The
Sirens and their song are portrayed through two different perspectives,
offering the reader a more complete understanding of their manipulation.
In
The Odyssey, the Sirens are described
from the perspective of Odysseus, a man who hears their song while tied up on
his ship. Odysseus clearly knows to expect danger when he passes the Sirens,
for he instructs his crew to plug their ears and securely bind him to the mast.
However, despite his anticipation of their influence, Odysseus still falls
victim to their song. His heart “throbbed to listen longer” to their “ravishing
voices.” He seems to lack any sense of control over his emotions, and his body
yearns to go to them.
“Siren
Song” offers an alternate perspective on the manipulation of these creatures,
allowing the reader to consider their point of view. The Sirens have a
conscious awareness of the effect they have on people, noting that their song “is
irresistible: / the song that forces men / to leap overboard in squadrons /
even though they see the beached skull.” The image they describe is rather
disturbing and morbid; they are referring to the skull of a dead man who had
fallen victim to their influence. The fact that they can be so cavalier and
matter-of-fact about the death they have caused demonstrates their confidence
in their influence. The Sirens are so sure that men will be powerless to resist
their voices that they essentially say whatever they want. They are confident
of their complete control.
In
order to manipulate men, the Sirens try to play on their sympathy. In “Siren
Song,” the Sirens lament how they “don’t enjoy it here” and “don’t enjoy
singing.” Indeed, they seem to be asking for pity from the men on ships. Men
often wish to play the hero and save the damsel in distress, so the Sirens take
advantage of these inclinations to lure the men in. In The Odyssey, Odysseus calls their song an “urgent call.” By
pretending to be the victims, the Sirens are able to pull men in while in
actuality the men fall victim to the schemes of the Sirens.
To further captivate
men’s attentions, the Sirens personally call out to them, emphasizing the pronoun
“you.” The Sirens cry for “help,” saying that “Only you, only you can, / you
are unique.” Not only do men like to play the hero, but they also like to feel
unique and special. By creating a personal call, the Sirens heighten the
responsibility a man hearing their song feels for saving them. In The Odyssey, they call specifically, “Come
closer, famous Odysseus.” A man hearing the song feels a personal connection to
the Sirens when they directly call to him.
Although the Sirens
employ manipulative techniques to entice men to come to them, the effort seems
be superfluous. There is absolutely no way to resist the Sirens’ calls. In The Odyssey, the image of Odysseus bound
to the mast as he listens to the song reminds the reader that he is not in
control of himself. Despite his awareness of their influence, he cannot control
himself. The words themselves and the manipulative techniques employed do not
seem to justify the immense amount of power the song has over Odysseus, so the
reader must assume that the song itself has a greater power. In “Siren Song,”
the Sirens blatantly acknowledge at the beginning of the song that it is “irresistible”
and that people die from listening to it. They can say this because they know
the song will undoubtedly captivate any man who passes by, no matter what they
say. Indeed, the song itself is remarkably boring and unoriginal, as they
acknowledge at the end: “Alas / it is a boring song / but it works every time.”
Although the song profoundly affects the listener, the Sirens do not put much
effort into it. “Siren Song” has almost a condescending, mocking tone as the
Sirens lure poor men into their clutches.
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