Life constrained in the white picket fences of the suburbs is merely misery hidden in disguise. In the poem “Icarus” by Edward Field, the author takes a twist on the Greek mythological story of Icarus, the boy with wings made of feathers and wax. In his version, Icarus is able to survive the catastrophic fall that many believe was the cause of his death. Ending up in what seems to be the suburbs, Icarus is now trapped in the conformity of modern society. In order to emphasize the dangers of this lifestyle, Field uses the strategies of connotation and irony to reveal Icarus’s mental state of despair caused by the setting; he also utilizes the technique of symbolism to demonstrate the anguish hidden in the norms of contemporary society. Neat
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Throughout the entire poem, Field constantly refers to the sights of a modern neighborhood by using words such as “archive”, “commuter trains”, and “city.” These simplistic words are used to describe the bland and mundane atmosphere of the poem. No flowery or heightened language is found in the work, mimicking the dull, contemporary setting. In addition to this strategy, Field also transitions his diction in the second stanza. He begins to reveal Icarus’s true character and discusses his feeling with phrases such as “sad, defeated eyes” and “horrible mistake.” The connotation of words helps the reader understand how Icarus’s mental state is spiraling into a pit of depression. The redundancy of the setting is negatively impacting his psychological health. In addition, Field uses a bit of situational irony by placing a Greek mythological character in the ordinary realms of modern life. These mythological figures are depicted as legends destined for greatness. Yet, here stands Icarus among ordinary mortals where he simply “rented a house and tended the garden.” The setting is nothing grand. Shifting from an ancient universe filled with gods and heroes to a modern suburban setting is taking a toll on Icarus’s mind. The Greek legend cannot withstand living in this environment and “wishes he drowned.” This suicidal thought ends the poem, allowing the reader to
Throughout the entire poem, Field constantly refers to the sights of a modern neighborhood by using words such as “archive”, “commuter trains”, and “city.” These simplistic words are used to describe the bland and mundane atmosphere of the poem. No flowery or heightened language is found in the work, mimicking the dull, contemporary setting. In addition to this strategy, Field also transitions his diction in the second stanza. He begins to reveal Icarus’s true character and discusses his feeling with phrases such as “sad, defeated eyes” and “horrible mistake.” The connotation of words helps the reader understand how Icarus’s mental state is spiraling into a pit of depression. The redundancy of the setting is negatively impacting his psychological health. In addition, Field uses a bit of situational irony by placing a Greek mythological character in the ordinary realms of modern life. These mythological figures are depicted as legends destined for greatness. Yet, here stands Icarus among ordinary mortals where he simply “rented a house and tended the garden.” The setting is nothing grand. Shifting from an ancient universe filled with gods and heroes to a modern suburban setting is taking a toll on Icarus’s mind. The Greek legend cannot withstand living in this environment and “wishes he drowned.” This suicidal thought ends the poem, allowing the reader to