Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Atwood and feminism
Take a look at this. If you didn't repond last time, do so this time. Same kind of framework as was exemplified in class. We'll go through this tomorrow. Remember...Ren Faire on Friday.
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A prevalent theme in this poem is feminism, as Margaret Atwood seems to use this piece as a call to arms, as it were, for women to declare their independence. The line, "I don’t enjoy it here/ squatting on this island/ looking picturesque and mythical," refers to how women had always been treated as strange creatures; vessels without voices. Women were only picturesque when they were seen and not heard.
ReplyDeleteIn this poem, the narrator is one of the three deadly sirens, a reference to Greek mythology. The sirens would lure men at sea to their impending deaths using only their voices. These creatures, half woman, half bird, were only dangerous when they sang. Much like women were only dangerous when they felt free to express their thoughts and ideas. The "song that everyone would like to learn" is the siren song that would not necessarily bring death upon a man, but change upon an entire society wherein oppression was still present. The narrator explains that this song, this idea, is dangerous, causing men to "leap overboard in squadrons," and that she recognizes this feminist ideal as fatal to the way society has been previously maintained.
This siren song is a cry for help, as the narrator proclaims "only you can" to every single reader. The idea of feminism was considered dangerous. The "sirens" were finally declaring their voices for all to hear, so loud that they couldn't be ignored, much like the sailor couldn't ignore the siren song.
I definetly agree with homedemo that the narrator is a siren. I however interpreted the poem a little differently. First I saw this poem as a way of critizing men and their belief that women are these weak objects that always need to be resuced, and in fact, telling this poem through a Siren, Atwood is stating that women are actually the predators which allow men to fall in their trap (which is their belief), and that because of this society is not able to progress because the men don’t value what women contribute to society. “This is the one song everyone
ReplyDeletewould like to learn: the song that is irresistible:” I believe that this first part of the poem is talking about how men just like to hear when women are in distress and that is the only time they listen to women. The next few lines “forces men to leap overboard in squadrons even though they see beached skulls” show that men then have to “resuce the women” and show that they are strong. I believe the reference to beached skull is a comment on how this action by men is leading to the downfall of societies because it is known that a society cannot fully progress and develop if their women are not also progressing and are literate. Thus, throughout the whole poem the Siren (women) has to act like she inferior to a man to lure him in, but she is bored with living that kind of life, and ultimately wants to express herself and wants her voice and opinions to be heard.
I agree with the first and second comment.
ReplyDeleteYou can definetly see the aspect of feminism coming out of this poem. I see this poem as a manifestation of the 'sirens', because she really depicts the strong character of the sirens themselves. If we look at the lines "the song nobody knows
because anyone who had heard it
is dead, and the others can’t remember." I think that the word 'word' really emphasized what these few lines contain. Because of that, when I read it, I realized that their 'song' was actually quite powerful. Given that, I think that Margaret Atwood used that word to show the reader that women do not talk only to gossip. What they say is as important as what the men say. Therefore, I think she is really emphasizing that women have powerful voices, and that they cannot be ignored.
Also, I would also view the 'song that everyone would like to learn' as a sort of 'cure' for the women to speak out. I think that she directs this to all women, and is telling them that she knows how to make herself be heard, valuable and respected. I would view this as a 'shout-out' to women, urging them to speak their own opinions, thoughts, ideas etc... In the lines: "This song is a cry for help" really depicts her intention of encouraging women to take a stand, and let their voices be heard.
I also think that because she chose to represent the women's voice by the sirens' song, it shows how powerful their opinions can be.
Overall, this poem represents feminism explicitly, and the notion of women having a strong voice, and having the capability of being heard.
I thought that Atwood was illustrating the difference between what men have made women out to be and what women truly are, basically what everyone else has been saying but in a slightly different way. The lines "the song that forces men/ to leap overboard in squadrons/ even though they see beached skulls" to me represented the idealized form of a woman that has been created by society, someone who has been taught "the song/ that is irresistible" to men because it presents the woman as the ideal female partner. Of course, because this presentation is false, the men who are drawn in by this social construct "die," or are dissatisfied in their pursuit of perfect happiness.
ReplyDeleteThe speaker, who I agree is a siren, knows the reality of her predicament and admits that "I don’t enjoy it here/squatting on this island/ looking picturesque and mythical." She is tired of being seen as an idealized object, and tired of keeping company "with these two feathery maniacs," who represent women who try to fit and become the ideal female.
Hence, the speaker tells the reader "is a cry for help: Help me!/ Only you, only you can,/ you are unique." She wants the reader to see her for the individual that she is, not the beguiling creature others want her to be. She is tired of fulfilling her role and "singing" the correct song of the female role in society, which is simplistic and unfulfilling. We see this in her final statement that "it is a boring song/ but it works every time," showing that men will always be tricked into believing this false perception of women.
