Ulysses Everett McGill from “O Brother Where Art Thou” is a man of action whereas Odysseus from “The Odyssey” is a man of morality. Judging primarily on these statements, whom appears to be a man that one should follow? Many are attempting to justify how can two such great leaders be compared to one another? Everett is a worthy representation of Odysseus because of their similar attributes such as boasting and dishonesty. Yet at times both can be braver than any other, sharing not only attributes, but also similar backgrounds as well.
Correspondingly Everett and Odysseus are crowers, braggers, who want to feel superior to their dumbfounded crew. They both want to prove they are superior in knowledge and imagine their excessive pride to lead the group. For example while Everett, Delmar, Pete are strolling down the dirt path while discussing the long journey ahead of them; Everett makes them feel like lower-class people. He uses unusual diction showing he is more educated, and a proper leader for the trio, but also leading us to the conclusion he is a bit of bragger. Delmar and Pete feel like underdogs but do not challenge Everett’s decisions to lead the group. Odysseus’ actions mirror Everett’s actions during his escape from Cyclops Polyphemus on his heroic journey. Using his intelligence Odysseus gets his men, and himself out the atrocious Cyclops’ lair. Even after escaping, and nearing death he chose to boast to the giant causing his squad to bitterly curse him, ‘“God sake, Captain! Why bait the beast again? Let him alone!’”… Odysseus continuing ignoring his men, “…if mortal man ever inquire how you were put to shame and blinded, tell him Odysseus, raider of cities took your eye,”’ (ix. 416-419; 408-409). Without shame Odysseus...
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...or that awaited them, Odysseus decided not to inform his crew saving them from panic. “Odysseus decides to tell his men only of Circe’s warnings about the Sirens, whom they will soon encounter. He is fairly sure that they can survive this if he keeps their spirits up.” (xi. Summary pg.1234). Odysseus’ lie saves the group from panic, temporarily, but will cause death of six members of his crew making the matter worse. Not only betrayal in this situation will cause the lack of trust within the group, but also the loss of credibility.
Everett and Odysseus have been compared by many, and now it can justified that their characteristics, and experiences are analogous. To sum up that these men are so alike they both boast, are braver than many or so when they choose to be, and can be dishonest at times, manifest that Everett is in fact a worthy representation of Odysseus.
Everett has many challenges like Odysseus, but they are not exactly the same. For instance, instead of Poseiden coming after him, he has the sheriff. The sheriff is being compared to Poseiden in an ironic way because he uses fire while Poseiden uses water. He also faces a Polyphemus, but instead of a cyclopes it is a guy with one eye named Big Dan T. He does not defeat him like Odysseus, instead the human cyclopes beats them with a stick and takes all of their money and their car.
The great Odysseus from “The Odyssey” & Forrest Gump were both great heroes, each in their unique way. However, although they were two totally different people, they shared characteristics of a hero. They both protected the people they love. They would do anything and face anything to ensure their safety. They also remained loyal to their special one. Both men shared heroic traits of a true hero, such as loyalty, courageousness, & protecting.
Odysseus and Ullysseus Everett McGill are similar characters because of their perseverance, cleverness, and their leadership abilities. In The Odyssey, Odysseus portrays an important trait to the story, perseverance. His perseverance really stands out as something that he has and always will have. On his long journey home, he never gives up and just stays where he is, no matter how tempting.
Although some could possibly call Odysseus, the protagonist of Homer’s The Odyssey, a great leader, the fact that he fails to earn his men’s respect, endangers his men’s lives repeatedly and allows them to die due to his own selfishness states otherwise.
The main characters of each work are automatically associated with each other by their names, but they also share similar personalities and characteristics. Odysseus is a wily hero of the Trojan War who uses his deceptive...
