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The movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? is strikingly similar to Homers Odyssey in both plot and character description. In fact, one critic notes, O Brother Where Art Thou? is a Homeric journey through Mississippi during the Depression. (Ebert p 1) Thus, we find the modern film depiction of the troubles of a man during the depression is molded by the ancient struggles of Odysseus in Homers Odyssey. Specifically, three parallels surface in the discussion of the similarities between Homers classic epic and O Brother Where Art Thou?
The Cyclops encounter for instance, is transcendent between both works. Furthermore, each story contains a comparable perspective of the Lotus Eaters. Finally, the strongest parallel between the Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou? is the mystical call of the Sirens and the powers of the witch goddess Circe. The Cyclops encounter is transcendent between both works. The Cyclops, in the Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou?
has obvious physical traits that connect the two pieces of work. The Cyclops in each story is a large man, who only has one eye. One website describe the Cyclopes race as, a rough and uncivilized race of one-eyed giants. (Spark notes p 1) Odysseus describe the giant as, A prodigious man who slept in his cave alone, and took his flocks to graze afield -- -remote from all companions, knowing none but savage ways, a brute so huge. (Wilkie p 378) The encounter of the Cyclops shows a great similarity in both of these stories. Odysseus, the main character of the Odyssey and Ulysses, the main character of O Brother, Where Art Thou? are taken from of state of tranquility and savagely attacked.
As described by Odysseus, So there all day, until the sun went down, we made our feast on meat galore, and wine. (p 377) This quote describes Odysseus and his men relaxing and enjoying a feast. Quite similar in O Brother Where Art Thou, Ulysses was enjoying a picnic when the savage Cyclops attacked him. When Ulysses and Odysseus were about to enjoy a peaceful day they are overtaken by the Cyclops either imprisoned or robbed. Both Ulysses and Odysseus mentality of a warrior allows them to fight back and eventually defeat the Cyclops. In each story an attempt to blind the creature offers a distraction for each character to escape from the Cyclops. Secondly, each story contains a similar perspective of the Lotus Easters.
When you eat the intoxicating fruit of the lotus, as described in the Odyssey, the thought of home, purpose of voyage, and memories of the past are no longer important. Odysseus and his men arrive at the land of the Lotus-Eaters and become addicted and drawn to the fruit. They are so leered to the fruit, that it becomes a mindless obsession. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
becomes parallel to the story of the Lotus-Eaters when Ulysses and his men are baptized. Websters dictionary defines baptism as, the Christian sacrament of sin and spiritual rebirth as a Christian. Both the Odyssey and O Brother Where Art Thou? describe a rebirth and new thinking. The things of the past are no longer important. Rebirth of the soul and becoming filled with the spirit are identical to the intoxication of the fruit.
Therefore, the producers of O Brother, Where Art Thou? are describing baptisms as a new beginning and new thought, then comparing it to the lotus eaters of the Odyssey. Finally, the strongest parallel between the Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou? is the mystical call of the Sirens and the powers of the witch-goddess Circe. This parallel is the strongest element of comparison because it is very similar how each story describes the Sirens. Odysseus is told in the Odyssey, Square in your ships path are the Sirens, crying beauty to bewitch men coasting by. (p 421) Both Ulysses and Odysseus use wax to avoid the Sirens.
Ulysses hair smelling of wax, (hair wax) and Odysseus instructing his men to put wax in their ears is enough to avoid the Sirens seductive song in each story. Avoiding the Sirens allows both Ulysses and Odysseus to continue on their purpose of journey, to get home. Another striking similarity is the witch goddess of Circe. In the Odyssey, Circe turns one of Odysseus men into a pig.
Parallel to the Homeric epic, one of Ulysses men was supposedly turned into a frog. These two strong parallels sum up an obvious influence of Homeric work in O Brother, Where Art Thou? The movie O Brother Where Art Thou? is strikingly similar to Homers Odyssey, in both plot and character description. Specifically, three parallels surface in the discussion of the similarities between the Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou? The Cyclops encounter for instance, is transcendent between both works.
Furthermore, each story contains a similar perspective of the Lotus Eaters. Finally, the strongest parallel between the Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou? is the mystical call of the Sirens and the powers of the witch-goddess Circe. Thus, we find the modern film depiction of the trouble of a man during the depression is being shaped by the ancient struggles of Odysseus in Homers Odyssey.
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Research essay sample on Odyssey And O Brother Where Art Thou Compared