I definitely agree with the second comment in that the siren feigns distress so the men who try to rescue her ultimately meet their demise. In reference to feminism, I think Atwood is trying to say that women don't need men to rescue them, and even more that often times it is the woman who outsmarts the man. In the third stanza, Atwood writes, "Shall I tell you the secret
ReplyDeleteand if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?
I don’t enjoy it here
squatting on this island
looking picturesque and mythical" I think this is saying that women don't want to be held as trophy wives, confined to the household. The bird suit may represent their traditional place in society that they no longer want to remain in.
Like the first few posts, I agree that this poem is related to feminism.
ReplyDeleteThe sired, who are powerful Greek mythological creatures, are depicted as weak and trapped. I think that the sirens portray the feminists, who are "singing" the song for suffrage for women. The song, "nobody knows because anyone who had heard it is dead, and the others can’t remember" because those who tried to speak out for these women's rights have been silenced by those who disapprove of women's suffrage.
The siren asks the reader to "get [her] but of this bird suit?" The bird suit is figurative for what is oppressing the women. The siren wants to remove this oppressive bird suit and leave the island where she is trapped and cannot do anything but sing, similarly to how many women were stuck at home as housewives doing household work.
In the fifth verse, the siren addresses the reader and asks for help and says that "only you can, you are unique." Thus she is calling to her audience to help, to take action, and to fight for women's rights, then the song or women suffrage will be known and accepted.
The song is described as "boring" because it has already been sung for many years. The song "works every time" to make men "leap overboard in squadrons" to oppress the women.
I have to disagree with some of the above statements that the "Siren's song" is representative of some kind of unattainable image of society's idea of a perfect woman. Atwood remarks on the fact that this "song" is nearly lost ("...nobody knows because anyone who had heard it is dead, and the others can’t remember..."), which is nearly the opposite of what Atwood's view of society seems to be. In other words, it doesn't make much sense for Atwood to be talking about everyone forgetting about the oppressive and unrealistic standard that society tends to put on women; it is, in fact, very common. Instead, it may be more likely that the Siren's song refers to the willingness for women to empower themselves. The song has the power to cause widespread death among males, associating it with an affront to all of what Atwood perhaps perceived as a male-dominated society. She feels the need to spread this willingness for self-empowerment among others because it will legitimize the movement and not make it seems so ridiculous to the powerful institutions in society ("Shall I tell you the secret, and if I do, will you get me out of this bird suit?"). This may have been a major concern for Atwood in that she may have felt alone before such a movement was greatly supported, especially because this would have made supporters look like isolated radicals (" don’t enjoy it here
ReplyDeletesquatting on this island looking picturesque and mythical with these two feathery maniacs..."). Finally, this also makes the sharing of the song a cry for help ("This song
is a cry for help: Help me!") because it implies that the movement cannot yet succeed, and that it needs support from the common woman, who may simply be the reader of the poem.
I agree with the previous posts that’s have said this is a strong piece of feminist literature. However I believe the deeper meaning of the piece was commenting on the sway that women held over men. Unlike some of her other work that portrayed women as somewhat powerless, this poem has the women in the place of power where they control the very lives of the men aboard the ships. So unlike some of her other poems which were more of a “call to arms” for women, this was more of telling them the influence they had over men’s lives.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with all other comments about this being a very feminist piece of poetry. However, I have to disagree with some of the comments that stated that the siren song is the differences between what women are perceived as and what they are in actuality because of the last three stanzas of the poem.
ReplyDeleteI will tell the secret to you,
to you, only to you.
Come closer. This song
is a cry for help: Help me!
Only you, only you can,
you are unique
at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time.
I believe the speaker is talking to a man. A man that she believes to be different from the stereotypical sexist male and one that can liberate her from the "bird suit" (which I perceived to be referencing the gilded cage saying). However, in the end, when she sings her siren's song, this man also fails because if he hadn't succumbed to her than she wouldn't have said that "It works all the time".
While I was reading the poem, it felt like the poem is the thoughts of the siren while she's singing. And through her singing, she cries for help and when the man that she's singing to doesn't immediately succumb, she has this "eureka...finally" moment. This is supported by the lines "you are unique" "at last" which is separated by the stanzas. This separation emphasizes the "at last" part.
Also, the mood/tone of the poem starts with a beguiling and mysterious tone induced by words such as "everybody would like to learn" "song no one knows" etc. Then it turns hopeful because the speaker thinks she has found an opportunity to escape from the island. The excitement which is illustrated through the numerous exclamation points and punctuation marks (which could be construed as an equivalent to being breathless from excitement). However, the last stanza, with the use of the word "ala" suggests a resigned mood due to the hopelessness of not finding the unique and different man.
The island, as it is geographically isolated from other landforms, could represent the world or reality of a woman's life. The song may symbolize the allure the idea of a perfect wife/woman has on men. To men, the idea is new and different, however to women, playing the role of the ideal women may be construed as boring. (Hence the last 2 lines of the poem).
The multiple instances where there are words/phrases that alludes to death or dying such as "beached skulls" and "fatal and valuable" may be referring to the figurative death of the spirit of feminism. Feminism and the idea of a freer society may as well die if there isn't a "man" with a unique and different perspective that opens a path of the island. If you can't convince any of the people who need convincing, then the whole movement didn't achieve anything.
