The Virtue of Hospitality
Hospitality refers to the virtue of sharing one’s accommodations, food, and drink with friends, strangers, and guests. This virtue has existed since the beginning of the human race; evidently, it involves the virtues and principles that guide people in their daily lives. Notably, hospitality is not a physical, but rather a spiritual phenomenon. It consists of aspects that relate to treating people in the most appropriate way (Williams, 177). The same that a person desires to be treated well by others, he/she also strives to portray acts of kindness towards other individuals. Hospitality has characteristics such as understanding, respect, and the capacity to help other people. Such components act as hospitality’s foundation. Hospitality has attracted the attention of researchers and philosophers like Aristotle, who established the phenomenon to be a crucial virtue in human life.
Stories involve different themes that target to inform and influence readers. The story of Lord of the Rings, abbreviated as LOR, is prominent. Hospitality is a notable theme in Lord of the Rings. The main characters express the virtue of generosity. Characters in the story, Lord of the Rings: Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf considering how they treat other people highlight the virtue of hospitality.
Theory: Common Hospitality Characteristics
Aristotle on Hospitality
Aristotle is arguably the most renowned philosopher. Among the many issues that Aristotle focused on, the virtue of hospitality stands out. In exploring s hospitality, Aristotle highlights different characteristics of the attribute. The philosopher observes hospitality as a crucial concept that promotes resilience, which Aristotle insists is essential for people in society. According to Aristotle, hospitality refers to the idea of an individual welcoming and entertaining a stranger who has traveled from far away. While Aristotle observes trust as one of the significant characteristics of hospitality, especially in hosting a stranger, he insists that it is at times unnecessary as helping a person is not an aspect that a person expects payment in return at a particular time in the future. The philosopher views that hospitality is something that a person is ought to do because it is the right thing (Muller 1). Most prominently, since the stranger is new in an unfamiliar place, a person, who is the host ought to help him/her.
Aristotle also observes resilience to be an essential characteristic of hospitality. According to the philosopher, when people treat others with generosity, a sense of community in society is developed. Prominently, hospitality makes a community stronger. When society becomes strengthened, individuals’ resilience increases (Muller 1). Notably, people become confident that they can always depend on other members of the community when they are in need. Hospitality also acts as a source of social support in society. People in society, through generosity, are ready to help individuals who need help.
Consequently, extensive social support promotes the development of society. Aristotle also views reciprocity as a characteristic of hospitality. Aristotle has the view that, despite helping others who are in need without expecting payment, the idea of exchange is crucial. The perception that individuals would like to be treated with kindness when they are in another environment motivates them to treat others with kindness.
Wallace on Hospitality
Over the years, hospitality has advanced from not only being a virtue but as a source of income. Initially, the attribute exclusively involved people helping strangers who were in a new place, such as in providing them with shelter, food, and entertainment. However, such an aspect has changed considerably. Hospitality has become commercialized (O’Gorman, 141). Virtue forms a significant industry in the modern world. People have been keen on establishing companies that offer services to strangers at a particular cost. Wallace is among the most prominent hospitality in the world. It has its base in Sydney, Australia. According to the activities at Wallace, hospitality involves crucial characteristics. The most notable feature pertains to quality. While generosity is all about helping people in need, the services that a host provides a stranger/client should be of high quality. Wallace strives to give the strangers satisfactory services.
Another characteristic of hospitality expressed at Wallace pertains to integrity. Noteworthy, generosity is not merely assisting other people by offering them food and shelter and treating them with kindness. It also involves ensuring that a host treats the visitor or stranger with dignity, high expertise, and accountability (Hunt III 1). Arguably, it is the responsibility of the host to care for the stranger. As a result, the host has to serve the visitor with dignity. Another crucial characteristic displayed by Wallace relates to commitment. Wallace insists that a host has to possess commitment when helping a stranger or visitor. The host should prioritize, making the stranger as comfortable as possible. Besides, respect is significant in hospitality. Wallace emphasizes that its staff has to treat clients with the respect that they deserve. Prominently, respecting a visitor makes him/her feel comfortable in the new place. When treated with respect, the visitor/stranger may also reciprocate the same virtue to the host.
