Edward Field places a character in Greek mythology as the main subject of this poem. There are a lot of literary devices that are apparent in this poem but the main device that is being projected is the use of allusion. Allusion plays a very important role in highlighting the presentation of Icarus’ plight in Field’s poem. It is an allusion because it does not necessarily convey mainly, the story of Icarus failing in his goal to fly. Instead, it uses the modern times to present the story of someone from ancient Greece who liked to pursue something impossible, and yet, failed. If you delve into its meaning, you would notice that instead of Icarus being used in an ancient Greece setting, the poem adapts a modern counterpart of a journey like that of what Icarus experienced. The representation cites a symbolism in that Icarus’ character is an example of someone who wishes to do more and wants to defy the limits of his capabilities. Thus, it should not be surprising that Edward Field used Icarus as a representation of someone who has dreams that he want to achieve but seem unreachable.
In Greek mythology, Icarus escaped from Crete using the wings made out of wax and feathers that his father, Daedalus made. There is a contrast to how Field presented Icarus as someone who apparently exists in the modern times. It is evident in the whole poem that Field embraced the concept of using Icarus as a representation of a failed dreams and ambitions. The poem created a counterpart; the modern Icarus, who represents someone who works hard on what he wants under the scrutiny of his neighbors and people who think he is foolish enough to pursue goals that are impossible. There were no nosy neighbors and policemen who investigated the case in ancient Greece. But these were highlighted in the first verse paragraph, which again shows that even at the onset of the poem; modernity of the setting has been emphasized.
What was he doing aging in a suburb? Can the genius of the hero fall to the middling stature of the merely talented? This line from Field’s poem further notes the representation of Icarus to someone living in the modern times. It symbolizes a person, who can be considered a genius and yet lives in mediocrity with people who have simple talents. It further expounds on the modern Icarus being someone who believes that his talents and capabilities have limits. There is a clear struggle for the main subject in the poem to prove himself; to vindicate himself from people who evidently do not believe he can fly. The definition of ‘fly’ in this context of the poem being put in a modern setting does not necessarily only mean to move to the air with wings. But also, if you delve deeper, it could mean the modern Icarus’ aspirations.
Definitely, the poem has succeed in manifesting not only the great story, in a poetic form, of Icarus’ failure to fly using artificial wings, but also showed how the lesson from it still applies until now. It is true that regardless of era or period of time, Icarus’ story, though sad as it is, symbolizes the failed dreams and aspirations of a common person, including the struggles he has to go through with the norms of society reeling in on him.
Works cited:
Field, Edward. "Icarus" (1950). CUNY Composers. Ed. Corbett Treece. Web. [07, Feb. 2012].
