Analysis of Leda and the Swan. Greek mythology.

Authors Avatar

Analysis of Leda and the Swan.

Greek mythology has, throughout history, been the subject of much debate and interpretation. Conjuring up images of bloody battles and crumbling cities, its descriptions of the epic battle between good and evil still have remarkable relevance and continue to resonate with poignancy in our bleak, war-torn society. The poem Leda and the Swan, written by William Butler Yeats, attempts to shed new light on what is arguably one of Ancient Greece’s most controversial myths. In this essay I aim to study the poem in more depth, analysing what Yeats says and how he says it.

Leda and the Swan is an interpretation of the Greek myth wherein Zeus, in the form of a swan, violated a young woman, who gave birth to Helen and Clytemnestra. Helen’s flight with Paris to Troy, leaving her husband Menelaus (Agamemnon’s brother) caused the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. Clytemnestra then murdered her husband Agamemnon on his return from victory at Troy.

The poem begins with Yeats emphasising the brutality of Zeus’ actions, describing the initial impact as a “sudden blow”. The two words carry the connotation of brutality, urgency and forcefulness; the harshness of the word “sudden” consolidating the phrase’s power. There is an implication that the action is unnaturally rapid, thus godlike and powerful. The power and forcefulness of Zeus’ actions is reinforced as the line continues, with the word “great” used to describe the wings of the swan which represents him, while the harshness of harshness of the word “beating” re-emphasising the brutality of Zeus’ actions. Furthermore, Yeat’s use of the word “great” implies glory and majesty, conveying the idea that Zeus’ actions are unnatural for someone of his nature.

Join now!

The next line carries with it an implication that Zeus’ victim is not in control, with the word “staggering” used to describe Leda’s movements, while the phrase “her thighs caressed” add an erotic dimension to what is soon to become a savage and brutal rape. One could go further and argue that the intentional eroticism of something so violent is somewhat sinister – after all, a caress is supposed to be an act of affection and love, and is not normally associated with something spiteful and violent.

A sense of the victim’s entrapment and entanglement is created in ...

This is a preview of the whole essay