Leda And The Swan Analysis

Power Wrongly Implies Privilege Power, position, fame and wealth can wrongly give a sense of entitlement. In Greek mythology, this entitlement was the accepted norm. In today’s society everyone is held accountable for their actions; however, people of power often think their actions have no consequences. The poem “Leda and the Swan” written by William Butler Yeats is comparable to current media reports in today’s society; men of power being accused of sexual misconduct against women. Many famous men repeatedly abuse their power and the consequences often fall upon women and society, relating to the events in “Leda and the Swan”. Acceptable behaviour in society today is very different than what was believed in Greek mythology. Men of power and position today should realize that they are …show more content…
As a result of the rape Leda bore a daughter named Helen. Helen was kidnapped as an adult because of her great beauty leading to the Trojan War. The war lasted for ten years, resulting in the city of Troy never recovering, and the tragic death of the king of Mycenae, Agamemnon. (https://www.igreekmythology.com/trojan-war.html). The effects of inappropriate behaviour, whether it be suggestive language, unwanted touching or kissing, to outright sexual violence, has a great impact in today’s culture. Not only do these acts affect the victims but they also impact friends, family, and other women in society. “The effects of violent crime on women in general can be far-reaching. Indirect exposure to violent crime can remind others in the community of their potential risk of victimization, which in turn, increases overall levels of fear” (Stats Canada Impact of violence against women, Johnson and Dawson 2011). Attacks by those in a position of power are detrimental to modern day society, in the sense that women feel threatened. These inappropriate behaviours have great impacts and consequences in both