Helen of Troy
Helen is the most beautiful woman in Greece and married to King Menelaus of Sparta. People consider her as the daughter of the most puissant god, Zeus. However, her captivating beauty causes prince Paris to elope her. The poem, To Helen, by Edgar Allan Poe, reveals his love and affection for Helen’s beauty. Whereas the second poem, Helen, by H.D. Greeks revile the beauty and attractiveness that Helen possessed. These two poems referring to Helen of Troy reveals the two speakers’ attitude dealing with Helen’s astonishing beauty.
In the first poem, Edgar Poe writes his poem in the first person which lauds Helen’s beauty even more. He also uses adjectives like “gently…perfumed sea” (Line 3), where Helen is being compared to a sea that represents serenity, tranquility within her beauty. In the narrator’s point of view, Helen helps a man stabilizes
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The Greeks greatly despise her beautiful “eyes in [her] white face… [and] white hands” (Lines 1-5). Even though, Ancient Greeks back then believe that having a pale skin is prestigious and admirable. However, Helen is an exemption, in fact, they neglect the truth that Helen’s competence of alluring every man in their country. In like manner, they criticize her smiles and expression of sadness because it makes them remember the “past enchantments and past ills” (Lines 10 -11). They think that Helen’s superficial beauty just gives misfortunes to them and will never be blind to it again. In the same way, Helen’s charm is the main factor of the Trojan war, which results in a disastrous event for the Greeks. Furthermore, the Greeks wish that Helen lays on a “white ash amid funereal cypresses” (Lines 15 -16), which provokes an image of death. Since Helen is the cause of the Greeks’ tragedy, they want her to vanish away from this world. Otherwise, their resentment and repugnance on Helen will last