Characters in Greek mythology can have different interpretations. Among these characters are the dangerous but beautiful Sirens, bird-women who sit on a cliff singing bewitching songs to captivate the minds of innocent travelers and lead them to their deaths. In Homer's Odyssey and Margaret Atwood's “Song of the Sirens,” both poets give different representations of the Sirens. Homer believes that the Sirens are compelling to make men heroes, while Atwood describes them as unpleasant and pathetic so he can demonstrate that men are foolish and arrogant using imagery, diction, and point of view. Homer wants the overall portrayal of the Sirens to be intriguing and desirable because he wants everyone to think of Odysseus as valiant. Homer describes the effect the Sirens have when Odysseus “‘the heart within [him beats] to listen longer,’” demonstrating that the Sirens are seductive (20). The effect of his heartbeat confirms that Odysseus desires to be with the Sirens, forcing the image of a man struggling against his will to be close to a beautiful temptress. This suggests that the Sirens are irresistible and cunning because they know that they will be able to trick men into falling in love with the Sirens. Odysseus wishes to listen to more lovely music to satisfy his desire to be with the Sirens. In order to hear the song and stay alive, Odysseus' men “physically bind [him] faster with rope after rope” (24). The effect the Sirens have on him is great, and the fact that the rope irritates his skin shows the effort Odysseus is making to be with the Sirens. However, throughout the scene Ulysses tries to join the Sirens, without realizing the terrible consequences. Since temptresses are so "enchanting", they are...... middle of paper ......n can't control how selfish they are. Homer believes that the Sirens are beautiful while Atwood portrays them as ugly through imagery. , diction and point of view to resolve the question of whether men are intelligent or not and whether the Sirens are irresistible or simply repulsive. The significance of the comparison between these two pieces is that the reader can see the authors' two very different interpretations of the role of men and women in their destiny. The representation of women has changed enormously over time. In the past, women were accused of ruining men and being temptresses, but now they hold high positions of power and can vote. Comparing these two pieces provides insight into how to resolve the never-ending “battle of the sexes.” The answer is to compromise. Homer and Atwood's portrayal of the Sirens demonstrates that everyone has their own interpretation.