Atwood Blog

In "Siren Song" by Margaret Atwood uses conceit to show the ego of men. The theme shown throughout the poem is one of "everyone falls for flattery". However, the author also manages to portray the cry of desperation of women; a cry that makes them feel like sirens.

Sirens are mythological creatures that are half women and half bird. The tale of these creatures reveal to the reader that these sirens seduce men into jumping out of their votes so that they can listen to their song. However the intent of the author is to show the human side of the sirens.

Atwood writes in the third stanza of her poem "Shall I tell you a secret, and if I do, will you get me out of this bird suit?". The bird suit is a representation of the stereotype that women have been placed under. The song that many call to be a "bad song" is nothing but a cry of desperation, a cry for help and not a dangerous trick that the siresn play on the sailors. The siren also reveals in this stanza that she does not enjoy sitting on the island looking mythical and picturesque. In a way or another Atwood is telling the reader that women do not enjoy conforming to the role in which society has placed her.

Although, the above mentioned theme is very importan, Atwood changes the direction in her writting on the fourth stanza. She begins to make the siren seduce the men by telling them that they are the only one that can save her. By doing this Atwood presents the idea that all men are very egotistical and want to be the hero in every situation and also shows that women know this. But why is this is? Seems to be Margaret Atwood's question to society. Why have we converted women into strange mythical creatures that need to be saved by men?