The Sirens: The Daughters Of Phorcys

Through the imagery of both Homer and Margaret Atwood we see the difference in the Siren’s attitude in each poem. In The Odyssey, the Siren says, “honeyed voices pouring from our lips.” This imagery is a seductive tactic used by the Siren to lure the men closer. Odysseus tells us that his heart wanted more. This shows how the desire to get closer to the Siren was toxic. In “Siren Song” the Siren uses imagery to mock herself and make the reader feel bad for her. She tells us that she is “squatting on the island looking picturesque and mythical.” It is inferred that she is simply unhappy and bored where she is.

The sirens in both texts have different views on the song and how it allures people. They describe what it does to people who come in close proximity of the song.

Although having pride in yourself may be a positive in moderation, being too proud of oneself will lead to nothing. Many who look down on others will never learn from their peers, and will only boast of their own achievements. In the poems from “The Odyssey Book 12” by Homer and “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood, both authors write of Odysseus’ struggle regarding the Sirens. Sirens are half-woman, half-bird creatures who use their music to tempt sailors to shipwreck on islands or to jump off the boat to their death. They call out to him on his journey back home, trying to get him to come to them. The Sirens sing of his great accomplishments, and use flattery to lure him out. These poems show that arrogance and vanity will get one nowhere.

In all three works of art, the epic poem (The Odyssey), Atwood’s poem (“Siren Song”), and Waterhouse’s Ulysses & The Sirens, all portray the Sirens differently by the author's tone. Waterhouse uses art to set the dramatic and threatening tone while The Odyssey uses poetry to set the dramatic tone. The tone of Atwood’s poem depicts the Sirens as being mischievous yet bored.

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.

In Greek mythology, sirens were creatures who lived in the sea that had beautiful appearances and voices that led the incoming sailors to their doom. By using their melodic voices they compel the sailors to jump into the ocean, leading them to their death. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald compares Daisy Buchanan to sirens. Similarly to the sirens, Daisy lures in men with her melodic tone to an inaccessible fantasy, compelling them towards her and leading them to destruction.

While voyaging home Odysseus and his crew came upon the Sirens, luring creatures that sang a song for Odysseus. As directed by Circe, a goddess, the egoistic captain is told to listen to the

In Homer’s “The Odyssey” the sirens are depicted as dangerous creatures who are set out to ruin the men’s lives through alluring voices. Evidence of this can be seen when Circe tells Odysseus that there is,”no wife rising to meet him”(12.48) who draws to close to the sirens, and that there will be “no happy children beaming at their father’s face”(12.49). By these quotes, it is evident that emphasis is placed on the man and that the sirens (the women) will ruin his

The sirens where monsters that made a noise that tricked everyone.Well Odysseus knew this and came up with a great idea.He thought putting ears wax on himself and the ears of his men would help them greatly.Odysseus was right everyone was able to leave safely.(“Plug your oasman with beeswax” pg 678 line

Half woman half bird, the sirens perch themselves along mountain tops in the sea, singing an enchanting song to innocent voyagers that pass by, captivating them to jump of their boats and descend to their death. These sirens however are portrayed in many different ways. In Fagles’ The Odyssey, Fagles portrays the sirens as merciless killing machines. However in Margaret Atwood’s poem “Siren Song,” the sirens are portrayed as the victims and that they are the ones that need help from their never ending torture.

Both Homer’s Odyssey and Margaret Atwood’s poem “Siren Song” present mysterious sirens who lure men by singing a song. Homer and Atwood both demonstrate the enticing nature of sirens and their melody by incorporating tone and diction. Both Atwood and Homer display an enticing tone when describing the sirens, which demonstrates that they are enchanting, yet dangerous creatures. For example, Homer writes, “thrilling song ‘come closer famous Odysseus…moor your ship on our coast so you can hear our song!” The quote demonstrates an enchanting and enticing tone, which emulates the characteristics of the sirens.

In Atwood’s poem, the Sirens are described as alluring from one Siren’s point of view due to their knowledge of how to appeal to men’s desires to be heroic, while in Homer’s excerpt, Odysseus’ point of view believes that the Sirens are appealing solely to him. For example, Odysseus describes the Siren’s voices as ‘honeyed,’ and to add to the image, ‘pouring from their lips’. Honey is generally sweet, but can also be sticky, resembling the Siren’s tactics attempting to lure men in. In the same excerpt, Odysseus recalls the Sirens call as “famous Odysseus, - Achaea’s

The Sirens are crying beauty to bewitch men coasting by. “ They will sing your mind away on their sweet meadow lolling” (678 ll.666-667) . the fact that  they keep bones and skins shriveled around them  this shows that the Sirens weren’t very kind. “ the Sirens were noting odysseus’ s fast ship off their point made ready and they sanged until the Sirens  dropped under the sea rim and the singing dwindled away”(681 ll.750 -751). The only reason they survived was because they decided to put a thick coat of beeswax on all the oarsman's ears to block out the singing from the Sirens . When the singing from the Sirens was don they pulled all the beeswax from their ears. Then the crew kept on sailing to the next island.

Once the men are drawn to the Sirens, they are stuck and there is no way for them to escape. Additionally, Homer explains Odysseus’ encounter with the Sirens from Odysseus’ point of view. The Sirens try to attract Odysseus by singing compliments to “famous Odysseus,” so he will assume he is the object of their desire (14). The Sirens are intelligent, and therefore determine what Odysseus’ true weaknesses: flattery and the desire for recognition. His faults are similar to other men; however no other men share Odysseus’ unique wish. When Odysseus sails by, they attack his weaknesses, just as they do to the other ships, but Odysseus already is prepared. The Sirens sing to him and promise he will be able to “[sail] on a wiser man” if Odysseus listens to their song (18). His plan almost fails because the song captivates Odysseus and, thus, attempts to join the Sirens, risking his life to gain the knowledge that the Sirens guarantee. Odysseus navigates himself through the sea with hopes of becoming more intelligent. Homer describes the Sirens as beautiful yet cunning because of their ability to identify men’s weaknesses easily. Their beauty attracts men and thus draws them toward their death. Homer’s view of the relationship between Odysseus and the Sirens prove that the Sirens are extremely tempting and the men cannot help but fall for them.

All four sources that incorporate sirens deliver the message of temptation, but each convey the idea in a different manner(SoW #2, Compound Sentence). The separate elements of each work uses figurative language, visual imagery, and word choices. Although they all differ, all four pieces of literature share several commonalities(SoW #3, Introductory subordinate clause). The epic poem, The Odyssey, and painting, “Ulysses and the Sirens”, convey their messages very differently, as the epic uses visual imagery and figurative language, yet the painting uses its colors and subject placement. Additionally, the poem and song share the use of word choice and tone, but the uses of imagery and tempo differ.