Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song” Interpretation In the Greek mythology and in Homer’s Odyssey, the Sirens are featured as a trio of monsters who are known to drown sailors with their song. The sailors, lured by the Siren’s beautiful singing, jump off their ship and eventually drown, drift to shore, and then get consumed by the monsters. Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song” talks from the perspective of one of the sirens - which one, we do not know - and develops the character and personality of the Siren, giving a commentary about masculinity and heroism as well. The Sirens have always been seen as monsters in literature and usually the Sirens are featured as a group, not individually. Margaret Atwood uses the freedom as a writer to make this poem …show more content…
In the first three stanzas, it talks about the song that the Sirens presumably sing to the sailors. “This is the one song everyone would like to learn: the song that is irresistible: the song that forces men to leap overboard in squadrons even though they see the beached skulls ” The Sirens only have one song, but it is so enchanting that entire ships of men, swim to their inevitable death. “Irresistible” suggests that the song contains what the sailors want, a wanting so strong that they overcome their fear of death. “The song nobody knows because anyone who had heard it is dead.” The literal translation of this line simply means that nobody has ever lived to tell the tale about the Sirens, emphasizing the danger of their song. Additionally, the last three stanzas reveal information about the Siren song. The Siren says, “I will tell the secret to you, only to you...The song is a cry for help: Help me! Only you, only you can, you are unique.” The song is a classic cry for help from a damsel in distress - a cry for a hero, that only he (in ancient Greek context) can save the Siren. The song appeals to the hero personality in the individual song, repeating that “only you” can help the Sirens. The classic Greek hero is filled with hubris and excessive pride, and by flattering them can the Siren’s song lure them to their death. “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood is an intriguing poem about a Siren and the song that the Siren’s sing. At first, the poem looks to be a first person account of what is like to be a Siren and what the song is about. However, a closer look reveals a commentary of the Greek hero and how heroism can lead to their eventual
The Siren Song is a poem written by Margaret Atwood. The poem is narrated by sirens who are also the central characters of the poem. Sirens are Greek mythological creatures possessing enchanted voices luring sailors towards them, causing ships to crash on reefs near their island. The sirens were the daughters of the river god Achelous as well as the companions of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest.
Atwood's imagery is feminine and gives a more satirical picture. The siren talks of a "bird suit" (12) and "with these two feathery maniacs" (16) portray humor in this dark poem. The poem also brings in an element of pity and empathy as the siren makes the sailors she is singing too feel bad for her. She sings "I don't enjoy it here" (13) and "I don't enjoy
The poem “Sirens Song” alludes to the Sirens of the Odyssey. The Sirens’ portrayal is to deceive as they scheme and seduce men in their direction. The author claims, “The song that forces men to leap overboard in squadrons even though they see beached skulls.” In other words,
The Odyssey and the poem "Siren Song" both portray sirens ;however, in The Odyssey, the focus is on resolving the "problem" of the sirens, no differently than any other obstacle on his journey, whereas "Siren Song" focuses on the siren as more than merely an obstacle. They share, however, the preying of the siren upon hubris and the desire to be special, as well as, by what happens, illustrating the allure of the sirens in the spite of the pain that may be suffered to get there. The Odyssey initially describes the actions of Odysseus much more than the sirens. The beginning discussion does describe the sirens at all;it merely states that they were approaching the island of the sirens, and then for the first ten lines it does not even begin to consider the sirens.
Margaret Thatcher once said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a women”. This statement may be true in recent times, but, in Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, as translated by Robert Fitzgerald, it is far from it. The Odyssey focuses on the double standards of women and the ideal and unideal qualities of them. The ideals of women in greek culture are high, and most female leads in the poem don’t fit into them, and most often, are perceived as a nuisance or “Roadblock”. Only a few mortal or immortal women in Homer’s epic are shown as ideal, and these few are in a royal state.
