Everett And Odysseus In The Odyssey

The Odyssey is a famous epic poem written by Homer. The main character, Odysseus, is a suffering wandering hero, “a man of constant sorrow”. After spending ten years away from home fighting in the Trojan War, he spends the next ten years trying to return home to his family. Along the way he is put through numerous trials by the gods and faces hardship after hardship, before finally returning home. O Brother, Where Art Thou? Is a movie set in Mississippi during the great depression and it is loosely based on The Odyssey. The main character, Ulysses Everett McGill, is also a man of constant sorrow. He escapes from jail to return home to his family and faces danger and hardship on the way home. Everett and Odysseus both face similar problems such as: women who sing and try to seduce the hero, a large one eyed man who tries to kill or hurt the hero and his crew, and upon their return home, men who are trying to marry the hero’s wife. Odysseus and Everett are both suffering wandering heroes who face many similar problems, but they have many differences, the most prominent being that Everett is a dynamic character, while Odysseus is static. Odysseus is a prime example of a “man of constant sorrow”. Odysseus goes to Troy to save Helen when she is taken by Paris, where he proves himself as a cunning, strong, and brave warrior. After a ten year war, the Greeks save Helen and depart for home. …show more content…
Both characters embark on a long journey home, travel a far distance, and meet many obstacles along their way. Everett and Odysseus each encounter a large one eyed man who tries to beat them up, sirens who sing a beautiful song to try to entice them, and upon their return, they must pass a test and defeat their wife’s suitors to win back their wife. The two epic heroes, Odysseus and Ulysses Everett McGill, are wandering heroes, “men of constant sorrow” who face many obstacles and hardships on their return