The Effect of the Sirens

1031 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Progression of female roles in society

The characters in Greek Mythology have multiple interpretations. Among these characters include the dangerous, yet gorgeous Sirens, bird-women who sit on a cliff singing bewitching songs that captivate the minds of innocent travelers and entice them to their deaths. In Homer’s The Odyssey and Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song,” both poets provide different representations of the Sirens. Homer portrays the Sirens as irresistible in order to establish men as heroes, whereas Atwood depicts them as unsightly and pathetic so she can prove men are foolish and arrogant using imagery, diction, and point of view. Homer depicts the Sirens as intriguing and desirable because he considers Odysseus as valiant. Homer describes Odysseus’ “'heart inside [him is throbbing] to listen longer,'” suggesting the seductive power of the Sirens (20). The effect of his heart throbbing verifies that Odysseus longs to be with the Sirens, forging an image of a man struggling against his will in order to be near a beautiful temptress. This implies that the Sirens are irresistible and cunning because they are able to deceive the men into falling for them with just one song. Odysseus craves to hear the Siren’s magical song and stay alive, so he has his men physically “bind [him] faster with rope on chafing rope” (24). The immense effect that the Sirens have on him is great, and the fact that the rope is irritating his skin illustrates the effort Odysseus is making to be with the Sirens. Throughout this particular scene, Odysseus attempts to join the Sirens, without realizing the terrible consequences. The temptresses are so “ravishing” and no man can resist their beauty (19). They are so attractive that they have the ability to lure in innocent men and watch them ... ... middle of paper ... ...s to women and cannot control their egotistical ways. Homer portrays the Sirens as beautiful while Atwood considers them as ugly. By using imagery, diction, and point of view, Homer and Atwood determine whether the men are smart or not and if the Sirens are irresistible or just repulsive. The significance of comparing these two pieces is that the reader can see the authors’ two very different interpretations of men and women’s role in their fate. The depiction of women has changed tremendously over time. In the past, woman were blamed for the downfall of men and being temptresses, but now hold high positions of power and are able to vote. Comparing these two pieces gives insight into how to resolve the never-ending “Battle of the Sexes.” The answer is to compromise. Homer and Atwood’s portrayal of the Sirens prove that to each their own, interpretation that is.

Show More
Related

  • The Odyssey: The Success Of Odysseus As A Hero

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many spoke positively about Odysseus, highlighting only his admirable traits. Although most victories of Odysseus did have a positive outcome, Odysseus acted by whatever means necessary to achieve his successes. In book twelve, Odysseus encountered the challenge of the sirens. No man had ever heard the song of the sirens and lived to speak of it. Odysseus was determined to be the first, and only man to ever make it through alive, “.. Yet she urges that I alone should listen to their song (XII.193-194)”. Odysseus ordered his men to plug their ears with beeswax and to tie him to the mast as tight as they possibly could. Odysseus and his crew did manage to successfully pass the sirens, making Odysseus the only man to ever hear the wondrous call of the sirens. By refusing to plug his own ears, Odysseus unnecessarily put himself above all of his

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Odyssey And O Brother Where Art Thou

    1294 Words  | 3 Pages

    The sirens are known for their song that kills people. In the book, Odysseus told the men to tie him down to listen to the song even if it meant it was going to kill him. In the movie, Pete heard the sirens and told Ulisses to stop the car. He ran out to the river while the other two followed. There, there was three women singing in the river washing their clothes. The men were in a trace because the girls were giving them a sexual trance. They woke up the next day and Pete was gone. Delmer thought he turned into a frog because there was a frog in Pete’s clothing. Ulisses and Delmer continued on their journey to find the

    Read More

  • The Sirens In The Siren Song

    260 Words  | 1 Pages

    The story of Odysseus' encounter with the Sirens and their enchanting but deadly song appears in Greek epic poetry in Homers Odyssey. The Sirens in the ‘Siren Song’ by Margaret Atwood,are portrayed in a variety of ways. The Sirens are lethal,underprivileged and deluding.

    Read More

  • Prowess Of Odysseus The Sirens In Homer's The Odyssey

    543 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Sirens, Odysseus showed many examples of mental prowess. The Sirens are monsters disguised as women who try to lower the men with there songs wanting them to kill themselves. Odysseus had been warned by Circe about The Sirens and was recommended that it would be better if Odysseus is the only one that listens to their songs “yet she urged that I alone should listen to their song” (783). Odysseus had thought of a clever plan of putting wax in the mens ears so they

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Sirens In The Odyssey By Margaret Atwood

    302 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the epic poem the "Odyssey" by Homer, there are creatures known as sirens. These creatures lure people to their death by singing a song in which they make a person follow what the sirens say. In the "Siren Song" by Margret Atwood, she writes the song and how she interprets it using modern English. The two literary works portray the Sirens similarly in tone and differently in point of view. The Sirens in the "Odyssey" seem dark and evil due to the author's choice of words or diction.

    Read More

  • The Role of the Sirens in Homer's Odyssey

    546 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Sirens in the Odyssey represent more than just a maritime danger to the passing ship. They are the desires of man that he cannot have. The Sirens can also be construed as forbidden knowledge or some other taboo object. Whatever these singing women actually are, the sailors are wise to avoid them. As usual, the wily Odysseus cheats at the rules of the game by listening to their song under the restraints constructed by his crew.

