In Homer, the main character’s name is Odysseus. In O’ Brother, the main character’s name is Ulysses. They both are on a journey to their home. Odysseus is headed to Greece, because he was in a war with Sparta that was away from his home. Ulysses is headed back to Mississippi because he escaped from jail. They both encounter unusual obstacles on their way. Odysseus meets up with a Cyclops that gets its eye poked out. Ulysses meets a one eyed man who gets poked in the eye, but by a fallen cross. In both movies the Cyclops kills both character’s friend.
However, in O’ Brother, the one eyed man was thought to have killed his friend, but he realized later that he didn’t. Odysseus thinks that he doesn’t need the god’s help, but learns in the end that he does. Ulysses is cocky and thinks he doesn’t need God. Nevertheless, in the end he too, learns that he does and prays for God to help him. In Homer, Odysseus encounters the Lotus Eaters singing a seducing song. In O’ Brother, Ulysses doesn’t give in to the singing church people. In Homer, the singing women bathing on the rocks seduce Odysseus.
In O’ Brother Ulysses is seduced by the women bathing in the lake. In Homer, Odysseus’ son doesn’t recognize him. In O’ Brother Ulysses’ daughter doesn’t recognize him. In Homer, Odysseus’ wife was forced to marry one of the men of the kingdom, but Odysseus fights and kills all the men and marries his wife again. In O’ Brother, Ulysses comes home to find his wife going to marry another man, but he convinces her to stay with him. In the end they both get back with their wives and are glad that they are home and that everything is back to normal.