Throughout the whole book he is having his men go and do crazy things that make them risk, and some even lose, their lives. After Odysseus offends Poseidon by harming the cyclops he started taunting the cyclops. One of his men scream, “God Sake Captain! Why bait the beast again? Let him alone!” (493-494). This is showing that he was “baiting the beast” again and putting his men in even more danger after he just saved his life and all of theirs. Odysseus also puts his men in danger by not telling them about Scylla. He doesn’t tell his men that six of them are going to die. Odysseus says, “Voices came down on me in distinguish, calling my name for the last time,” ((820-821). This is showing that Odysseus just put his men in even more danger plus he isn’t fighting for his men. Odysseus was such a bad leader to his
Odysseus displays his desire for glory through his careless actions during his encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus. The desire for glory Odysseus displays is shown through the words he speaks to Polyphemus. He is a clever character but makes rash decisions that affect the outcome of his original goals and intentions. While Odysseus is trapped inside of the cave of the Cyclops, he begins to taunt Polyphemus. “I called back to the Cyclops, stinging taunts: So, Cyclops, no weak coward it was whose crew you bent to devour three in your vaulted cave—with your brute voice! Filthy crimes came down on your own head, you shameless cannibal” (Fagles, 226). Odysseus was insulting the Cyclops, and those insults caused the rage of the monster to boil over. The Cyclops was already angry with Odysseus blinding him, and was even more demoralized and angry when Odysseus began to taunt him. As Odysseus goes on with his insults and as his anger rises, he says, “Cyclops—if any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed—say Odysseus, raider of cities, he gouged out your eye, La...
From the analysis above, although he never fully matches Odysseus either in wisdom or courage, we cannot deny their highly resemblance in initiative, sensitivity and socialization. Influenced by his father not only by hearing the great deeds spread by people but also fight with him for vengeance, he follows his father’s step and comes to his manhood.
Odysseus uses his brain to sail past the Sirens without being entranced by their sweet song. A Siren is a bird-woman who bewitches everyone that approaches. The Siren women sing a seductive song. Their song has many powers. As Nugent says “as in the days of the musician Orpheus, music still has power to soothe the savage beast, to ally anxiety, and to connect with the divine through contemplation” (Nugent 45-54). Circe tells Odysseus, “There is no homecoming for the man who draws near them unawares and hears the Siren’s voices” (Homer XII, 40). . Odysseus follows the advice Circe gave him to put beeswax in his men’s ears so they will not be entranced. Odysseus then tells his men “but she instructed me alone to hear their voices…”(XII, 160), when, truthfully, Circe states, “But if you wish to listen yourself, make them bind you hand and foot on board and place you upright by the housing of the mast, with the rope’s ends lashed to the mast itself”(XII, 49). In this way, Odysseus is being selfish only wishes to know the Siren’s sing so he will...
This tale coincides with the times in Greece. This was a time that art and Philosophy were extremely important and respected by the people. Odysseus was a new type of hero that didn’t win by overpowering his opponents, but by using his mind to outwit them. Manners also seemed to play an important role to Odysseus, as he was learned to be polite and generous to strangers and in the end punished those who weren’t.
Odysseus is a peculiar mix of both heroic and intelligent qualities that make him seem both human and supernatural. The Odysseus portrayed in the Iliad somewhat contrasts the Odysseus we see in the Odyssey. For the p...
...es and Odysseus, must always be a brave and powerful warrior and a loyal friend to those he loves. Achilles is far more limited in his range of feeling than Odysseus, but within that narrow range he finally acquits himself honorably. Odysseus, the great "everyman" hero of classical literature, seeks the widest range of experience and adventure possible, but finally triumphs over life by returning to the comforts of home and family.
In The Odyssey, Homer, or more so, the characters, often referred to Odysseus as the ‘Great Odysseus’. In the text, it is obvious to see that Odysseus demonstrates arrogance, charisma, over-confidence, and pride. Odysseus and his m...
Homer’s The Odyssey is a Greek story that follows the journey of its primary character, Odysseus, back to his home in Ithaca after the Trojan War. Odysseus encounters many challenges in his journey home, from encounters with Polyphemus the Cyclops, the witch Circe and even the ghosts of dead Greeks. Meanwhile, his household in Ithaca is being threatened by suitors of his wife, Penelope, all wanting to inherit Odysseus’ possessions in the belief that he was already dead. Like many epic heroes, Odysseus possesses many admirable qualities. Three good characteristics of Odysseus are—cleverness, bravery and strength—here are some supporting instances from the epic that demonstrates Odysseus possession of such characteristics.
Odysseus and Ulysses have differences, but also similarities. The man's role in his son's life shifts once Telemachus matures. However, Odysseus and Ulysses portray similar characteristics - their love for their crew and their determination in achieving goals. The man is a born leader; he shows leadership in raising his son, caring for his crew, and ultimately, in taking charge of his life. The poets acclaim men who have direction in life to strive and attain goals.