Baucis and Philemon

I had already heard this story before and I think it was when I was about 7 years old. My grandmother told this story one night after I fought with one of my sisters because she refused to give me a piece of her gum if I didn't give her a piece of my gum. Basically, this is what Baucis and Philemon is about.

I think that maybe the Gods subconsciously wanted to know how people treated each other knowing that they would receive nothing in return from the other person. But I think that if humans would have tried this test on the Gods they would have found that the Gods would not take pity on them. I see them as this race that thinks themselves superior and almighty, and maybe not aware that they also have their own imperfections. But at the same time, they reward the humans that contradict them or prove them wrong with their actions by showing them good.

Zeus and Hermes disguised as poor people that needed a place to stay, so the person helping them out would have to be a saint. Hermes was about to give up before they knocked on Baucis and Philemon's door. But Baucis and Philemon proved that there are good people, even if there are few. In this song, Alanis Morisette states that she will expect nothing in return for her good actions, like Baucis and Philemon.





Anyway, the lesson my grandmother was trying to give my sister and I, was that we should give, without expecting anything in return (and then maybe life will reward you later like it did for Baucis and Philemon). But still, if you know you will get rewarded you will obviously make a better effort or treat everybody nicely no matter how poor they are.