In Greek
mythology, Sirens are often represented as birds with the heads of women. Their
song is irresistibly enchanting but deadly at the same time. The Sirens’ song
appears in Greek epic poetry in Homer’s Odyssey. It also appears as a
modern commentary on the classical story in Margaret Atwood’s poem Siren
Song. The Sirens are portrayed similarly in both texts; however, the texts
differ in tone and point of view.
The
Odyssey portrays the ravishing Sirens through a frantic and restless tone.
From Odysseus’ ship that “was speeding toward the Sirens’ island” (1-2) to his
crew that “flung themselves at the oars and rowed on harder” (22), everything
is fast-paced and hectic in The Odyssey. Odysseus feels that he must
work as quickly as possible to cover his crew members’ ears and pass the
Sirens’ island in order to not succumb to their trap. The Sirens are so
irresistible that only speed and swiftness can defy their alluring song, not
free will or self control. Margaret Atwood’s Siren Song approaches the portrayal
of the Sirens with a more comical and ironic tone. In her poem the Siren is the
speaker and the entire poem is essentially the Siren’s song. The light-hearted
tone is evident as the Siren complains that she does not enjoy “squatting on
[the] island looking picturesque and mythical with these two feathery maniacs”
(14-16). The entire poem is ironic because the Siren pretends to be telling the
reader the secret of the song, enticing them to read more, then at the end the
Siren has succeeded in pulling the reader close enough to kill them, but not
actually by singing them the Siren song.
Both
authors are successful in displaying the dangers of the Sirens, even through
different points of view. Homer’s The Odyssey is seen through Odysseus’
point of view, while Atwood’s Siren Song is seen through a Siren’s point
of view. Odysseus’ point of view lets the reader see how physically and
mentally difficult it is so resist the Sirens. Odysseus has his men tightly tie
him down to the ship so he cannot escape and turn the ship into its own demise.
It is interesting to see the Siren’s point of view because it gives the reader
insight into just how easy it is for the Sirens to seduce the men of the sea.
The Sirens make their target feel special when they say, “I will tell the
secret to you, to you, only to you” (19-20). After the Sirens make the men feel
like one of a kind, a simple “come closer” (21) gets them hooked with no
return. The Sirens’ power is so potent that it can be felt by the reader from a
victim’s point of view and from the perpetrator’s point of view.
Although
the tones and point of views differ, both texts portray the Sirens as stunning,
tempting creatures that have the ability to destroy lives through the beauty of
their voices. Their ravishing voices make them irresistible to the point where
no self control can be practiced by the victims. The men of the sea know of the
dangers but cannot resist when tempted. Both texts are successful and accurate
in their portrayals of the Sirens.
