Odyssey and O' Brother in the Course Essay

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Odyssey and O' Brother

In the course of human history, one of the interesting things about past literature is the way the heroic appears again and again. In fact, this appearance becomes an archetype in that we see very similar themes in literature, religion, mythology, and culture. This is perhaps because as humans we have the need to explain and explore the unknown, but also because we tend to psychologically need a guide through the complexities of life. The idea of the hero as a role model for behavior, in fact, is so tied to human culture that one need only look at popular culture -- television and motion pictures for certain, to epitomize the need for particular story themes to remain popular. Whatever the genre -- science fiction, fantasy, western, war, even politics -- the classic nature of human values become clear when one continues to see the character traits of the hero through a series of tasks, through personal and character flaws, and finally through the triumph of the human spirit and the restoration of good (until the next story) (Voytilla). One of the major functions of myth, then, is to establish models for behavior. The figures often described in myth are sacred and are the worthy role model for humans. Myths then not only entertain, they function to uphold current societal and cultural attributes that are considered valuable. We see quest, revenge, heroic behavior, fate, etc.

One such example is between Homer's Odyssey and the Coen Brothers movie, O Brother, Where Art Thou? There are certainly obvious comparisons in the underlying plot, the idea of a quest, certain names and even plot developments. Some are incredibly apparent, some less so, but it makes it interesting to transpose a tale from the Ancient World into the middle of rural Mississippi during the Great Depression.

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Above all, what seems most interesting is the manner in which the trials and tribulations of the Ancient Greeks, so representative in culture and history, translate so well 2,000 years later.

Of course, the most obvious similarity is the name of the title character, Ulysses; and in O Brother, he is Ulysses Everett McGill, who escapes prison and must undergo trials and tribulations (an epic journey) in order to become free and actualized. It is who he meets upon his way, and the issues that he encounters that form the basis of the epic.

The other most obvious, and commented upon, similarity is the way women are the temptresses in the journey. In The Odyssey, the sirens are special Sea creature who live on an isolated island. They had the gift of being very seductive -- each sailor who was passing became enchanted by their voices and the ship either crashed or the sailor was condemned to stay in their island forever and die. In fact, all over the island are bones of the dead. Ulysses and his sailors encounter the Sirens on their way back to Ithaca. Ulysses was prepared, though, and had wax put in his ears and asked his crew to tie him to the mast and ignore his pleading.

In O Brother, the Sirens are three dangerous ladies that bewitch as well, but the three fall prey to their charms. Pete, Ulysseses' travelling companion, is then caught by the police. And, like the original Sirens who can turn sailors into pigs, Delmar (another travelling companion) and Everett….....

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