Heros_in_the_Odyssey

The character, Everett, in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, is parallel to Odysseus, in the Odyssey. The two heroes have a lot in common, including their demonstration of loyalty and cleverness. In lines 6-10 of book 1 of the Odyssey it states, “He saw the townlands and learned the minds of many distant men, and weathered many bitter nights and days in his deep heart at sea, while he fought only to save his life, to bring his shipmates home.” This quote is a wonderful example of the loyalty Odysseus has to his friends and his people. Odysseus also shows loyalty to the gods and to his family. When Odysseus is with the sea nymph Kalypso, she offers him immortality to stay with her. Although he is not perfect and does sleep with Kalypso, he gives it all up for his family and home. He never looses hope during his journey home even when the toughest obstacles comes along. This shows the truest form of loyalty. Odysseus is also a very clever man who uses his intelligence to get out of sticky situations. He comes up with the idea of the Trojan horse and diguises himself as a beggar to get into the city of Troy. Hiding under the bellies of sheep, he and his men escape from Polythemus. These are all examples of ways Odysseus crafty and cunning. Odysseus also notes his audience whenever he speaks, and knows how to speak to all different people so as to get his way. For example, when he lands on Scheria, the land of the Phaeakians he meets the princess, Nausicaa. He compliments her and makes her feel pity for him. She gives him food, clothing, and directions to the palace. Once he gets to the palace, he talks to Queen Arete using a different style of speach. He doesn't use pity or compliments as much as he begs for mercy. Everett, like Odysseus, shows an abundance of loyalty to his friends and to his wife, whom he breaks out of jail for. Yes, Everett does trick Pete and Delmar into coming with him in the beginning with the promise of treasure, but as time goes on, the bond between the three grows into a strong friendship that Everett honors. He is a faithful friend as shown when he and Delmar rescue Pete from jail. Everett could have easily decided to not waste the time or take the risk, but he did out of loyalty to his friend. Everett shows loyalty to his family when he escapes from jail and risks being sent back for the rest of his life just to keep his beloved wife from remarrying. Everett shows his cleverness when he uses disguises to save Tommy from the KKK and to get into the dinner party to see his wife. He is also smart when he tricks the blind man in charge of the radio into giving them more money. Wrong, but smart. Both Odysseus and Everett have the desire to get home no matter what it takes. Both the men love their wives very much and have a child that they have never met. Odysseus cries on Igygia with Kalypso almost every night because he misses Penelope. Both Odysseus and Everett put their lives on the line in many situations to return home to their loved ones. Odysseus endures dozens of days at sea with and without his crew. He fights for his love constantly. He almost gets eaten by a Cyclops, gets attacked by the Kikones, resists the temptation of the lotus fruits, escapes a sea monster named Schylla, and a the massive whirlpool, Kharybdis. His life is at risk countless times, but he doesn't care because all he wants is to be back home. Everett also risks his life to journey home to his family. Breaking out of jail will cause him to be put in jail for almost his entire life if he gets caught again. Everett and his friends could have easily been killed by the KKK for interrupting the ceremony. It was only luck that they escaped that. Both the men went through severe hardships as they persisted on their voyage home. This won them respect and a successful campaign. Odysseus and Everett are the heroes of their stories and have much in common. Based on the two characters, a hero is one who sacrifices for others because of love, and is someone who you can trust will be successful in their goals through their loyalty, cleverness, persistence.