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Margaret Atwood The Sirens Analysis

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Greek mythology has a huge impact in our arts, literature, and poetry today. The different types of stories in Greek mythology have morals or lessons. For example, in the Odyssey, there is a story called, “The Sirens”. In this story, there is a man named Odysseus, and he and his crew are in the ocean on their ship, and the men are preparing, while Odysseus is putting his focus on the Sirens coming. The Sirens come and express their feelings how they want to be free from their bird suits, and that they need complete freedom. The Sirens are being persuasive by telling the reader that the only way they can be free is if the reader did it. That is when it all goes downhill. The Sirens trick the reader to making them feel special, and that’s when it all leads to danger. Artist John Williams Waterhouse and poet Margaret Atwood took this story up another level. Both Ulysses and the Sirens by John Williams Waterhouse and “The Sirens” by Margaret Atwood use the myth to show The Sirens are being persuasive so that they can lead their victim into danger. In “The Sirens” Margaret Atwood uses diction, imagery, and detail to convey the devious persuasive Sirens. In the beginning of the poem, the speaker states that “the song that is irresistible” (lines 2-3). Temptation can lead to some disastrous events, and it …show more content…

Waterhouse puts Odysseus in the center of the painting, so we know that he is the main focal point. In front of Odysseus, there are the Sirens flying onto the boat from the sky just looking at him. Behind and to the side of Odysseus, there are his men rowing the boat being prepared. There are enormous rocks in the water in the background. The mood of the painting seems to be detached. This contributes to the theme because the men are rowing the boat, and Odysseus and the Sirens are just staring at each

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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.

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