I agree with all the comments above that Margaret Atwood is clearly referencing feminist ideas in this poem. When it says, "The song that forces men to leap overboard in squadrons even though they see beached skulls," I think it's referring to how, from a woman's perspective, they expect men to be a hero and instinctively attempt to "save the day." Therefore, women expect men to help them get out of the bird's suit and listen to their cry for help. When it says "Alas it is a boring song
ReplyDeletebut it works every time," I think it's also implying that women are also sly and dangerous, and that they'll do anything to get what they want.
I agree with Eric that the speaker and audience of the poem is a siren to a common woman. Because as the first two stanzas describe, when men listen to the song of sirens they are led into destruction. This poem is directed towards the common woman to take a stance in the right for women’s rights.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the sirens are beautiful and can lure men into destruction, they are still not human. Just as the sirens’ song is dangerous, the past view of feminism was also viewed this way. However, the sirens don’t want to be seen as dangerous, but want to be equal to men. Instead of being mythical creatures women want to be seen on the same level as men, as humans. The siren crying for help is a plea from feminists to the common woman to vindicate her and her actions. She does not want to keep singing the same “boring song”, but she wants new voices that will not scare away men.
The third stanza is significantly the longest stanza which describes the siren’s inner feelings. This emotional plea longer because she wants to emphasize that being a feminist is not her pleasure but it is a burden, something she has to do.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this poem has a kind of sarcastic quality to it. Sirens are a very treacherous "she-birds" and the last line of the poem "it is a boring song but it works every time." The part about how it works every time seems to be saying that no matter what the words are to the song or how it is sung by the sirens, it always has some magical effect on luring men to their clutches. The whole poem seems like it is mocking men and how they are easily deceived by women and their "song" which are their attractions on the outside but they turn out to be somebody completely different on the inside. And the "two feathery maniacs" are the other women who the first woman thinks are incompetent to her standards and she feels she is better than them in seducing men to hear her "song". The part in the poem where the man hears in the song "Help me", the siren is fooling the man into thinking that she is in distress but it is her plan to lure the man into her own world. This whole poem gives off a sense of of sarcasm like I previously mentioned and the whole dark underlying tone that shadows the poem about women luring men into their traps.
ReplyDeleteLooking at this poem as it applies to feminism, i think the main points here are that, like what has been stated before, these women hold the power over men without the men realizing it. what better to present the idea of the femme fatale then a "picturesque and mythical" being luring men to their deaths through song? What sets these women apart is that they become powerful through effectively convincing that males hold the power.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the siren gives the man fair warning as in the stanzas:
"This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:
the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons
even though they see beached skulls"
she subtley warns the man of her real danger, yet even then she is able to convince him by describing her song as something that is "irresistible"
She then gives the man the feeling of control where it says "Shall I tell you the secret
and if I do, will you get me
out of this bird suit?" as if the man is the only one able to set her free and he has the option to release her from her "bird suit" or not. She goes on with this strategy of singling him out in the phrases "I will tell the secret to you,to you, only to you." and "This song
is a cry for help: Help me!Only you, only you can,you are unique". The constant use of "you" only feeds the man's illusion of dominance and importance as he views her as powerless without him. The short "come closer" hidden between these two phrases displays how the man has at this point already been defeated as he has already begun approaching the siren's island.
"at last. Alas
it is a boring song
but it works every time."
The atmosphere has shifted from being one of seduction and vulnerability to one as if the siren has just finished working on a day's mundane tasks, making it almost a comedic situation. The siren has accomplished her goal "at last" and proves that she is truly the more empowered one by stating that her act of singing, or seducing and enticing the man, was simply a "boring" act that "works every time".
In many ways, I believe this poem is a message to women to fight for their rights and be aware of their own struggles against opression. In the second paragraph, Atwood is suggesting by saying "the song that forces men to leap overboard in squadrons" that men are irrational, and women would be better off not imitating their violent tendencies. The author also alludes to war, saying that often times, men kill each other, and women should work together instead of doing this.
ReplyDeleteThis poem uses song to signify liberation of women just like the poem we read in class. She references the Greek myth by using the song to lure men into what they have been warned against, which is to submit to any wishes of women. "Everyone would like to learn" this poem because interacting with men is often a battle to Atwood. They wish that there was a simple solution such as singing a song that would make men beside themselves, but to men this would be like to "leap overboard in squadrons." She hates playing the role men force of women in society. It is demeaning like a grown woman wearing a bird suit and trying to pass as a "picturesque and mythical" woman. The song, or women's liberation, is fatal to the control many men have over women's rights. However they would be allowed to come closer, meaning closer to women's true selves, which remains hidden by the persona they must project for men. In being a boring song, Atwood implies that she doesn't like what she must do, but she often must be as tricky in getting men to allow her rights as men are in placing women under their control.
ReplyDelete