Who Does the Old Man Represent in O Brother Where Art Thou

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Characters / O Brother, Where Art Thou?

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Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney)

A slick-talking, intelligent man who was sent to the penal farm for practicing constabulary without a license. He gets discussion that his wife is shortly re-marrying, simply can only make information technology in time to stop the hymeneals if he convinces the two men chained to him to agree to help him escape. Accordingly, he spins a story of a huge sack of cash from an old bank job that is in danger of beingness cached forever if they don't reach it in time.

Based on Odysseus from The Odyssey, the smart, but arrogant, hero who constantly finds himself in problem on his journey back dwelling to his married woman.

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• Berserk Button: Is very sensitive about his hair and make of pomade, Dapper Dan. Don't offer him any other brand and don't help yourself to his supply.
• Con Man: Everything nigh him for the starting time 2/three of the picture show is a complete lie and he gets past on bluff and amuse alone.
• Deadpan Snarker: He has only two modes: loquacious and sarcastic. Sometimes both.
• Guile Hero: Much similar the character he'due south based on. Subverted, however; he makes his style in life by being charismatic and eloquent, but he's actually not that good at it, largely due to his overconfidence and vanity.
• First Father Wins: His wife is getting ready to marry over again, merely eventually goes back to him (with all their children). Perhaps. If he can observe that band...
• The Hero: Or so he thinks.

  Pete: Since we been followin' your lead, we own't got nil simply trouble.

• Indy Ploy: Clearly makes things upward on the fly, with perhaps an 60 minutes's preparation. They're successful for about as long, and Pete'south quick to mutter that they jump from ane batch of problem to the next.
• Detestable Genius: Relatively. He'southward got a quick heed at least and is quick to try and show it, which is magnified when he'due south standing next to Pete and Delmar. That said, truthful to the original grapheme, he'southward a touch too arrogant about it, is quick to presume he knows more than he does, and isn't really a good leader, which kind of sees him bouncing between this, Miles Gloriosus, and Know-Nothing Know-Information technology-All.
• Large Ham: He's full of himself, and likes it!
• Centre Name Basis: Virtually always referred to by his middle proper name.
• Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness: Likes to put on an air of composure and intelligence by using big fancy words to explain things in a verbose mode.

  Everett: Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts earlier straitened circumstances forced you into a life of bumming wanderin'?

• Sir Swears-a-Lot: A bit loose with his "damns", but nothing that would get blanked out on basic cable.
• Sophisticated as Hell: He has, as he puts it, the "gift of gab". When he slips into Detestable Genius mode, he'll beginning espousing odd facts mixed with unproblematic, Southern colloquialisms.
• Surrounded past Idiots: A mutual complaint of his. ("You 2 are just dumber than a bag of hammers!")

Pete Hogwallop (John Turturro)

In jail for unknown reasons, Pete simply had two weeks left on his sentence, but Everett'southward treasure is likewise tempting to pass up. Extremely rough-around-the-edges, merely honest to a fault, Pete constantly butts heads with Everett, but continues to tag along in the hopes of using his share of Everett's treasure to open up upwardly his own eatery.

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• Butt-Monkey: He's beaten, kidnapped, and even appears to exist turned into a toad.
• I'll Kill You!: Shouts this to his cousin Wash when he realizes that Wash did indeed sell him and the others out for the bounty.

  Pete: I'chiliad gonna KILL yous, Judas Iscariot Hogwallop! You miserable, equus caballus-eatin' son of a-!

• Jerk with a Heart of Gilt: He's irascible and prickly, but he'south fundamentally good-natured.
• The Lancer: He is Everett's Foil and ever goes confronting any he says.
• Big Ham: In true John Turturro fashion.
• Thicker Than Water: He believes in this, as it's why he leads the gang to his cousin Wash'south place for a place to rest, swallow, and finally get the chains off. He's immediately angry when Everett proclaims Wash sold them out to the law that very night ("Wash'southward kin!"), and gets even moreso when Wash confirms it, so he ends upwardly calling Wash "Judas Iscariot Hogwallop". Despite this, he calls Everett out for stealing Wash'southward pocket lookout.

Delmar O'Donnell (Tim Blake Nelson)

A dim-witted simply kindhearted man in prison for robbing a convenience store in Yazoo. He's superstitious and gullible, merely ultimately the nigh decent of the bunch. He'due south far more amusing than Pete, and dreams of buying back his family farm from the bank that foreclosed on it with his share of the treasure.

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• Call to Agronomics: This is his motivation for getting the coin — he wants to buy dorsum his family farm, believing that he isn't a true man without owning land.
• Cloudcuckoolander: "We... thought... you... was... a toad!"
• The Ditz: Which helps him being duped by Everett's "intelligence".
• Friend to All Living Things: During lunch with Large Dan, we see Delmar covered with and enthralled by collywobbles.
• Kindhearted Simpleton: The friendliest of the group.
• The Bandage Showoff: That actually is him singing In the Jailhouse Now toward the end of the movie.
• Nice Guy: He gets along well with both Everett and Pete.

