinship.
Option 4: 'Genuine kindness in hosting strangers does not depend on status or riches' This is the central idea highlighted by the comparison: true hospitality is about the virtue of generosity and welcome extended to guests, regardless of the host’s wealth or status. The text uses both characters to illustrate that sincere xenia transcends social distinctions, making this option the correct interpretation.
Thus, each incorrect option rests on a misreading of who harbors wealth, who is related, or who is qualified to practice xenia, while the correct option captures the egalitarian spirit of genuine hospitality underscored by the passage.

6(A) - Exploring Novels and Literature The Odyssey XIV

By comparing Eumaeus’s hospitality to Alcinous’s, what point does the text emphasize?

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