Leda and the Swan
Essay IIr: Ambiguity in "Leda and the Swan" In modern society any implications of violence and sex together are right on the border consensus and rape. The mythological story of Leda, Queen of Sparta, and Zeus disguised as a swan, is a good example where this border becomes very blurry. The rape scene of Leda by Zeus inspired many paintings, sculptures and poems including William Butler Yeats' "Leda and the Swan". The poem was first published in 1923 in its original version as "Annunciations" when it caused a big debate in Ireland. Although "Leda and the Swan" seems to glorify the manifest of power at its most obscene form, it is actually criticizing subordination and power, both politically and sexually. According to the Greek myth, Leda used to bathe in the river where Zeus first saw her. To get close to her he disguised himself to a swan and made an eagle perused him. Leda felt sorry for the swan and took him under her arm. Zeus continued to seduce her and eventually raped her. As a result children hatched from eggs she laid; the most beautiful Helen and Clymnestra, which were key characters in the later famous troy war. Yeats' poem deals only with the act of rape in the myth, as he describes great power I find him relati
I believe that Yeats was misunderstood and he suggested no such thing. Duyn finishes the poem as she compares Leda in contrast to the swan; "For a while" Leda is "trying to understand what it was" and the swan, on the other hand, "not even for a moment did he know what he was". A concept that is unacceptable in a feminine oriented society. The second and concluding question is; "Did she put on his knowledge with his power before the indifferent beak could let her drop?" Does this question imply that Leda was not being raped at all, but was part of a consensus until the swan dropped her head indifferently? It is this last questions that lead Mona Van Duyn to compose another poem called simply "Leda", as a response to Yeats. The motives were political and had nothing to do with feminism. It is the ambiguous questions in the poem that mislead Duyn and many readers to believe that Leda is not being raped but is engaging, a sensational, violent intercourse with a godlike power. " Clearly indicating that the two poems are related although forty years separates the two. She isn't struggling , not because of admiration, but because of helplessness and weakness against such a mighty animal. Although, I do understand why one may be mislead to think otherwise. Instead, Yeats' describes the Trojan War and the death of Agamemnon by Clymnesa as the fruit of this union. Where the almighty swan is coming from above and representing the government, it is raping Leda, the people by censorship. The last paragraph rhymes with the first as the third with the second.
Common topics in this essay:
Leda Swan,
Agamemnon Clymnesa,
Helen Clymnestra,
God Isn't,
According Greek,
Van Duyn,
Sparta Zeus,
Helen Yeats,
Sylvan Barnet,
NY Longman,
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literature composition,
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sylvan barnet et,
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Acceptance Essays
