Margaret Atwood Pride And Prejudice Essay
NAME: LORANNA LAING
DATE: October 25, 2010
SUBJECT: LITERATURES IN ENGLISH
AN ANALYSIS OF THE POEMS “ORPHEUS”AND “EURYDICE” BY MARGARET ATWOOD
The poems “ORPHEUS “and “EURYDICE” by Margaret Atwood speaks of the love shared by a Grecian
Male called Orpheus and his wife Eurydice. It tells the readers how Eurydice was manipulated into loving
Orpheus through his singing which was used to hypnotize both gods and man.The story then goes on to
Say that they were married soon after but before the marriage was consummated Eurydice was killed
By the viper of a snake, and was sent to the underworld [a place where life continues after death]to
Spend the rest of eternity there. It starts by telling of how Orpheus travelled to the underworld …show more content…
The poem ‘Eurydice’ is a continuation of ‘Orpheus [1]’ and yet you realize after reading both
Poems that the story is not yet finished. Both poems are considered to be written as free verse suggesting that they have no specific
Rhyming scheme hence it hints that the poet is moving away from the norm. This poem consists of
Stanzas such as: quatrains, quintets, sestets and octave. Similar themes can be found in both poems. The theme of death can be seen in ‘Orpheus’ ‘’Grown fangs and killed me.”Line four .
In this line she tells how she had died because a snake had bitten her. It is also seen in line seven. ‘Gone to sleep…’
In the second stanza sleep is used in such a way that it speaks of Eurydice being dead. Since Eurydice
Had died twice it is no wonder that death is also being linked in the poem ‘Eurydice’ as well ‘You left your body cooling and whitening on the lawn.’ Female subjugation is also demonstrated in both poems. In ‘Orpheus this is seen in stanza four. ‘Before your eyes …the image of what you wanted…it was this hope of yours that kept me …show more content…
Being dead suggested that you are now free
Of emotions such as pain, sorrow, or grief. That person is no longer tired, thirsty or hungry. They are no
Longer in the bondage of life as Eurydice explains in stanza four when she speaks of, “Living again.”
The way this phrase is said makes the reader think that Eurydice has been enslaved by the world or even
Orpheus as seen in stanza three, “You had your old leash.” line fourteen
Therefore indicating to the readers that she is owned and controlled by her husband. She is like a slave
Or some form of possession to him all because of a simple emotion called love. Enslavement is also seen in “Orpheus (1)”line eleven “Like a rope”
In which the rope there signifies captivity, she is considered as being tied to Orpheus .This rope may also
Mean that she is being tamed or trained to be submissive and in a sense this is what becoming human
Again means to her.in Orpheus this is seen in stanza six “Already new skin was forming on me.”
In linking the same can be seen in
DATE: October 25, 2010
SUBJECT: LITERATURES IN ENGLISH
AN ANALYSIS OF THE POEMS “ORPHEUS”AND “EURYDICE” BY MARGARET ATWOOD
The poems “ORPHEUS “and “EURYDICE” by Margaret Atwood speaks of the love shared by a Grecian
Male called Orpheus and his wife Eurydice. It tells the readers how Eurydice was manipulated into loving
Orpheus through his singing which was used to hypnotize both gods and man.The story then goes on to
Say that they were married soon after but before the marriage was consummated Eurydice was killed
By the viper of a snake, and was sent to the underworld [a place where life continues after death]to
Spend the rest of eternity there. It starts by telling of how Orpheus travelled to the underworld …show more content…
The poem ‘Eurydice’ is a continuation of ‘Orpheus [1]’ and yet you realize after reading both
Poems that the story is not yet finished. Both poems are considered to be written as free verse suggesting that they have no specific
Rhyming scheme hence it hints that the poet is moving away from the norm. This poem consists of
Stanzas such as: quatrains, quintets, sestets and octave. Similar themes can be found in both poems. The theme of death can be seen in ‘Orpheus’ ‘’Grown fangs and killed me.”Line four .
In this line she tells how she had died because a snake had bitten her. It is also seen in line seven. ‘Gone to sleep…’
In the second stanza sleep is used in such a way that it speaks of Eurydice being dead. Since Eurydice
Had died twice it is no wonder that death is also being linked in the poem ‘Eurydice’ as well ‘You left your body cooling and whitening on the lawn.’ Female subjugation is also demonstrated in both poems. In ‘Orpheus this is seen in stanza four. ‘Before your eyes …the image of what you wanted…it was this hope of yours that kept me …show more content…
Being dead suggested that you are now free
Of emotions such as pain, sorrow, or grief. That person is no longer tired, thirsty or hungry. They are no
Longer in the bondage of life as Eurydice explains in stanza four when she speaks of, “Living again.”
The way this phrase is said makes the reader think that Eurydice has been enslaved by the world or even
Orpheus as seen in stanza three, “You had your old leash.” line fourteen
Therefore indicating to the readers that she is owned and controlled by her husband. She is like a slave
Or some form of possession to him all because of a simple emotion called love. Enslavement is also seen in “Orpheus (1)”line eleven “Like a rope”
In which the rope there signifies captivity, she is considered as being tied to Orpheus .This rope may also
Mean that she is being tamed or trained to be submissive and in a sense this is what becoming human
Again means to her.in Orpheus this is seen in stanza six “Already new skin was forming on me.”
In linking the same can be seen in