& The Odyssey& The Odyssey

The Gods Must Be Crazy:The Gods Must Be Crazy:

• Everett Ulysses McGill and his “crew,” Delmar and Pete are sprung from a chain gang and try to reach Everett’s home

• Along the way the are confronted by a series of strange characters

• O Brother Overview:

• Oh, Brother Where Art Thou– Odyssey’s Influence • The opening credits state

the film is based on The Odyssey by Homer.

• Director’s Quote:

– “It just sort of occurred to us after we’d gotten into it somewhat that it was a story about someone going home, and sort of episodic in nature, and it kind of evolved into that. It’s very loosely and very sort of unseriously based on The Odyssey.”

• The Odyssey’s Influence on the Film:

• While the overall plot is only vaguely similar to that of the Odyssey, there are certain "episodes" that closely mirror the film's classical influence.

• The beginning of the film repeats Homer’s famous words,, "O Muse! Sing in me, and through me tell the story...",

• Direct Connections– Names & Characters

• Ulysses

– the Latin form of the Greek name Odysseus

– the first name of the film's protagonist, Ulysses Everett McGill

– Both Odysseus and Everett share can be conceited

– Both have some cleverness and leadership ability

• Penelope – Odysseus’ wife– Penny, a shortened

version of Penelope, is the name of Everett’s wife.

– Has been waiting for Everett like Penelope has waited for Odysseus

– Penny, however, does not share the same dogged loyalty that Penelope showed waiting for Odysseus to return

• The Suitors – The Suitors attempt to steal Odysseus’ wife and kingdom

– Vernon symbolizes the suitors waiting to marry Penelope

• Menelaus – The King of Sparta, who fought alongside Odysseus at Troy.

– Menelaus "Pappy" O'Daniel Menelaus

– "Pappy" O'Daniel, who pardons the Soggy Bottom Boys at the end of the film

• Homer – Author of the classical text.

– Pappy O'Daniel's challenger in the election is Homer Stokes

– Since it is an election the effect of naming a candidate Homer is simple: the name “Homer” can be seen throughout on election materials

• The Sirens – Sirens attempt to seduce sailors with their beautiful song

– Washing women try to seduce Ulysses and his men

– Perhaps the most obvious connection between the film and the epic

• Tiresias

• The Cyclops

– The blind prophet that guides Odysseus on his journey home to Ithaca

– The Blind Seer (railroad hobo) is Tiresias, the blind ghost prophet.

– Polyphemus, one-eyed son of Poseidon

– Daniel "Big Dan" Teague, with his one good eye, is an allusion to Polyphemus

– Like Polyphemus, Big Dan becomes violent in the film

• Cattle of the Sun God

• Poseidon

• Helios’ cattle, who Odysseus and his crew kill and, as a result, are killed by a thunderbolt

• George Nelson shoots at a herd of cattle and is sent to be executed in the electric chair.

• The god of the sea; continually puts barriers in front of Odysseus to prevent his return home

• The merciless sheriff is analogous to the god Poseidon, who torments Odysseus and prolongs his journey home.

• The Lotus Eaters

• Circe

– An island where the eaters of the lotus plant have no will, no control

– Represented by the congregation walking trancelike to be baptized.

– The witch-goddess turns half of Odysseus’ crew into pigs

– Everett and Delmar wake up to find Pete missing; Delmar is convinced Pete has been transformed into a frog.

• Disguise

• Triumphant Return

• Everett has to enter the dinner party in disguise to avoid detection. This parallels when Odysseus had to enter his own palace disguised as a beggar.

• While Odysseus strings his bow and shoots its arrow through the axe handles

• The Soggy Bottom Boys return a musical sensation