Siren Song By Margaret Atwood Analysis

Many times, people tend to judge things by their exterior appearance. Of course, it is only natural for one’s attention to be caught by something or someone aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. However, just because the superficiality of an object or entity is eye-catching, it does not always mean the content or value is of the same measure. For that reason, the phrase “never judge a book by its cover,” fits perfectly well regarding this subject matter. Because the outer presentation is appealing, one assumes that whatever lies within is just as appealing. Relatively, an individual is also apt to judge another individual by their physical features and attire, and presume their substance to be of equivalence. Thankfully, Margaret Atwood’s “Siren

In “Siren Song,” Atwood glorifies the “song” that picks at everyone’s desire to know. In the first stanza, the Siren states: “This is the one song / everyone / would like to learn: the / song / that is irresistible” (Atwood 1-5). However, in the third stanza, the Siren points out that “anyone who has / heard it / is dead […]” (Atwood 12-14). In an attempt to warn the sailors, the Siren clearly expresses the implication of listening to the infamous song. Despite the good intention, the Siren then urges them to “[c]ome closer […]” (Atwood 30). Hence, Atwood played with diction to convey the ironic outcome the Siren created. Moreover, in “Richard Cory,” the irony lies within the townspeople due to their desire to be like Richard Cory. Blindly, they “thought that he was everything / To make us wish that we were in his place” (Robinson 11-12). As if worshipping, Cory is thought of as an idyllic figure as a result of his status, as well as his intelligence. In “Overview: ‘Richard Cory’” (1999), it states that the “us” in line 12 “may indicate rather that they want his kinglike ‘place’ in society.” Seeing as how pleasant Cory’s life seems, the townspeople want to live just like him. It was not until “Richard Cory, one calm summer night, / Went home and

Furthermore, in “Richard Cory,” the speaker addresses him or herself and everyone else of the same class as “people of the pavement” (Robinson 2). Superficially, they all see him as “a gentleman from sole to crown, / Clean favored, and imperially slim” (Robinson 3-4). From the first stanza, the readers are able to visualize the image of Richard Cory being separated from those who are on the pavement and belong to a higher class. The speaker continues and describes him as “always quietly arrayed, / And he was always human when he talked” (Robinson 5-6). Obviously, the townspeople perceive Cory as a superior because he dresses fancy and with orderliness. Whenever Cory speaks, he sounds human just like everyone else, but the speaker assumes that he sounds different because he is different from everyone else. Therefore, the speaker states that “he was rich – yes, richer than a king - / And admirably schooled in every grace” (Robinson 9-10). He or she is comparing Cory to a king and that Cory is the better one in terms of wealth. Along with the wealth, Cory is also exceptionally well-mannered, knows how to speak appropriately, and knows how to handle any situation. Unknowingly, the townspeople all “thought that he was everything” (Robinson 11). At this point, readers can perceive the