The Odyssey written by Homer and the Siren Song, by Margaret Atwood both use imagery, symbolism, different tones and different point of view to depict Sirens. The Odyssey surrounds a man who hears the Sirens song, but uses different tactics to survive it, although the Siren Song is written as if the written is a siren trying to prey on the readers. The difference of narrators tells the story of the Sirens in two very different
In the “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood, there is a tremendous use of literary devices to emphasize and create her theme. The theme of the “Siren Song” is one of deception and lies, the speaker talks about how the reader is “unique” (24) and how “only you, only you can” (23) help her. The siren deceives the reader by making him believe that we are the greatest heroes and that only we can save her. The poem is written in the point of view of the siren, this allows the reader to uncover the poem with them which creates a deeper more realistic story. The siren says “will you get me out of this bird suit” (11-12), Atwood’s word choice plays a big part in making the speaking siren sound like a victim that’s trapped in the form of a siren.
In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, there are many female characters who play the role of a villain. Calypso, Scylla, Charybdis, and the sirens are among the women with the largest, negative impacts on Odysseus’ journey home. Though some women, such as Athena, Eurycleia, and Penelope, are loyal to Odysseus throughout the poem. With such a wide range of female characters, they all contribute different things throughout the book, whether the impact of their actions is negative or positive. Regardless of the outcomes, Homer has quite a modern view of female representation in his poem.
“The Odyssey,” written by Greek poet Homer is an epic tale depicting the brutally enduring quest home of the Greek hero, Odysseus. Within this heroic story, women play a very large and pivotal role in Odysseus’s trip home from the Trojan War. In his attempt to get back to his wife, Penelope, Odysseus’s progress is constantly hindered by the intervention of women who will do anything in order to either convince the heroic figure to stay with them or have him killed. The intentions of the women in the epic are all very different but one of the most prominent roles lies in the seductresses and the alluring women who will deeply influence Odysseus. Most importantly, Penelope plays a large role in portraying the importance of women’s roles in the story.
Which sets him apart from the Sirens by building up his name. Yet, “Siren Song” by Atwood has a melancholic to seductive tone throughout the piece. An example of this is when the Siren says, "I don't enjoy it here-squatting on this island" (Atwood 13-14). The reader is intended to feel remorse for her. This sets a melancholy or sad tone.
In many societies today, individuals are led to believe that the concept of women possessing their own strength or independence is abnormal. As a result, women experience the world in a constrained way in comparison to men, even if they are in higher classes of society. However, these extensive aspects of females are contradicted in some ancient Greek literature. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Homer portrays women as a vital and powerful force through the characters Penelope and Circe, who counter the normality of misogyny in Homer’s time. Penelope’s character displays how some women are able to exceed society’s standards and show strength and cleverness when it is necessary.
The purpose of this parallel theme in common is to draw attention to Penelope’s struggles in the time of the Odyssey, which helps the responders to empathize with Penelope during her times of weeping, and distress. Hence Atwood’s modern perspective benefitting contemporary readers to enjoy the concepts and
In spite of the fact that Homer’s Odyssey is an epic story of a man’s gallant journey, women play a huge part throughout. Their unique yet controversial personalities, intentions, and relationships are vital to the development of this epic and adventurous journey of Odysseus. The poem by Homer was written at a time when women had an inferior position in society, yet that didn’t stop them from being any less influential. All of the women throughout the Odyssey possess different qualities, but all of them help to define the role of the ideal woman.
The Odyssey by Homer contains multiple moments where female characters are oppressed or fit into a patriarchy, but there are several moments where these character show signs of rebellion against this oppression. Applying a critical lense of feminism to these characters and relationships create complexities and conflicts within the novel that shine meaning on the world. The character Penelope offers many of these moments. Analyzing the actions, situation, and comparisons with other characters using a the feminist critical lense will show a more enriched version of Penelope and offer a deeper insight of the patriarchy, and how is affects the world.
A mythological story can express a valuable message to its readers, advising them to choose a certain path when making decisions and to stray away from what can harm them. It can also give an artist, whether it is a painter or a poet, the inspiration to express their intake of what was given to them. The expression can show support of a character’s decision, show sadness towards a character’s place in the myth, or relate the myth to a real-life occurrence. When poet Eavan Boland was reading Book 1 of Ovid’s Metamorphosis, she wanted to express a different meaning of the story of Daphne by writing “Daphne with her Thighs in Bark”. She did this by using a feminist approach while looking back at Daphne’s fate.