Kidder on hospitality
Kidder is another prominent company in the hospitality industry. Kidder has its location on the West Coast (Citation needed). It is involved in providing people with hospitality services at a particular cost. A hospitality characteristic highlighted at Kidder pertains to competence. The source insists that a host has to portray a high level of expertise when handling a strange (Citation needed).r. As explained earlier, hospitality involves providing people who may be friends, guests, or strangers with food and shelter and treating them kindly. Kidder observes that when people are competent, they are likely to meet the needs of the people they are hosting. Another characteristic of hospitality reflected by Kidder relates to understanding. Notably, the requirements of people in a new place may vary from one person to another. The host has to consider such an aspect when handling a stranger. For instance, the host has to enquire from the visitor the services he/she requires. Consequently, the host will meet the needs of the visitor.
Another hospitality characteristic portrayed by Kidder pertains to the ability to help others. Arguably, hosting a friend, visitor or stranger depends on whether a person is in a position to provide him/her with the services that he/she requires. For instance, a person needs to have a house or a place of residence to give shelter to another person in need. Prominently, Kidder highlights the services that they provide to customers, aspects that portray their capability in helping others. Besides, Kidder observes quality as a crucial characteristic of hospitality. In particular, individuals have to provide the people that they handle with quality services.
Regarding quality, Kidder insists that its staff are keen on not only providing clients with services but also in meeting their needs satisfactorily. Reliability is another hospitality characteristic shown by Kidder. A visitor needs to have the conviction that the host can provide him/her with the services that he/she requires to feel comfortable.
Application
Frodo’s Hospitality
Hospitality is highlighted as an essential virtue in society in the story: The Lord of the Rings. Prominently, generosity is a central aspect that advances the story (Smith 33). Characters are involved in helping others realize their dreams and win their quests. The characters are ready to open doors to strangers. Frodo is one of the characters who portray the virtue of hospitality. Frodo is the main protagonist in the story as he is the ring-bearer. Among the many attributes of Frodo, generosity stands out. The story portrays him to have a good heart. The scene where his virtue of hospitality is prominent pertains to when he saves his friends from the ring’s powers (Citation needed).. After he realizes that the forces of the jewel will likely destroy all people around him, he decides to go on the quest to destroy it alone. His kindheartedness makes him avoid endangering others, spiritually and physically. Such an act contributes immensely to completing his mission. Prominently, with no other people interfering with the ring, he can eventually eradicate it.
In another scene, Frodo is directing acts of kindness towards Gollum. Initially, the story portrays Gollum as an unlikable character. Frodo is weary in befriending Gollum at first, as the creature appears to be determined to dispossess him of his ring. However, when they meet, Frodo is keen on helping Gollum (Citation needed).. The hosp itality characteristic of trust is displayed through Frodo, as he interacts with Gollum. For instance, even when Gollum tricks him into following a dangerous path towards Shelob, Frodo still trusts the creature. In the end, Frodo’s decision to treat Gollum with dignity and befriending him proves valuable. The being manages to guide him in his quest to destroy the ring. The scene also highlights the aspect of reciprocity, as Frodo and Gollum help each other through their generosity.
Bilbo’s Hospitality
Bilbo is another major character in the story: Lord of the Rings. Prominently, he should complete a quest even though he is not brave or a person who can be a hero (Citation needed). However, Bilbo is keen on cultivating traits like friendliness and generosity, which eventually makes him his quest. The notable scene where he portrays the aspect of hospitality pertains to when he is hosting dwarves. The scene depicts the hospitality characteristic of the capacity to help. Prominently, he has food in storage that he provides to the hobbits. Arguably, the over a dozen hobbits were able to eat to their fill because Bilbo could feed them. The hospitality characteristic of not expecting anything in return after helping, no matter the cost, is also highlighted in the scene. It is worth noting that Bilbo’s food would get finished by being generous to the dwarves. However, though reluctant at first, Bilbo proceeds to feed them. Besides, he shelters them. The guests are comfortable to be hosted by Bilbo.
