A Comparison Of Ulysses And The Sirens

Greek Mythology has had a beneficial effect on today's literature, arts and even society. These myths explain today’s world and how things came to be. They also teach us relevant lessons about life through works such as paintings and poems, that go way beyond the paper and give us a deeper meaning. For instance, the story of Ulysses and the Sirens was a story of these irresistible sea creatures that men could not avoid. The myth showcases temptresses luring men in, and then leading them to their deaths. However, artist John William Waterhouse and poet Margaret Atwood give this myth a much deeper meaning. Both Ulysses and the Sirens by John Williams Waterhouse and “Siren Song” by Margaret Atwood use the myth of the Sirens to show that people are naturally drawn to things that make them feel special and unique, but if they’re constantly caught in this trap they can be easily taken advantage of. In the poem “Siren Song” Margaret Atwood uses diction, imagery and syntax to create a sincere yet fatal tone. She starts out describing the Sirens’ song by saying, “This is the song everyone would like to learn, the song …show more content…
In the painting Ulysses is tied up to the mast of ship, which ties to the myth in which Ulysses tells his men to tie him up in order to mask his temptations of the sirens. There are also sirens surrounding the entire ship in bird suits. They’re all dark brown, the darkness representing the figurative darkness of the actual creature. Ulysses men are also rowing fast and forcefully, showing their urge to just get away. The men are trying to resist their own temptations, and they’re partly responsible for Ulysses, and trying to help him defy his temptations. To the left of the ship there is a man seen sitting and covering his ears, which also adds to the effect of the loud singing, and resistance of the