Comparing "The Odyssey" and "O Brother Where Art Thou"

Essay by bassmann1991High School, 10th gradeA-, February 2007

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"Tell me, O muse..." (Page 1), is a quote used in the beginning of both The Odyssey and "O Brother Where Art Thou". The funny thing about this is that the directors of the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou" (Joel and Ethan Coen) never even read The Odyssey before making this film. Though not identical the movie contained several similarities to The Odyssey. Examples of these can be seen by the interactions with the sirens, encounters with one-eyed opponents and the initial shunning of our heroes by their wives upon their return.

"First you will come to the sirens, who enchant all who come near them. If anyone unwarily draws in too close and hears the singing of the Sirens, his wife and children will never welcome him home again."(Page 163)This is the warning foretold by Circe to Odysseus in The Odyssey. Circe explained to Odysseus that the only way to escape the Sirens was by putting wax in his crew's ears and having his crew tie Odysseus up to the mast of the ship until they pass the Sirens.

Odysseus follows Circes advice and passes the Sirens unscathed. Just like in The Odyssey the Sirens use their singing to lure in Everett, Pete and Delmar down by the lake in "O Brother Where Art Thou". The difference between the Sirens in the book verses the movie is that in The Odyssey, Odysseus is able to pass the sirens. In "O Brother Where Art Thou", Everett and his "crew" are unable to escape the sirens temptations. Pete was unfortunately captured and sent back to prison.

Another similarity between The Odyssey and "O Brother Where Art Thou" are the Cyclops. In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his crew lands...