The Myth Modernized in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

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without chafing for freedom and adventure as Tennyson's Ulysses did.
In Homer's time, those who listened to the story of The Odyssey would have known what to expect in the broad sense, and additionally the poet wove in many peripheral storylines and allusions, some obscure, some familiar to most of his listeners. Therein lay the pleasure of the tale: the recognition of some elements, the surprise of new ones, and the skill with which they are blended and presented. The always inventive Coen brothers have achieved a similar effect in this remarkable film.
By telling the viewer up front that the story is inspired by The Odyssey and by making obvious references, they immediately establish that this film is a "road picture". By setting it in the rural South of the thirties, they provide a time and place with which most of their viewers are familiar, but which most have not experienced first-hand. The chain gangs, the colorful politicians, Baby Face Nelson, river baptisms, ...

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