Governor Menelaus "Pappy" O'Daniel (Charles Durning)

The incumbent governor of Mississippi, as well a flour tycoon and radioman. He'southward losing desperately against his opponent Homer Stokes, due both to being dogged by accusations of corruption, and due to the mis-management of his campaign past his two idiot helpers and idiot son. He unwittingly gives Everett and his group a variety of escapes from their troubles.

He'due south a Blended Character representing both Menelaus and Zeus from The Odyssey, being a helpful authorisation figure in contrast to Sheriff Cooley.

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• Fatty, Sweaty Southerner in a White Suit: The film is set in the Deep Due south, so the politicians needed to be that! That said, he's more than self-centered and neutral than the usual example.
• Grumpy Old Man: Until he'due south really on his rival's phase, nosotros simply always see him griping to and about his employees.
• Historical In-Joke: Pappy O'Daniel was a Texas senator, but here he'southward the Mississippi governor.
• Large Ham: In both size and bouncy attitude.

  "WE MASS-COMMUNICATIN'!"

• Bottom of Two Evils: He might be a Jerkass and very probable a Decadent Politician, but he withal comes out looking ameliorate than his KKK opponent.
• Only Known past Their Nickname: "Pappy."
• Sir Swears-a-Lot: Especially while whapping his employees with a hat.
• Surrounded by Idiots: His son and a couple of yes men. They, uh, never debate the signal.

Sheriff Cooley (Daniel von Bargen)

The lawman tasked with bringing Everett's group back to the farm. He's a heartless human who takes a perverse pleasance in pursuing the boys, and clearly plans to summarily execute them rather than bring them in. He'southward unsaid at various points to exist the Devil himself, aiming to collect on a debt he's owed.

He represents Poseidon from The Odyssey being a completely antagonistic authority figure who is constantly in the manner of Everett's journeying abode.

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• Allegorical Character: Much like Poseidon in The Odyssey, he represents inhuman power without mercy, in this case, the law itself. He may also actually be the Devil, so in that location's that.
• Big Bad: Of all the colourful characters the escapees meet on their journey, Cooley is definitely the most dangerous and indomitable in his pursuit to capture and kill the three.
• Decease by Irony: Poseidon is killed past a flood. Well, maybe simply defeated.
• Dirty Cop: It's clear from the get-go that Cooley doesn't care about little details like who is innocent and what their rights are.
• Inspector Javert: A very cruel example. Getting escaped prisoners is his chore, just he's outright psychotic about information technology (he sets a barn on burn down to effort to smoke them out, for crying out loud) and when they get a pardon, he still captures them and gets ready to hang them (and Tommy, who has washed no crime at all other than being with them).
• Peradventure Magic, Maybe Mundane: There's some hints that he might exist the Devil (ie. Tommy's description of the Devil he met in the crossroads), and his exposition well-nigh 'human institutions' when confronted about his methods casts more incertitude to his true nature.
• Not Plenty to Bury: When the flood plain kills him off, all that the photographic camera shows of him is his glasses floating downstream.
• Obviously Evil: How he got the job is anybody'southward gauge. And then once more, if he really is the Devil, he probably wasn't actually chosen for it and made his own way in...
• Constabulary Brutality: Cooley and his gang whip and torture Pete in hopes he'll own up to the whereabouts of his compatriots.
• Satanic Archetype: His cruelty and baroque appearance, including the fact that his mirrored shades reflect flames at times, make him await like the devil.
• Sinister Shades: Cooley always wears his shades, fifty-fifty in the dark. Disturbingly, they often reflect flames when you see a shut-up of his face up.

Daniel "Large Dan" Teague (John Goodman)

A greedy, sadistic, one-eyed Bible salesman, taking advantage of the Depression to push button his production. He first encounters Everett's group at a eatery where he tricks them into paying for his meal and then violently mugs them. He later appears at a Ku Klux Klan rally, revealing the total extent of his cruelty.

Based on Polyphemus the Cyclops from The Odyssey, who cannibalizes Odysseus' men in violation of Sacred Hospitality.

