Why Is Icarus Not Important
In the painting, Icarus is drowning in the ocean just off of the shore, Icarus is depicted as very “Insignificant” and “Not Important” in the painting. It is very hard to even notice where Icarus is in the painting. He is drowning in the bottom right corner next to the shore. Also in this painting, Daedalus Is not even in the painting and is so insignificant that he wasn’t even included in the painting. While Icarus is drowning because of his ignorance, people around don’t notice his suffering. Farmers are working, a Shepard is herding sheep and a fisherman is fishing close to where Icarus is drowning. No one pays any attention. In “Musée des Beaux Arts” by W. H. Auden, a poem about the suffering of Icarus and the suffering of Auden’s
own life is very different while still relevant to the painting by Brueghel. Auden’s version of the myth Icarus, however is very different is many ways. Mainly, the story strays away from the actual story and conforms to Auden’s own life. The poem is very 3rd person based and even talks about Brueghel’s take on the myth mid story. Icarus is barely even mentioned until the end of the poem. And again in this poem, Daedalus is not mentioned once! It is almost as if this story is just a hint of the original myth and is actually more about Auden instead of Icarus.
Then there is a poem by William Carlos Williams about Icarus and it also refers to Brueghel’s take on Icarus. The main feature between these two poems is that Daedalus is nowhere to be found. The rendition of Icarus by Williams is a more traditional style poem with rhymes and close stanzas. Giving the poem a more defined structure and a better rhyme to get in tune with. But the poem is a much clearer rendition of Icarus compared to Auden’s poem. In this version of Icarus, Icarus drowns further out to sea than the paintings idea of where Icarus drowned and in this poem, no one notices that Icarus drowned or even fell to earth just like the painting.
own life is very different while still relevant to the painting by Brueghel. Auden’s version of the myth Icarus, however is very different is many ways. Mainly, the story strays away from the actual story and conforms to Auden’s own life. The poem is very 3rd person based and even talks about Brueghel’s take on the myth mid story. Icarus is barely even mentioned until the end of the poem. And again in this poem, Daedalus is not mentioned once! It is almost as if this story is just a hint of the original myth and is actually more about Auden instead of Icarus.
Then there is a poem by William Carlos Williams about Icarus and it also refers to Brueghel’s take on Icarus. The main feature between these two poems is that Daedalus is nowhere to be found. The rendition of Icarus by Williams is a more traditional style poem with rhymes and close stanzas. Giving the poem a more defined structure and a better rhyme to get in tune with. But the poem is a much clearer rendition of Icarus compared to Auden’s poem. In this version of Icarus, Icarus drowns further out to sea than the paintings idea of where Icarus drowned and in this poem, no one notices that Icarus drowned or even fell to earth just like the painting.