O Brother, Where Art Thou is a movie that is loosely based on The Odyssey. Set in the Southern states during the Great Depression, the movie incorporates elements of the ancient epic poem into its plot. However, the relationship between O Brother, Where Art Thou and The Odyssey was not always clear to me. On the day that we started watching the movie in class, I sat in my desk scratching my head and thinking "this is based on The Odyssey?"
As we watched more of the movie, I began to notice some of the glaringly obvious parallels, such as the Sirens (who were also kind of like Circe), the Cyclops (Big Dan the con man), and Penelope (Penny). I still couldn't see the bigger picture, though. What was Everett even trying to do? Was he the hero of the movie? If so, then why was he an escaped prisoner? How did George Nelson fit into the plot of The Odyssey? (I still don't know the answer to this. I don't think he did.)
After we discussed the movie in class, I heard some of the more obscure (but still important) connections. I also realized more relationships on my own. One of the parallels that I recognized is the role of the gods in O Brother, Where Art Thou. Everett's companions, Pete and Delmar, become baptized early in the movie and believe that they have washed away all of their sins simply by jumping into a river. They are seen as relatively religious characters throughout the movie. For example, at the end of O Brother Where Art Thou, when the three main characters are about to be hanged, a flood saves them. Pete and Delmar believe that God sent the flood. Everett, on the other hand, refuses to believe in God and claims that there is a scientific explanation for everything. Everett's reasoning reminded me of Athena.
After engaging in our class discussions and ruminating on my own for a while, I think that I can finally see the connection between O Brother, Where Art Thou and The Odyssey.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Athena's Help
Twists and turns galore in books 21 and 22! As we approached the climax of the Odyssey in books 19 and 20, Athena seemed to be doing an increasing amount of work for Telemachus and Odysseus. When father and son were hiding the weapons, Athena made the room light. She also distracted Penelope when Eurycleia recognized Odysseus.
Perhaps the most significant way in which Athena helped Odysseus in books 19 and 20 was making the suitors look riotous and utterly disrespectful. That's not to say that they were behaved at the beginning of the poem; they were rude even before Athena influenced them. The difference is that in the later books, Athena made the suitors' impropriety more obvious and bothersome than ever so that Odysseus would have reason to kill them. She forced the suitors to do things that they might not have done on their own (like throwing a stool at Odysseus). Just when I thought Athena was going to win the battle for Odysseus and Telemachus, she stepped back.
During the battle in books 21 and 22, Athena watches over the fighting and encourages Odysseus, but does not directly interfere or help him in any way. The fact that Odysseus' side wins the battle without divine intervention makes Odysseus look more heroic (although if Odysseus had been in desperate need I suppose Athena would have aided him). While Athena may have helped Odysseus a great deal on his journey, it seems that there is a limit on how much she could help him so that he would be the hero.
It makes sense that Athena allowed Odysseus to finish off the suitors by himself. If she had helped him, I'm not sure how much of I hero I would have considered Odysseus.
Perhaps the most significant way in which Athena helped Odysseus in books 19 and 20 was making the suitors look riotous and utterly disrespectful. That's not to say that they were behaved at the beginning of the poem; they were rude even before Athena influenced them. The difference is that in the later books, Athena made the suitors' impropriety more obvious and bothersome than ever so that Odysseus would have reason to kill them. She forced the suitors to do things that they might not have done on their own (like throwing a stool at Odysseus). Just when I thought Athena was going to win the battle for Odysseus and Telemachus, she stepped back.
During the battle in books 21 and 22, Athena watches over the fighting and encourages Odysseus, but does not directly interfere or help him in any way. The fact that Odysseus' side wins the battle without divine intervention makes Odysseus look more heroic (although if Odysseus had been in desperate need I suppose Athena would have aided him). While Athena may have helped Odysseus a great deal on his journey, it seems that there is a limit on how much she could help him so that he would be the hero.
It makes sense that Athena allowed Odysseus to finish off the suitors by himself. If she had helped him, I'm not sure how much of I hero I would have considered Odysseus.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Trust in The Odyssey
Trust seems to be a major theme in The Odyssey. The gods frequently interfere with the lives of mortals, often disguising themselves as humans or animals. This makes it important for mortals to act carefully and to try to treat everyone with kindness. Given the fickle nature of the gods, it is also important to know when to trust them.
In the first few books, we see Odysseus unsure about whether he should trust a few goddesses. When Calypso announces that she promises to release Odysseus, he doesn't want to trust her because she has trapped him for so long and forced him to do things against his will. After setting sail from Ogygia, Odysseus becomes the victim of Poseidon's wrath. Ino offers to help him but he doesn't trust her at first because he is still cautious from his experiences with Calypso.
Another major theme in the Odyssey that is related to trust is hospitality. Whenever Odysseus and Telemachus set foot on foreign soil, they are welcomed by locals and given food and shelter without hesitation. The locals, who are sometimes complete strangers, trust Odysseus and Telemachus to be peaceful guests, while Odysseus and Telemachus expect their hosts to be friendly.