    Read More

  • The Cunning and Deceitful Women of Homer’s Odyssey

    1479 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Sirens are all knowing, and draw men in with their songs about all that has happened in the world, but all those who stop to listen can never leave. Fortunately, the Sirens are unable to draw Odysseus in because he has been forewarned by Circe and knows how to resist. “but melt wax of honey and with it stop your companions’ ears, so none can listen.” (12.47-48) Once he hears their song, he forgets about his homeland and wants to be set free so that he can listen to their song. “fastened me with even more lashings and squeezed me tighter.”

    Read More

  • Examples Of Monsters In The Odyssey

    973 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...g of the Sirens and end up as one of the corpses in their “meadow.” The Sirens have the power to “spellbind any man alive” with their “high, thrilling songs” and preventing them from ever making it home. A man lured by the Sirens will never see his wife or “happy children” again. His story will be over, and he will be lost forever. The Greeks rely on their story and legacy to retain their identity and memory after death. The Sirens represent distractions that lure travellers from their journey and decrease or completely remove their determination to return home. When a man stays true to his purpose and avoids any Siren-like distractions, he lives and comes home to a wonderful family. When a man makes himself susceptible to any Siren’s call, be it from an actual Siren or just something tempting enough to sway him from his task, he is destined to fail and be forgotten.

    Read More

  • The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

    1092 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...y sirens represent half-women, half-bird creatures who lived on an island. They used to sing in beautiful voices to lure sailors off their course. When Odysseus was sailing by the siren's island, he made the rest of his men plug up their ears and ties him to the mainmast. This way, he got to hear the beautiful sound of their voice without being driven to suicide. In this story the women weeping over Lautaro were compared to the sirens, and some sailors going to tie themselves to the mainmast in an attempt to mimic Odysseus. There is a contrast of these stories with the quotes from the villagers.

    Read More

  • Homer's The Odyssey

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since the beginning of human civilization, women have often occupied inferior roles in society while the dominant role has been played by men. In Homer’s The Odyssey gender roles in Greek society are emphasized showing how men controlled society while women were undervalued and constantly disrespected. Although it may be argued that Homer poses some rather feminist views, it is evident by several elements that The Odyssey is a misogynistic text. First, women in the Odyssey were continually oppressed by men never having true free will. In addition, Women were depicted as symbols of lust, seduction, and evil who bring destruction to men, undermining the true values of women. Furthermore, Women were expected to remain loyal to men while men have no expectation for themselves which promoted gender inequality. Exemplified by these three elements, it is evident that The Odyssey is a misogynistic text depicting a society where women occupy subservient and inferior positions.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Sirens In Homer's Odyssey And Margaret Atwood

    301 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Homer's Odyssey and Margaret Atwood's Siren Song, Sirens are portrayed as creatures that trick men. Homer and Atwood use imagery, point of view, and diction to convey the image of the deceitful Sirens.

    Read More

  • Women and Deception in Homer's Odyssey

    1974 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lillian Doherty, Siren Songs: Gender, Audiences, and Narrators in the Odyssey (Ann Arbor 1995), esp. chapter 1.

    Read More

  • Odysseus

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    Odysseus uses his brain to sail past the Sirens without being entranced by their sweet song. A Siren is a bird-woman who bewitches everyone that approaches. The Siren women sing a seductive song. Their song has many powers. As Nugent says “as in the days of the musician Orpheus, music still has power to soothe the savage beast, to ally anxiety, and to connect with the divine through contemplation” (Nugent 45-54). Circe tells Odysseus, “There is no homecoming for the man who draws near them unawares and hears the Siren’s voices” (Homer XII, 40). . Odysseus follows the advice Circe gave him to put beeswax in his men’s ears so they will not be entranced. Odysseus then tells his men “but she instructed me alone to hear their voices…”(XII, 160), when, truthfully, Circe states, “But if you wish to listen yourself, make them bind you hand and foot on board and place you upright by the housing of the mast, with the rope’s ends lashed to the mast itself”(XII, 49). In this way, Odysseus is being selfish only wishes to know the Siren’s sing so he will...

    Read More

  • Women in The Odyssey

    1471 Words  | 3 Pages

    The image of seductresses is a recurring motif in The Odyssey. These women are a temptation to Odysseus. They attempt to keep Odysseus from accomplishing his goal: his homecoming. Circe is a bewitching goddess. She entices Odysseus’ crew into her palace with her enchanting voice. However, after she feeds them, she promptly turns them into pigs. Circe also succeeds in enticing Odysseus; he stays with her one year as her lover. It is so long that his crew declares that it is “madness” (326). They say that it is “high time” that Odysseus thinks of his homeland (326). Later on, Odysseus and his crew encounter the sirens. Knowing the danger they pose, Odysseus has all his men’s ears stopped up with wax. However, Odysseus wishes to hear their song; so he asks his crew to tie him to the mast. The song of the sirens is so sweet and enticing. Their “ravishing voices” almost make Odysseus forget his desire to return home (349). His heart “throbbed” to listen longer; he signals for his men to let him go free. The grea...

    Read More

  • Agamemnon And Clytemnestra Analysis

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    The role of women in ancient Greece when put side by side with the role of men is relatively insignificant, yet in Greek tragedies such as Agamemnon, Oedipus the King and Orestes, the women are often given the title of “main character,” thus revealing the ideal standards of how women are treated and thought of in society at the time. Many, if not most of the popular Greek tragedies have several female roles that aren’t simple and irrelevant but rather, they are complex and thoroughly thought out to be involved well into the play. Usually, the feminine characters take up the role as the heroine, the victim or the villain. Sometimes, to make the play extra dramatic, the playwrights will incorporate all three of the personalities into one female role. A well known woman who accomplished that was Clytemnestra in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon who threw many twists and turns into the plot.

    Read More

More about The Effect of the Sirens

Open Document