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The Sirens In Margaret Atwood's 'The Sirens' Song

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The Sirens are beautiful creatures in Greek mythology that sing with their beautiful voice to lure sailors and men. The sirens are portrayed today in books, poems, and also in artwork. There are many similarities and differences in the way the Sirens are portrayed in Homer’s Book 12, “The Sirens”, Margaret Atwood’s poem, “Siren Song”, and Romare Bearden’s artwork, “The Sirens’ Song”. In all three versions of the Siren, the sirens are shown to have similar emotional traits and setting, and they are also known to have a beautiful voice in all three versions. In all three versions of The Siren, the siren is shown to have a seductive and luring emotional trait. This shown in Homer’s Book 12 when Circe says, “ First of all, you’ll will run into …show more content…

In Margaret Atwood’s poem, “Siren Song” she says, “Come closer. This song is a cry for help: Help me! Only you, only you can, you are unique” (21-24). This part of the poem shows the siren trying to seduce the man or audience. Romare Bearden’s artwork, “The Sirens’ Song”, also show the sirens being seductive and this is seen by the more pose attracting pose they are doing. In Homer’s Book 12, “The Sirens”, the setting is an island and this is shown when the Sirens say, “No man has ever rowed in his black ship past this island and not listened to us” (154-155). This setting is also shown in Margaret Atwood’s poem when she says, “I don’t enjoy it here squatting on this island”(13-14). The island setting is also in Romare Bearden’s artwork which can be seen by the land being surrounded by water. Through the three versions, the Sirens’ voices are described as beautiful. For example, in Homer’s Book 12, “The Sirens” the Sirens say, “No man has ever rowed in his black past this island and not listened to us, sweet-voiced melodies sung from our lips (154-156). The Sirens’’ voices are again described as beautiful in Margaret Atwood’s poem, when she says, “ This is the one song everyone would to learn: the song that is irresistible”(1-3). She describes it as irresistible which means

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In The Odyssey, Homer portrays the sirens as wicked temptresses. In Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song”, she helps readers understand that the sirens don’t enjoy their duties of luring sailors to their deaths. Homer expresses how Odysseus’ strong urge to break free from the ropes holding him back and find the source of the voice he hears is hypnotic and evil. In the poem, the sirens tell him to “Come closer, famous Odysseus- Achaea’s pride and glory- moor your ship on our coast so you can hear our song” (Homer, 12.200-201). In The Odyssey, the sirens’ approach is to feed into his ego in an attempt to lure him and his crew to their deaths.

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Given the leader he is, when Odysseus and his men encountered the sirens, his men were quick to follow his instructions with diligence. Homer writes, “Sirens weakening a haunting song over the sea we are to shun”(690-691). The sirens sing a songs to lure sailors to their death. Homer writes, “I alone should listen to their song”(693-694). Odysseus knowing what the sirens purpose and having prior knowledge of the things the sirens would say to him.

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The sirens can be described as scary, unnatural, and strange,and while the crew men are concentrate, Odysseus is curious and is letting his self be tortured. This painting communicates the idea that the sirens are mean and annoying and Odysseus being tortured, while book 12 communicates the idea that the sirens are horrible and crazy,and Odysseus is crazy and curious, yet wise. The sirens in the poem are different from the in the painting. In the picture,it shows birds which are the suppose to be the sirens that are flying around a man which is suppose to be Odysseus tied up to the mast and from his face expression he looks to be in some serious pain, while crew men are at the bottom paddling away from the sirens, this painting communicates pain.(As shown in the painting). In the poem from the sirens point of view, they do not seem to enjoying themselves and they are getting tired of being on that island.

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