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I have a situation where my MC - who has a dangerous reputation - was captured by an agent of Bolivian security. She takes him to her father in-law, who starts to torture him.

He learns that much of what she had said to her husband was misdirection and just a psychological tactic to keep her captive off balance.

He promotes the prisoner to houseguest, but at first this terrifies my MC as he thinks he is about to be disposed of.

Said torturer is first and foremost a man who has served his country with distinction - if in an unsavoury fashion. He sees himself as a gentleman no different from the other ranchers in his district.

How strict would the Latin laws of hospitality be and how might I best determine such? Are they as absolute as those of the Middle East?

Might this change of perception not only prevent him from harming the MC, but have him protect him as a pro tem member of his household?

Galastel supports GoFundMonica
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Rasdashan
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    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because this is a cultural question, not about the craft of writing. – Arcanist Lupus Mar 19 '19 at 18:56
  • It is a character in my book who will be bound by these laws. – Rasdashan Mar 19 '19 at 18:58
  • this is off-topic, its not about writing. – Levi C. Olson Mar 19 '19 at 19:45
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    Rasdashan, I had trouble getting this question to stay open: https://writing.stackexchange.com/q/42456/14704 and it was about how to find the information I needed, it wasn't directly asking for the information. I'm afraid not every bit of research that you need to do for your story is directly about writing. Consider: if I asked "what's life on a spaceship like" or "what armour was used in Sassanid Persia", those wouldn't fit here either, though I need them for my stories. Right? If you rephrase your question as "how to find out about the laws of hospitality", I will retract my VTC. – Galastel supports GoFundMonica Mar 19 '19 at 19:58
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    I suggest reframing the question so it'll fit there, and posting to Worldbuilding SE. – GerardFalla Mar 19 '19 at 20:15

3 Answers3

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Honor among thieves?

I don't think you can make this one cultural, but possibly they could have a code of honor they follow? It could be an invented rule, stated as common knowledge. It could imply a protected ally, a status they must have specific words and rules for. The men would need to be updated on a former enemy's new status without explanation. VIPs would go from "shoot-on-sight" to "protect-as-your-own" (and back).

Of course it is up to the head of the "house" to make good on the code, disciplining anyone who would defy it.

A boss simply giving the order as a mandate to his men would effectively be the same thing. If they cross him, he will discipline ruthlessly (retaliate against family, etc).

wetcircuit
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    That is a distinct possibility. One scene I am planning between Angel (torturer) and his granddaughter has him tell her not to get attached to their guest - he will be leaving soon. If leaving is death or simply leaving, that I leave vague. My MC overhears it and assumes the former. – Rasdashan Mar 19 '19 at 22:48
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Instead of the laws of hospitality, which aren't a big deal in Latin America -not more than "help those in need"- your MC should try religion.

The Bolivian father-in-law is probably a Catholic and as such, he can swear on his faith and have some moral commands: he can torture an enemy of his land, but he won't kill a prisoner, for example.

Ernest Albareda
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  • That is a valid point. It isn’t my MC who is trying to get this protection, but the other who finds himself facing a choice of granting it since this man was brought to him in error though said character will be most suspicious of this change of heart. He will see it more as a change of tactic. – Rasdashan Mar 20 '19 at 05:46
  • @Rasdashan Oh, sorry, I didn't read the question right. – Ernest Albareda Mar 20 '19 at 05:47
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Hmm...

I am not sure, if Laws of hospitality is a universal human concept.

In fact, I have never heard of the laws of hospitality outside of the Muslim world (in the real world) and Westros in the Game of Thrones..

ashleylee
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    Hospitality was a big deal in ancient Greek culture as well. I think Norse as well? It might not be universal, but it was extremely common. – Arcanist Lupus Mar 19 '19 at 18:55
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    In Latin America it is often considered polite to give a guest a gift of great value if they admired it. When the Peruvian Paso started becoming popular in the US and Canada, people were cautioned not to express too much admiration for a horse or they might end up with a 1000 gift to declare at customs and find a way to import – Rasdashan Mar 19 '19 at 18:55
  • @Rasdashan: but that's not really the same thing, as the Middle Eastern law, that says the whole clan must fight to the death to ensure the safety of the guests while they are under your roof. And I do not believe anywhere else has Guest Rights/Law of Hospitality codified into a practice. – ashleylee Mar 19 '19 at 18:59
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    True, but it certainly implies a deeper type of hospitality than is customary in North America. – Rasdashan Mar 19 '19 at 19:01
  • @Rasdashan: Gift giving.... Many many cultures do that. But a whole clan committed to defending the welfare of a guest to the DEATH against even terrorists or trained professional soldiers is not even on the same level. I mean forget about a different league.. It is a totally different sport. It is something I can't really say I understand, but it is something I admire the hell out of. that said.. putting rights of hospitality outside of the middle east ... won't make a lot of sense.... because no one else goes beyond guest gifts. – ashleylee Mar 19 '19 at 19:08
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    @weakdna: How does this NOT provide an answer? It says clearly that the law of hospitality which is ancient and sacred to the Muslim people of the middle east, does not exist anywhere else. Therefore it would not make cultural sense to have a person be protected (even in a fictional setting) in south america by a custom that does not exist outside of the muslim world. Just because you don't like an answer doesn't mean it isn't an answer. or the question wasn't fully answered. it just means you didn't like the answer. – ashleylee Mar 19 '19 at 21:06
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    @Arcanist Lupus: the law of hospitality is totally different from hospitality. almost EVERY culture in the world is hospitable (in their own way). But the LAW of Hospitality is a very specific. It basically says, if a person is a guest under your roof, that person's welfare and well being is your sacred responsibility. The law is really quite clear and defined. If a member of the host family offers you food/drink/shelter/welcome and the you accepted, you are now a guest. Even if the taliban comes knocking, every member of that host family must fight to the death to keep you safe. – ashleylee Mar 19 '19 at 21:17
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    @ashleylee This is commentary, not an answer. As it is now, the question itself appears to be off-topic. –  Mar 19 '19 at 21:57
  • I don’t know who downvoted you. A brief answer is not necessarily of low quality. Many are unfamiliar with other cultures - seems my query is getting us both in trouble. The only Muslims in my novel have nothing to do with this situation, so I cannot use what does not apply. I admire that tradition and other aspects of Islam. – Rasdashan Mar 19 '19 at 22:58
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    @ashleylee I don't appreciate your tone at all, Writing.SE isn't a space for negativity or unkind behavior. I am not attacking you as a person or trying to knock you down, I'm simply going through queues of posts that were flagged as "low-quality". Perhaps try rephrasing your post instead of putting energy into insulting people who give you feedback. –  Mar 20 '19 at 00:15
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    I don't agree with @weakdna that this isn't an answer, but I do agree that your tone is unacceptable for this site. You explained why you believe this is an answer, which is fair enough (and as I said, I take your side on that part), but then you degenerated into insults. You've been doing this ever since you started contributing here, and quite frankly, it needs to stop. – F1Krazy Mar 20 '19 at 06:48