The original message of the myth of Icarus and his father, the inventor Daedalus, varies depending on the reader's own personal interpretation. To some readers, the lesson focuses on the folly of youth and the folly of individuals like Daedalus who trust youths. To other readers, the lesson concentrates on matters of ambition; the invention of the wings was glorious and remarkable until it caused a tragic and unnecessary death. To still others, the lesson has to do with the potential danger of beauty and pleasure; Icarus ignored or was blind to the dangers of flying too close to the sun because he was mesmerized by the beauty of his experience of flying, and he died for his enjoyment.
Anne Sexton's poem is addressed to a friend whose work has been recognized and celebrated, so it is possible that the message is a warning to the friend; Sexton is perhaps saying to the friend that such cause for joy needs careful attention as it can lead to tears and heartache.
In the myth of Icarus, Daedalus, Icarus’s father, makes wings of wax and feathers for himself and his son, so they can escape imprisonment on Crete. Daedalus tells his son to not fly too high or too low. He tells him to follow his flight. Icarus though, exhilarated by his newfound flying abilities, flies too close to the sun and melts his wings. He falls into the sea and drowns.
Sexton‘s poem is an allusion to a poem by Yeats, “To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Nothing.” In Yeats's poem, the poet explains that the “most difficult” thing is to stand by work you believe in while those with public support triumph at your expense. Sexton inverts Yeats’s title and uses the Icarus myth to suggest that it is perhaps all too easy to enjoy temporary success. Her line, ”Who cares if he fell back into the sea?” can be read either as ironic (Icarus cared, at least!) or as a celebration of what it is possible to achieve if one is willing to risk everything.
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