Adversity In The Odyssey

In every piece of literature, there is an underlying theme or message, that blankets over the story. Throughout the story, the theme is brought up by clues and hints. As readers, our job, is to find the clues the author leaves, to discover the theme of the story, and the lesson to be learned. The Odyssey is a timeless piece, studied all over the world for its story of a hero’s travailing journey home, and the gurganious trials he overcomes. Many movies, tv-shows, and books have the theme and plot of a hero or heroine in peril. Much like in the movie, O Brother, Where Art Thou and The Odyssey, the main character must overcome many obstacles. Both tales also share the theme, of the importance of remaining persistent in the face of adversity. In The Odyssey, Odysseus must overcome many obstacles, to make it home to his family. Odysseus faces many monsters and gods that stand in his way. Throughout his journey he remains positive and persistent to get home. One monster Odysseus faces is Polybytes, the cyclops, even after the cyclops kills his men and locks them in his cave. Odysseus stays collective and forms a plan to escape and succeeds. Odysseus also finds his way onto two …show more content…
However, instead of facing monsters and gods, Ulysses faces his own cyclops and the KKK. One man Big Dan, the cyclops, fools Ulysses and his friends, then robs them of their money. Later in the film, Ulysses and his friends face the KKK, in an attempt to save their black friend, Tommy Johnson, from being hanged. There Ulysses and his friends fool the KKK. However, when discovered by the cyclops, Big Dan, Ulysses thinks quick on his feet, and urges his group to run. Ulysses then distracts them by throwing the KKK’s confederate flag. Then Ulysses runs and cuts the rope holding up the fiery cross, crushing Big Dan below it, and distracting the KKK long enough to get