Daedalus And Icarus Literary Devices

Nothing in the World is worse than losing the one you love, the one who means everything to you. Daedalus is the father of Icarus, and Daedalus clearly shows his love and affection for his son Icarus and Icarus clearly shows his love and faith in his Father. In the excerpt from “Daedalus and Icarus” by OVID, the author uses imagery, dialogue and diction to establish a loving and caring father, son relationship between the characters. Their unique, loving relationship is shown through the way they talk to each other, the way they use their words, and the way they give us images that they rely on each other.

The Author uses various techniques to establish and prove the loving and caring relationship Daedalus and Icarus have for each. One major technique OVID uses to show care is with the dialogue between the characters. For example, the moment Daedalus speaks to his son, “...My son, I caution you to keep/the middle way, for if your pinions dip/too low the waters may

impede your flight;...” (Ovid, Lines 24-26). This advice given to his son shows that Daedalus is always being cautious for his son like any parent would be, therefore establishing their caring relationship. This advice is showing Icarus even though he is leaving that he can always count on his dad to be there for him when he needs it.
Another technique the author uses to achieve his goal of establishing the relationship is through the use of diction, the simple words the author uses give the reader a greater meaning. For example, the author shows us a moment between Daedalus and Icarus “...by his playfulness delay the work/ his anxious father planned.”(Ovid, lines 16-17). The word “playfulness” and “anxious” give us a greater picture, it is telling us that even through something so serious, Icarus still finds time to play and enjoy his moments with his father. Every little moment they spend together furthers blossoms their father, son relationship. Another example of diction that gives a greater meaning is when Daedalus sees his dead son, “...of his dear Icarus, floating on the waves;/ and he began to rail and curse his art.”(Ovid, lines 62-63). Although this line doesn’t show love and joy between the father and son, the words show us the grief and miserable moment Daedalus is passing by losing his son. The words that show us his feeling of loss are “rail” and “curse”, these words are implying that he is in pain, he is feeling the worst possible by losing his son. The author clearly uses words to show their love in the moments they spend and to show the pain they can go through losing that one you loved so much.
The last technique that the author uses to show us great moments Daedalus and Icarus spend together is through the use of imagery.

The author gives us various moments in which you can visualize the loving moments between a father and his son. Daedalus and Icarus clearly love each other and can’t help to be happy around each other “...While he was working, his son Icarus, /with smiling countenance...” (OVID, Lines 11-12). This again shows that even though it is serious, Icarus is smiling and enjoy every moment with his father like it is his last. Another example is when Daedalus realizing his son is leaving “...the tears were falling. Then he gave his son/ a last kiss...” (OVID Lines 33-34). This is allowing us to visualize that this is showing us that he is sad, he doesn’t want to let go off his son. It is hard to let go off the those you love the most, and being able to know they wouldn’t let go of you either. This is showing us how deep of a relationship Daedalus and Icarus have as father and

son.
Daedalus and Icarus clearly love each other, they clearly rely on each other. The author establishes the relationship by using his words in a different meaning, by having dialogue to show the love between the father and son, and he gives us images to allow us to image how much they love each other and enjoy each other. A relationship between parent and child is the strongest relationship in the World and it is also the one thing that can shatter you. The author allows us to view the love and the loss all in the words and images.