In today's unstable world, groups of people are constantly crossing borders. Individuals cross physical borders every day, whether on temporary trips for work or leisure or permanent moves to escape the socio-economic and political problems of their country. Individuals are also able to cross social class boundaries through economic and political progress. Transcending boundaries, literally and figuratively, is a common aspect of life. Yet many of these passages are considered problematic and are surrounded by a constant conflict between political agendas and moral responsibilities. However, these problems are not only characteristic of modern migration. Through the analysis of ancient literature, we see that the crossing of borders and its effects have been recurring themes throughout the development of societies. For example, Homer's Odyssey expresses the problems of crossing physical boundaries, as cultures clash and views on hospitality are not uniformly shared. Additionally, the story of Sinbad from the Arabian Nights shows how transcending social class boundaries was possible despite stratified hierarchies. Finally, Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales shows how internationalism allows for tolerance and self-criticism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Complications can arise when crossing physical boundaries when different cultural viewpoints are present between two groups. In Homer's Odyssey, the Greek concept of hospitality, "xenia", is illustrated in both negative and positive situations. A particularly controversial moment was the interaction between Odysseus and his crew and the cyclops Polyphemus. When Odysseus and his crew entered Polyphemus' cave, they expected to receive good hospitality, because the lack of hospitality in Greek society was looked down upon in the eyes of the gods. However, the Greeks were misinterpreted, because due to their narrow worldview, they did not realize that their cultural views would not be shared with those outside their society. Although the Greeks expressed good xenia because they feared angering the gods, they failed to recognize that not everyone shared the same fear of the gods, as Polyphemus indicated when he said: "My people /think not of this Zeus with his great scepter/ I carry out the orders of my own heart.” So, Polyphemus ate some of the crew and trapped them until Odysseus could successfully escape. When asked who is responsible for this situation, many will say that it is the Greeks' fault, because they did not respect the differences in cultural perspectives. I agree with this belief to some extent, only because Odysseus and his crew were portrayed as proud and arrogant men who felt entitled to hospitality. However, in the real world, I think there needs to be mutual respect between the migrant and the host. Yes, Odysseus was wrong to assume that the Cyclops would show hospitality, but if this situation were translated into a modern migration from one country to another, I would hope that the hosts would show more compassion and generosity towards those who cross. the border. For example, today the migration of South American immigrants to the United States is a point of contention among policymakers. Many think that because theseimmigrants are moving illegally, they should not be allowed to stay and must endure the torment of being separated from their families and living in overcrowded detention centers. This view is similar to that of those who believe that Odysseus was wrong when he entered Polyphemus' cave. However, I believe that illegal immigrants should be afforded a certain level of hospitality, because human empathy trumps all points of view when it comes to foreign policy and culture. Most of the time, immigrants do not risk this dangerous journey unless it is their only option, because leaving behind the society, culture and people they know is not an easy task. To sympathize with them, we must understand that migrating is often a survival instinct. Although American culture differs from Latin American culture, just as Greek culture differed from that of the Cyclops, good xenia should nonetheless be expressed toward those who cross the border, as they most likely do so because they do not have no other choice. also change one's position in society. For example, in the Arabian Nights, Sinbad the Sailor's expeditions as a merchant allowed him to acquire great wealth, which, in turn, improved his social status. During the time of the Islamic caliphates, societies had stratified social hierarchies, which meant that it was difficult to move from one class to another. Sinbad managed to do this, however, and represented a new, more contemporary member of the upper class, as although he had advanced in status, he still maintained personal relationships with members of the lower class. This was illustrated by his interactions with the poorer Sinbad, an unusual action for a member of the upper class. However, it was a necessary inclusion in the story because it expressed the idea that a person's success is ultimately the result of their own hard work (Irwin and Lyons). This same idea can be applied to modern societies today. In the United States, the economic class system is not as rigid as that of previous civilizations, in theory. Economic policy is based on the idea that everyone has the ability to increase their wealth and power if they work hard enough. This principle that one's work ethic is the sole determinant of one's success is the same idea present in the story of Sinbad. However, I think easy mobility between classes is unrealistic in practice. Many people work hard all their lives, but fail to rise above the limits of poverty due to disadvantages ingrained in the structure of our society. Take education, for example. In general, children who attend private schools tend to have better opportunities for higher education and, later, have more successful careers that allow them to build wealth. However, private schools are expensive and children from poor families usually cannot benefit from this advantage. There are also gaps in the quality of public schools compared to the average income of the areas in which they are located. Low-income areas tend to have less funding, which leads to lower quality of education, putting students at a disadvantage initially, which then prevents them from succeeding in the future. Education is just one of many disadvantages that prevent people from crossing the boundaries of their social classes, no matter how hard they work, and so I disagree with the morality of story of Sinbad, according to which one can only cross class boundaries..