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• Arrow Grab: Catches the Amalgamated flag hurled similar a javelin between his hands earlier it tin can stab him in the face up, which gets a few impressed thank you from his young man klansmen. Not then lucky with the giant flaming cross though.
• Asshole Victim: Mugs the heroes later on they pay for his meal, and then is later present at a Klan rally. Once a behemothic, flaming cross falls on top of him, we're given exactly zilch to mourn.
• Eyepatch of Power: He'due south a cyclops analogue. There may be a double meaning: while his rank is never stated, the chief officer of a local KKK affiliate during the menstruum was called the "Exalted Cyclops".
• Fatty Bastard: Greedy, trigger-happy, Ku Klux Klan member...
• False Affably Evil: Puts upwards a friendly, amicable front before showing his true colors by beating the hell out of Everett and Delmar and robbing them blind.
• Jerkass: Robs the heroes, eats their food, and squishes the toad they idea was Pete, and Delmar tried so difficult to protect. And that'south all before nosotros learn he's a member of the KKK.
• Karmic Death: Crushed by a flaming cross in a KKK rally.
• Big Ham: Notes that it comes in handy in his line of work selling Bibles.
• The Olfactory organ Knows: He noticeably takes off his hood and gets a big sniff of the air before he rushes afterward the heroes and reveals them, all but stating he recognized Ulysses' Dapper Dan.
• Scarlet Correct Hand: He has one heart, and is a KKK member.
• Sophisticated as Hell: Equally with Ulysses, he tin can make a short point with long streams of dialogue.
• Stout Strength: Capable of quite the beating with a big stick, merely more impressively (given his lack of depth perception) catches a flag staff thrown every bit a javelin.
• Villainous Glutton: Meets Ulysses and friends at a eating house, and eats a lot.

Tommy Johnson (Chris Thomas King)

A young, just incredibly gifted dejection musician whom Everett picks up on his fashion back from the crossroads from selling his soul to the Devil for his musical talent. Despite his obvious talent, he lives in constant fear of the Devil coming to collect.

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• Bargain with the Devil: How he learned to play the guitar.

  Delmar: Oh son, for that you sold your everlasting soul?
  Tommy: Well, I wasn't usin' information technology.

• Historical Domain Character: Basically an expy of the real-life blues guitarist Tommy Johnson, as well as Robert Johnson - both of them rumored to accept gotten their musical skills in a Deal with the Devil.
• Dainty Guy: It'due south kind of ironic, seeing as how he sold his soul to the Devil, only Tommy is one of the nicest guys in the film.
• Sixth Ranger: Joins the group after being picked upwards by the side of the road.
• Token Minority: The only black guy in the chief characters.

George "Babyface" Nelson (Michael Badalucco)

The famous bank robber himself, Nelson runs into the boys by hazard and takes them forth on one of his depository financial institution jobs. He falls into a funk immediately after, wandering off and allowing the boys to enjoy the spoils on their own. Heavily implied to exist manic-depressive, his robberies being the result of a mania-fueled desire for excitement and notoriety.

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• Berserk Push: Calling him "Babyface".
• Historical Domain Character: Though the real life Nelson died in 1934, whereas the film is set in 1937.
• Insistent Terminology: It's "George Nelson", not "Babyface".
• Large Ham: In his manic moments.
• Mood-Swinger: We encounter him bicycle through highs of gleeful violence and throwing coin around, along with lows of sitting and moping. Ulysses suggests he'south what we'd phone call bipolar nowadays.
• Saccharide-and-Water ice Personality: Is surprisingly genial for a bank robber, even in his low moments - until someone calls him "Babyface".
• Trigger Happy: To the point he shoots some cows that laissez passer past!

Homer Stokes (Wayne Duvall)

Pappy O'Daniel's electoral opponent, Stokes is running as a reform candidate in a brilliant and highly successful campaign using a dwarf to represent his friendship with "the little man." Despite his posturing every bit a muckraking populist, Stokes is actually a deeply malicious homo and a high-ranking fellow member of the local Ku Klux Klan. His entrada director, Vernon T. Waldrip, is soon to marry Everett's wife.

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• Adventitious Public Confession: He has to admit that he was at a Klan rally in guild to out the heroes as escaped convicts. He doesn't seem to heed though, thinking his constituents would be okay with it. They weren't.
• Big Guy, Picayune Guy: With his dwarf sidekick, who non only plays the role of "the little man" in his political muckraking, simply helps him with his Klan activities, also.
• Corrupt Hick: Appears to be a reform candidate. And is really a high-ranking Jerkass in the Klan.
• Hoist by His Own Petard: Despite loudly challenge to be a friend of the "piffling man" (with accompanying petty person) both before and during, he tin can't read the mood of the crowd when he interrupts the Soggy Bottom Boys' performance at his ain campaign rally and is consequently run out of town on a rails.
• Honor Before Reason: In that his personal sense of honour as a Klansman requires him to jump out of his chair and demand the oversupply disown the Soggy Bottom Boys for being integrated and miscegenated, refusing to back downwardly fifty-fifty every bit the crowd turns against him.
• Jerkass: He's a Klan member who wants to lynch Tommy upward for the crime of being black.
• Large Ham: Not and so usually (well, as much as a politician tin can be hammy), only he really cuts loose at the Klan rally.
• Villain with Practiced Publicity: He'due south much better at candidature than Pappy, and therefore much more popular. He's easily the worse of the ii morally.

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• Oblivion (2013)
• CharacterSheets/Live-Activeness Films
• Ocean's Eleven

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Source: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/OBrotherWhereArtThou

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