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Comparison of The Odyssey and O Brother Where Art Thou

 

            The epic work of Homer entitled The Odyssey has transcended its ideals of individualism, jealously, religion, and the intrinsic and universal aspects of being human throughout time and has paved the way for an abundance of other movies and stories to embody the same nature as itself. In the year 2000, the movie, O Brother Where Art Thou, was released as an adaptation of Homer's classic novel The Odyssey. Even though O Brother Where Art Thou is not a complete reincarnation of the original masterpiece, there are still a vast amount of similarities between the two works of art.
             Throughout the movie, there are quite a few similarities between the plots, themes, and characters of the book but they are looked upon in a more "liberal" kind of way (this liberal way will be explain later). For example, the main character of the movie is Everett Ulysses. It is widely known that Ulysses is the Roman name version of Odysseus. In the beginning of the movie, we are introduced to two other characters besides Everett. These two people are named Pete and Delmar. Everett has promised Pete and Delmar that if they help him escape the chain gang in which they are confined to, he will in return provide them with treasures. This is a very important comparison between the movie and the book. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is looked upon as someone who was very skilled with his tongue. In the movie, we also see that Ulysses is also skilled with his tongue because he tricks Pete and Delmar into helping him escape by promising them treasures when in all actuality there was no treasure and his real motive was to get home to his wife Penny. .
             Another comparison between the two stories is in storytelling by the prophets. In the movie, after Everett, Pete, and Delmar escape the chain gang, they find themselves on a railroad cart with a man is only known as "No Name." He tells them of the journey that they are about to embark upon as well as the hardships and loss of fortune that they will encounter.


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