Answer the Call: About a Journey

Friday in class we discussed how the mythology of the Odyssey fit into the plot of O Brother, Where Art Thou. Everyone clearly knew how the guy with the eyepatch was supposed to be the cyclops, and how the sirens are, you know, sirens . However, we talked about something that has always been an interesting subject to me, but I only pick up on it in situations like these: watching movies or being in some class where we have to discuss. And that subject would be American Mythology. American Mythology is a bit abstract. Since the country of America is not that old compared to other cultures, there isn't an expectation for a deep superstitious layer to American culture. However, as we saw in the movie, there are very clear themes that permeate a lot of American literature and folklore. Several myths are based on other cultures, since America is the world famous "mixing pot" of peoples. Some examples would be some of the African American myths that come from the south, somet...

As in all Ancient Greek myths, the Olympian Gods are prevalent throughout the entire story. The Odyssey is no exception. People constantly pray to Zeus, Poseidon, and numerous other deities to provide them with good luck and to soothe their anger. However, the gods really just do whatever they please. The most recent example would be Poseidon turning a ship and it's crew to stone and then raising a mountain in front of the Phaenician harbor. The Phaenicians are descendants of Poseidon himself, and they are pleading with Poseidon and giving him sacrifices, but he seems not to care. All because they helped one man get home. The gods really seem to just choose whichever outcome is most or least convenient, adding their own twists depending on their powers. Athena chooses to give great assistance to Odysseus and Telemachus because... she just likes them? Zeus (supposedly) causes a storm that doesn't let Odysseus and his crew go home for a month which inevitably makes it so they e...