The poetic works of Homer and Margaret Atwood
use varying techniques to portray the mythological Sirens as fatally seductive.
The Sirens’ selection of detail is important in
the “Siren Songs” of both works. The
Odyssey’s Sirens sing of their “honeyed voices pouring from [their] lips”
(17). This imagery is sweet, smooth, and
tempting. Their song beckons Odysseus to
throw himself overboard with their seductive diction. Odysseus acknowledges their beauty, noting
the “ravishing” nature of their voices and how “the heart inside [him] throbbed
to listen longer” (20). Their
multi-faceted attractiveness helps the Sirens to begin to lure Odysseus into
their trap. Similarly, Atwood’s Siren
Song creates a physically tempting image of the singer. The singer describes
herself as “picturesque and mythical” (15).
She also contrasts herself with her fellow Sirens, calling them
“feathery maniacs,” and she asks her audience for salvation (16, 21). Not only does her description of her
situation make her appear more beautiful in comparison with her surroundings,
but it also conveys a false impression of innocence and vulnerability, both of
which are usually considered appealing characteristics of women. Both sets of Sirens come across as desirable
women in order to tempt and seduce their audience.
While the Sirens make themselves appear to be
beautiful and vulnerable, both works make it clear to the omniscient reader
that the Sirens are in fact deceiving and murderous. Both target the specific person who is
listening to the song. In the case of The
Odyssey, the Sirens refer to “famous Odysseus—Achaea’s pride and glory”
(14). Odysseus, notorious for his
hubris, will likely be tempted by their flattery of him. They also lie to Odysseus, telling him he
will grow in wisdom from hearing their song (18). Odysseus may feel tempted to leap to them in
pursuit of knowledge because he may not realize that they are being dishonest
and deceptive. In Atwood’s poem, the
Sirens give the listener a sense of self-importance, telling him two different
times, “Only you”: only you, the listener, deserve to hear my song, and only
you can save me from this cliff (19, 23).
A proud sailor may feel that attending this singing creature is his duty,
if he is that necessary to her. He does
not realize that the Sirens probably says that to every traveler that passes
by, all of whom take the bait and jump to their deaths.
A notable difference between these two works is
where the reader derives background information on the Siren Song. Odysseus knows better from the start. He knows the seductive power of the Sirens,
which is why he orders his men to tie him to the mast. While the reader of the epic can still be
impressed by the seductive, albeit dishonest, nature of the song, he may not
feel pity for Odysseus because the hero knows exactly what he is in for. In contrast, “Siren Song” is more tragic
because the listener does not realize the danger of the song until it is too
late, even though he has already heard the brutal honesty of the Sirens in the
second stanza.