Normally host and guest get along quite well in the Odyssey, but when trust is violated by either party the results are disastrous. Some of the few examples of a violation of trust that we have encountered so far are the suitors lounging around in Odysseus' palace and Odysseus barging into the cyclops' cave. In the first example, the lazy behavior of the suitors inflames Telemachus' aversion towards them. Granted, their intentions alone are probably enough to garner ill will, but perhaps if they behaved properly Telemachus would have been less bitter towards them. In Polyphemus' case, rude guests were probably unexpected, so it is understandable that he lashed out at Odysseus (although it seemed harsh for the cyclops to devour Odysseus' crew members).
It's interesting to see how trust plays a role in the relationships between characters. This analysis can sometimes help us understand the reasons behind characters' actions.
In the first few books, we see Odysseus unsure about whether he should trust a few goddesses. When Calypso announces that she promises to release Odysseus, he doesn't want to trust her because she has trapped him for so long and forced him to do things against his will. After setting sail from Ogygia, Odysseus becomes the victim of Poseidon's wrath. Ino offers to help him but he doesn't trust her at first because he is still cautious from his experiences with Calypso.
Another major theme in the Odyssey that is related to trust is hospitality. Whenever Odysseus and Telemachus set foot on foreign soil, they are welcomed by locals and given food and shelter without hesitation. The locals, who are sometimes complete strangers, trust Odysseus and Telemachus to be peaceful guests, while Odysseus and Telemachus expect their hosts to be friendly.
Normally host and guest get along quite well in the Odyssey, but when trust is violated by either party the results are disastrous. Some of the few examples of a violation of trust that we have encountered so far are the suitors lounging around in Odysseus' palace and Odysseus barging into the cyclops' cave. In the first example, the lazy behavior of the suitors inflames Telemachus' aversion towards them. Granted, their intentions alone are probably enough to garner ill will, but perhaps if they behaved properly Telemachus would have been less bitter towards them. In Polyphemus' case, rude guests were probably unexpected, so it is understandable that he lashed out at Odysseus (although it seemed harsh for the cyclops to devour Odysseus' crew members).
It's interesting to see how trust plays a role in the relationships between characters. This analysis can sometimes help us understand the reasons behind characters' actions.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
What Makes a Hero: Morality in the Odyssey
What makes a hero? Great physical strength? Sharp wits? Super powers? These are probably some of the first qualities that come to mind at the mention of a hero. While heroes are known for saving others using their superhuman powers, it is important to remember that they must also be morally upright. After all, if heroes did not have kind hearts they probably would not risk their lives to help people. We are also more likely to root for heroes if they seem good-natured.
In The Odyssey, the gods constantly interfere with mortals, sometimes helping and sometimes harming the non-divine. The gods dole out punishments to mortals who have disrespected them but also aid their favorite humans on quests. Poseidon could control the seas at will and Zeus could effortlessly marshall thunder. Both could easily strike down whomever they chose to target. Although Zeus, Poseidon, and the other ancient Greek gods had a lot of power, we don't usually think of them as heroes. For one thing, they were more morally corrupt than the average human. Many gods had juggled multiple affairs at the same time. The gods were also notorious for being easily offended and reacting overly bitterly to the pettiest of offenses. In the Odyssey, Calypso is quite obviously immoral because she forces Odysseus to become her lover even though she knows that he already has a wife. Poseidon would like to kill Odysseus for blinding his son.
Normally the characters we consider heroes are mortals who have been helped by gods. The gods supply the humans with ample strength and wit while the humans naturally have acceptable moral standards. This makes heroic mortals similar to gods without moral corruption. In a way, this makes heroes seem heroes are more perfect than the ancient Greek gods. Odysseus is gifted with cleverness from Athena and is able to shape-shift as needed with her help. What sets Odysseus apart from the gods (besides his mortality) is that he is morally pure. He could have easily stayed with Calypso, but he chose to remain faithful to Penelope. Odysseus' morality makes him a likable hero.
In The Odyssey, the gods constantly interfere with mortals, sometimes helping and sometimes harming the non-divine. The gods dole out punishments to mortals who have disrespected them but also aid their favorite humans on quests. Poseidon could control the seas at will and Zeus could effortlessly marshall thunder. Both could easily strike down whomever they chose to target. Although Zeus, Poseidon, and the other ancient Greek gods had a lot of power, we don't usually think of them as heroes. For one thing, they were more morally corrupt than the average human. Many gods had juggled multiple affairs at the same time. The gods were also notorious for being easily offended and reacting overly bitterly to the pettiest of offenses. In the Odyssey, Calypso is quite obviously immoral because she forces Odysseus to become her lover even though she knows that he already has a wife. Poseidon would like to kill Odysseus for blinding his son.
Normally the characters we consider heroes are mortals who have been helped by gods. The gods supply the humans with ample strength and wit while the humans naturally have acceptable moral standards. This makes heroic mortals similar to gods without moral corruption. In a way, this makes heroes seem heroes are more perfect than the ancient Greek gods. Odysseus is gifted with cleverness from Athena and is able to shape-shift as needed with her help. What sets Odysseus apart from the gods (besides his mortality) is that he is morally pure. He could have easily stayed with Calypso, but he chose to remain faithful to Penelope. Odysseus' morality makes him a likable hero.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)