Relations Between The Odyssey and O

Brother Where Art Thou?

Note : Page & Line Numbers Excluded (Mobile Version)
It is clearly evident that O Brother Where Art Thou? is indeed based
off of the heroic novel, The Odyssey. Besides the noticeable statement at
the exposition of the film Based upon The Odyssey by Homer, there
are a set of characters in which we see similar traits to those of The
Odyssey, events in the picture film mirror those in the epic poem, and the
general statements that both stories are attempting to make are similar.
Furthermore, the relations between the film and the novel are in no way
vague. On the contrary, even with the lack of an opening credit to identify
their relation, it would have been simple to notice that the two are
related.

A majority of the characters in The Odyssey can be identified in O

Brother Where Art Thou. Ulysses Everett McGill, our protagonist, has his
noticeable

counterpart,

Odysseus.

Both

characters

show

leadership

qualities, and both experience similar feelings of dread and fear due to
their inability to return to their wives and return home. Pete and Delmar
play the role of Odysseus men, as they stick by his side. Character wise,
both Pete and Delmar make stupid mistakes, much like Odysseus men,
but they truly do assist in Odysseus survival and well being. Another
identifiable similarity between two characters was Big Dan and the
Cyclops. Physically, Big Dan is blinded in one eye, much like Polyphemus.
Both of their traits include, delaying the protagonists return, attempting

to murder the protagonist, and being greedy overall. Through these

physical and mental traits, we can obviously come to the conclusion that
Big Dan represents Polyphemus, the cyclops.

After viewing the movie, we can notice many comparisons in the

events that occur.

The general story is related to a heros journey, and

due to Ulysses honorable traits, it is arguable that hes a hero as well.

Additionally, there are minor events that occur in both plots. For example,
when Odysseus and his men come upon the sirens,

they fall into a

different mental state that causes their entrapment. This mirrors the
events in O Brother Where Art Thou? since the sirens (women) lure them
in and entrap Pete. Another distinct event that can be found in both plots,
are the Lotus Eaters / Baptists and their enchantment / baptism. Even
though Ulysses, Delmar, and Pete are not ultimately trapped or confined
by the baptists, they are tricked into believing that their baptism will clear
their sins much like Odysseus and his men were tricked into believing the
Lotus Eaters were offering them more food than they could imagine. All in
all, the two may have their slight differences, but theres no doubt the
occurings in both stories were similar.

Following the movie, the similarities were quite overwhelming. The

similarities between The Odyssey and O Brother Where Art Thou? were
not difficult to recognize. Eventually, both plots led to the return of a hero
and his enlightenment. Even though Odysseus doesnt have as much of a

happy ending as Ulysses, he gets back home, and for an adventurer,

thats all that matters.