In another scene, Bilbo is interacting with Gollum. In displaying his generosity, Bilbo is keen to treat Gollum with kindness (Citation needed).. A hospitality characteristic that guides Bilbo when interacting with Gollum is understanding. Arguably, one may hate Gollum easily when he/she meets him. However, Bilbo is compassionate towards him. He manages to understand that the power of the ring disfigured him and influenced his behavior. Bilbo also displays the aspect of integrity when playing the game of riddles. As Gollum’s host, he ensures fairness in the game. The character accepts when Gollum provides correct answers, an aspect that arguably calms the creature when the character finally wins. The dwarves that he feeds and Gollum are vital in his quest to find the ring and aiding in its destruction. Prominently, the dwarves support him all along the journey as he travels with them.
Gandalf’s Hospitality
Gandalf also highlights the virtue of hospitality in the story: Lord of the Rings. Gandalf, as shown in the story, is a powerful wizard. Notably, he uses his power in the right way, as he is determined to help people. In expressing his attribute of hospitality, he utilizes his capabilities to make other people generous. His primary mission in the story is helping Bilbo and Frodo accomplish the quest to find and destroy the powerful ring (Citation needed).. His act of generosity is prominent in the early scenes, where he provides Bilbo with handkerchiefs and tobacco. It is in the process of visiting Bilbo when he marks his door. The sign on the door influences the dwarves to visit him, as shown in the first chapter of the story. After the dwarves get into his house, Bilbo to host them. Arguably, Gandalf, through his powers and generosity, initiates the beginning of the journey to find and destroy the ring.
Another scene where his virtue of hospitability is notable pertains to when he uses how powers to trick Beorn into hosting the thirteen dwarves. Prominently, Beorn is displayed to be empathetic, as he is keen to eat honey cream instead of killing other animals (Citation needed).. Through an engaging story told by Gandalf, Beorn allows the thirteen dwarves into his home. Besides sheltering them, he also feeds the thirteen dwarves and decides to help them in their quest. Arguably, the dwarves may have perished without Beon’s generosity, an aspect that helped immensely in the journey to find and destroy the ring. Also, he cautions them against drinking water at Mirkwood, an act that portrays his kindheartedness.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the characters in the story, Lord of the Rings: Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf, through how they treat other people highlight the virtue of hospitality. Hospitality refers to the aspect of sharing one’s accommodations, food, and drink with friends, strangers, and guests. As shown by Aristotle and how Wallace and Kidder conduct their activities, hospitality involves characteristics like respect, understanding, capacity to help, competence, integrity, commitment, trust, reciprocity, and quality. The characters of the story, Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf, are keen on treating other people, such as their friends and guests compassionately. For instance, Frodo saves his friends from the powers of the ring, Bilbo feeds and provides shelter to the thirteen dwarfs, and Gandalf uses his skills to make other people like Bilbo and Beorn generosity. The acts of kindness by the characters play an essential role in facilitating the completion of the quest to find and destroying the ring.
Works Cited
Hunt III, Arther W. “Room for Dining” MCC Library Off-Campus Database Login, sirsi.mchenry.edu:2056/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=880c765c-ef52-4e89-9f9d-5940b617c301%40pdc-v-sessmgr01
Muller, Robert. The good life, balance and moderation, hospitality, and resilience: Aristotle and Epicurus. 12 August 2018, https://medium.com/@DrRobertMuller/the-good-life-balance-and-moderation-hospitality-and-resilience-aristotle-and-epicurus-859008bebc8. Accessed 3 March 2020.
O’Gorman, Kevin D. “Modern Hospitality: Lessons from the past.” Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management 12.2 (2005): 141-151.
Smith, Mark Eddy. Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues: Exploring the Spiritual Themes of The Lord of the Rings. InterVarsity Press, 2002.
Williams, Hamish. “Between Exile and Hospitality: The Figure of the Xenos in Tolkien’s Faërie.” Academia.edu – Share Research, 2016, www.academia.edu/35130193/Between_Exile_and_Hospitality_The_Figure_of_the_Xenos_in_Tolkien_s_Fa%C3%ABrie. Accessed 3 March 2020.