I have seen O Brother, Where Art Though? a few times since it was released. I have always found it humorous and enjoyed the movie. Watching it after reading the Odyssey brought new meaning to the film for me. I found the movie to be much smarter than I previously recognized. The parallel story structure with the Odyssey had me waiting for the next metaphor.
From the prophecy, the journey, the trials and adventures along the way to the reunion the movie and book followed a mans return to his home and family.
When the three men in the movie Everett, Pete and Delmar escape from prison they run into a man on a railroad cart. The man is blind and states a prophecy to the three men, he tells them they will be taking a voyage and there will be obstacles and suffering along their way. He also tells them they need to restrain themselves while they travel. This seems
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There is a fistfight with the suitor in the movie and the book. When he sees his wife, she keeps claiming that he died and that he is not her husband but a drifter. He dresses up in a disguise at the concert hall to get close and talk to her, she does not acknowledge that he is her husband until the disguise is off, the suitor has been discredited and the crowd has accepted him. This was very in tune with Odysseus’s return to Penelope and his taking a disguise and then her not recognizing him.
Some of the similarities were more overt and were thrown into the movie at will. The candidate opposing the governor for reelection was named Homer and there were posters with his name in the movie. At one point one of the characters talks about the braintrust being the power behind the throne, to me this seemed a reference to the gods. They pray often to god for forgiveness, thinking this will help with their misfortune. The sheriff also tells them that the law is a human institution another reference that the gods are really in
Most people have fixed concept that modern day films and Medieval Greek Epic poems differ a lot as if they are black and white, but the film O Brother, Where Art Thou and the story of The Odyssey are both parallel and perpendicular. O Brother, Where Art Thou and The Odyssey portray their story on the same path, yet on the branched path.
The similarities between the movie and the book are revealed in the whole story. In the first place, either the movie or the book, both starts with an invocation to the Musse, the goddesses of literature, science, and art in the Greek mythology. For instance, the book begins with an invocation to the daughter of Zeus ‘’ Tell me, O muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy’’; the invocation is appealing for the story of a man that have travelled and fight with bravery (Homer, The Odyssey, p. 4, Book I). The movie also starts with an invocation; ‘’Oh Muse! Sing in me, and trough me tell the story of that man skilled in all the ways of contending, a wanderer, harried
Time has not become the conqueror for the classical epic poem The Odyssey. For the past 2,500 years it has been turning its pages for many people all around the world, classifying it as the Western literary tradition. Even in the 21st century The Odyssey is still depicting its prominence when the film O Brother, Where Art Thou was directed in 2000 by loosely portraying the epic. The Coen Brothers’ film O Brother, Where Art Thou mirrors themes, motifs, and symbols from Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. Both creative works recount the twists and turns of a man’s journey home. But was it a relevant successful relation between the two? I tend to think so. The movie O Brother, Where
Is Odysseus, the main character of Homer’s The Odyssey, really an epic hero? An epic hero embodies several heroic traits such as; having superior or super-human strength; being intellectual and courageous; and being a strong and responsible leader. An epic hero struggles and is overwhelmed with difficulties. An epic hero is on a quest of self discovery, war or some sort of goal. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is on a quest to return home to Ithaca after ten years of war in Troy. Odysseus, during his quest, is forced to venture through a merciless Cyclops, angered Gods, deeply obstinate Goddesses, the underworld, and determined suitors that are after his wife Penelope. Odysseus surmounts
In both Homer’s The Odyssey and the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? the audience is given an opportunity to experience a spectacular adventure, filled with not only the sense of journey, but also the senses of peril and excitement. A tale about a Greek hero being compared to a film set in Middle America starring three jail-escapees seems rather far-fetched. However, upon closer inspection, both actually share a lot in common. The Odyssey stars Odysseus, a man famous for his heroics in the Trojan War. O Brother, Where Art Thou? shows a bit of a contrast by starring Ulysses, a former convict who escaped and began looking for “A Treasure”. So by default, one would assume that that these two stories would be completely different. However, it
Many think being a hero is having super powers, but on the contrary it's more than that. A hero is one who is distinguished for their courage and bravery, and looked upon for their great deeds. A hero like this is not just found in modern society today, but in mythology as well. In the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, Odysseus earns the title of a true hero by conveying many qualities such as: determination, courage and leadership.
