"Siren Song" Analysis and Reflection

POEM #1

“Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood

Pages 342-343

Analysis

“Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood, is a concise and cleverly written piece that uses both allusion and diction to convey the meaning of the poem, that women should fend for themselves, and that men should let them fend for themselves, or suffer the consequences.

In Greek mythology there existed three “Sirens”. These individuals were not normal humans like us, but rather, they were half-bird, half-woman beings. There were three Sirens and they would play sweet music to allure ships towards them as cause them to crash on the rocky shore. This is evident in lines 4-9, which say:

“the song that forces men

to leap overboard in squadrons

even though they see beached skulls

the song nobody knows

because anyone who had heard it

is dead, and the others can’t remember.”

The allusion of the Sirens is essential to the entire piece, because if the reader is familiar with these creatures, then from the moment they read the title, they know of the speaker’s (who is a siren) true intentions. The Siren who is the speaker expresses how they lure men in from the sea by how she plays the “damsel in distress” character. She says “…Help me!/Only you, only you can,/you are unique”. In saying this she gives the man worth, meaning, purpose, and that purpose is to save her. While he was passing he saw the “beached skulls” but disregarded them because of the sweet music and cries for help coming from the Siren. This allusion, and the way men fall into the trap, contribute to the meaning of the poem that calls for men to let women save themselves because they are fully capable, and for women to not plead for men’s aid.

The diction of this piece is also key to discovering the meaning. The speaker describes herself and the other two Sirens in a somewhat humorous in phrases such as “bird suit”, “two feathery maniacs”, “fatal and valuable”, “squatting on this island” and “picturesque and mythical”. All of these phrases, no matter how ridiculously sounding they may be, are used by the speaker to sway the mariner into falling into her trap. By describing the other two Sirens as “two feathery maniacs”, she makes herself ou to be the victim and the innocent one, making even more easier for the mariner to be deceived.

Reflection

With knowledge of other works by Atwood, such as “The Handmaid’s Tale”, one can reason that this is written to promotes feminism.  The allusion of the Siren represents women, and pleading for women to not always seek the help of men, and to not play the “damsel in distress” character, because you can help yourself. On the other hand, one could also view this piece as purely a comedic one, simply because of the cunningness of the Siren and the humorous diction used. The comedic theme is capped off with the few lines: “…Alas/it is a boring song/but it works every time.” I picture the Siren releasing a big sigh after leading the mariner to his demise, sitting on a rock reflecting on her deception as if it were no big deal, that it happens all the time. I do believe though that this poem is meant to implore women to not be bored and keep asking men to fix all their problems and to fight their own battle. But, the comedic tone takes the deceptive edge off the piece, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read.