Essay On The Sirens In Homer's Odyssey

In the Odyssey, after being warned by the Goddess Circe, “First of all, you’ll run into the Sirens. They seduce all men who come across them. Whoever unwittingly goes past them and hears the Sirens’ call never gets back.” (Line 47-50) Odysseus and his men took heed to her advice and set out to sea. As they neared the rocks of Scylla, Odysseus ordered his men to tie him tightly to the mast, and to roll bee’s wax into their ears, and in the next few moments the sweet sounding song was heard, but it only reached Odysseus’s ears. The sirens used flattery to try and win over Odysseus, but when he called to his men, they refused and tied him down with more ropes. Their song was lovely, and legend had it that the song was so sweet that no man ever heard it and lived to tell the tale, but Odysseus came out successful. He had heard the song, and all thanks to the goddess Circe’s advice and warning. The sirens played a onetime part in this event, but two artists, Margaret Atwood and John William Waterhouse have given a perspective from their point of view. Both retain

to the mystical sirens, and both have the storyline embedded in their words or behind some oil paint.
In Atwood’s poem “Siren song”, we are presented with a poem that gives a look into the life of a sirens, rather than the struggle that Odysseus and his men face. In the poem, the speaker’s tone can be described as unimpressed and experienced. This helps add to the idea that the sirens no longer see the thrill or excitement in the death of the sailors, “I don't enjoy it here squatting on this island” (Line 15 & 16) they have seen it happen numerous times in their life that they no longer feel the fun in it. With this in mind the poem can be described as detached and candid, the speaker is telling the reader of the song and the causes of it, but it is said with very lax emotions; very nonchalant. This leaves the reader feeling wary and when the poem shows the sirens’ dishonesty as they finally capture their prey, this leaves a strong sense of fear and caution. One aspect of the poem that is rather important is that it is written in 1st person, but is told from the sirens point of view. The siren obviously feels satisfaction when men fall for their trick, but is tired and wishes to be freed from it, “will you get me out of this bird suit?” (Line 11 & 12). This poem gives us, the readers, a new look onto the sirens, with this in mind, the sirens can be viewed as something besides a vicious and mindless creature with only one task on mind.
The Poem was written by Margaret Atwood, a Canadian poet, novelist, and environmentalist activist; she was born November 18, 1939, and was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Her poetry first began gaining publicity in the 1960’s with her collection of poems called “The Circle Game” which was published in 1966 and later received the Governor-General’s Award. As a novelist Atwood was most known for her work called “The Edible Woman” which was published in 1969. One of the most common story ideas in her literature is the idea of female struggle. Atwood claims that she puts this in her literature because women she has spoken with have struggled and Atwood felt that she should show the true nature of women in her literature. Her poem goes along with her usually style, since the siren who is speaking is struggling with their endless cycle and the boredom felt from it.
Swarming sirens, and fearful looking men are the first thing to catch our eyes as we look at the painting known as “Ulysses and the Sirens” which was painted by the Artist John William Waterhouse. As someone who had no idea of the original epic by Homer, this would appear to be something picked out from ancient Greek mythology and used for a great composition and conversation starter, but there are meanings within the painting. As the viewer gazes at the painting, a suspense can be felt as they view the sirens swarming and seemingly trying to lure the men to their watery demise, but the real attention from a quick glance is the man tied to the mast. This is most obviously Ulysses, or Odysseus in Greek, Waterhouse effectively drew attention to him by painting him in white clothing, which contrasts to his current background. In the original story, or encounter they endured, there were only two sirens who sat on their island, but sang their song so loudly it was only able to reach Odysseus’s unclogged ears “The voice that reached me was so fine my heart longed to listen. I told my crew to set me free,” (Line 248-250). In the painting, Waterhouse has seemed to add more suspense and action as he painted multiple sirens who seem to be closing in on the men and trying to lure them even without the ability to hear their wonderful song. The complexity of the shadows and depth provided has given the sirens an even more Frightening appeal with the immense amount of detail in their expressions and movements. His interpretation of these creatures shows that Waterhouse viewed them as an alluring danger that wore a pretty mask.
John William Waterhouse was a British painter who was born in Rome, Italy on April 6, 1849 and died on February 10, 1917. In his life, he painted and produced over 200 pieces, which were all held with great respect by his peers. Waterhouse’s father was a painter, so in that sense he grew up in a very artistic household. His art were primarily created using oil paints, and most of his art was influenced by artists such Leighton and Alma-Tadema. Though he usually worked with oils, he has created rather extravagant pieces using watercolor, which was why he was elected in 1883 into the Royal Academy as a painter of watercolors. His last work was “The Enchanted Garden” which was painted during his last ten years of life which were filled with illness, sadly his painting was never finished. He died at the age of 68 from cancer, so the Royal Academy displayed his last work there on his death bed.
The connection between the painting and poem, is the atmosphere of the unknown that both these pieces emit. Each piece shows the men almost like toys, play things for the sirens to torment and play with, like an animal playing with its food before devouring it. Both pieces seem to represent the one thing that men for countless generations have shown evidently throughout time, and that would be ignorance. Ignorance to the unknown, the different, the unusual, and even the emotions of others. That is what these pieces have in common, they show the ignorance of man, and their general curiosity. The unawareness, ignorance, or indifference that all human beings possess can be the cause of the dire moment in which your life and your existence is tested upon. The Siren from the poem speaks of the men like you would a little puppy who fell for your tricks, “This song is a cry for help: Help me!” (Line 23 & 24). The painting, the sirens are shown acting like a pack of wild, hungry dogs taunting their prey as they helplessly hope to survive. Both pieces show the sirens in the same way, depicting them cruel as they taunt and tease their victims.
The story of the Odyssey is often a piece of literature that is so unique and so revolutionary, many authors, poets, and even artists try to recreate their version of the story.

Atwood and Waterhouse have made extraordinary additions to the endless variations of the Sirens. Waterhouse’s approach was more exaggerated as he added more sirens, and exaggerated their actions as the sirens were painted swarming and inspecting the men close up. Atwood showed her variation by making her poem from the point of view of a siren, and making them appear to be less curious and more cunning. Atwood’s sirens appeared to have more common sense and used it to their advantage. The two artists used their prior knowledge of the Odyssey to further illustrate the poem with their own ideas and imaginations, Atwood and Waterhouse have helped with further analyzation of the sirens by giving more detail on the personalities of the

sirens.