A hero accepts who he is as an individual, but strives to change himself for the better. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, the main character Odysseus is a valiant king who embarks on a life-changing voyage. While traveling from Troy back to his home in Ithaka, King Odysseus overcomes daunting obstacles, and in doing so discovers his place in the world. Odysseus is truly a heroic figure because he demonstrates courage, improves his character, and wins the support of the gods.
In homer's Odyssey the main character Odysseus is a person who only tries to help himself. Although he earns the trust of his men while in Troy, he loses it on his perilous journey home. Many times in the epic he manipulates others, commits foolish acts and is full of hubris. He tries to take shortcuts and as a result of this is men are killed and his boats destroyed. He plays with the lives of his men and he is punished for it. Odysseus is not a hero because, he is foolish, lacks faithfulness and is consumed by his Hubris and selfishness.
One of the major themes of Homer’s Odyssey is the importance of cunning over strength. This also happens to be the case with Odysseus and his long ten year journey home from fighting in Troy. Odysseus uses his intelligence over strength to ‘fight’ through tough times and bring himself home to Ithaca. Odysseus uses his intelligence when he has his men tie him down while passing the Sirens, so he himself will be able to hear their beautiful song, but not be entranced by their singing. He also uses cunning to escape from the Cyclops’ cave without being harmed. He then uses his cunning by storing away all of the armory, shields, and knives from the suitors so he is able to kill them easily.
Often through great literature, there is an epic hero. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the journey of one man’s journey home from the Trojan War. The protagonist of the epic poem Odysseus is often regarded as a great hero. However, Odysseus is not quite the glorious soldier that people often see him as. Odysseus shows that he is an antihero through his pride, disloyalty, and bloodthirstiness.
The film O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a reinterpretation of the epic poem The Odyssey. The Coen brothers, writers and directors of the film, did not over analyze their representation. “It just sort of occurred to us after we’d gotten into it somewhat that it was a story about someone going home, and sort of episodic in nature, and it kind of evolved into that,” says Joel Coen in Blood Siblings, “It’s very loosely and very sort of unseriously based on The Odyssey” (Woods 32). O Brother, Where Art Thou? contains ideas from The Odyssey for the sake of modernization and entertainment of an audience that comprehends the allusions to the epic. The Coen brothers utilize elements of Homer’s The Odyssey to improve and to give direction to O
The movie O Brother, Where Art Thou is a wonderful movie that was directed by the Coen brothers. The movie features a cast of talented actors, the movie has also won several awards. The book The Odyssey is a timeless classic and it was written by the mysterious bard Homer. The book tells the tale of our hero Odysseus as he attempts to make it home to his wife. There are many ways to relate the movie plot and characters, to Odysseus's journey in The Odyssey.
Odysseus is the main character in an epic poem called the Odyssey. In the poem Odysseus has had some bad luck getting home, with some of the gods helping him and some hindering him; his journey towards home is a constant struggle. In this poem we see a man being broke and rebuilt, through constant irony his faith was damaged and without the help of Athena he probably would have given up on his journey. Through his hard work and wise spirit he finally does achieve his goal.
Often through great literature, there is an epic hero. In the Odyssey, Homer tells the journey of one man’s journey home from the Trojan War. The protagonist of the epic poem Odysseus is often regarded as a great hero. However, Odysseus is not quite the glorious soldier that people often see him as. Odysseus disproves his title of a hero through his pride, his disloyalty, and his bloodthirstiness.
Jesse Jackson stated, “If you fall behind, run faster. Never give up, never surrender, and rise up against the odds.” (Brainyquote.com) this quote can be applied to real life or fiction. Jeannette, Bo, and Odysseus embody this quote in their existence. All three of these characters have situations in their lives where at least one person has put them down and are adamant that they cannot fulfill the goals that they have set for themselves. Odysseus from The Odyssey, Jeannette Walls from The Glass Castle, and Bo Brewster from Ironman are characters who, when told they can’t achieve what they are striving for, each have at least one person who sincerely believes that they can accomplish their goal.