Binary Oppositions in Leda and the Swan Yeats' "Leda and the Swan" uses the binary oppositions of the beauty and wickedness of Zeus as the swan and helplessness and the eventual strength of Leda, Yeats reveals that even the most powerful entities can suffer the consequences of their abuse of power. In “Leda and the Swan,” the beauty of the swan contrasts with the physical attributes of a swan who exercises his male animal power over his female. prey, demonstrating the raw relationships between men and women in nature. Swans are enormous birds, and as the website "The Swan and Leda" (a poem on the same subject as "Leda and the Swan") points out, "Swans, unlike most birds, have organs external genitalia" (1). Thus, the swan is a perfect animal for a crime as hideous as the one Zeus commits on Leda. In further developing the underlying theme of repercussion, the basis of the poem must be analyzed. In Greek mythology, Zeus disguises himself as a swan in order to lure the pure and sexually mature Leda into violence. Critical Survey of Poetry, edited by Frank N. Magill, says: “In the ancient tale, a Spartan queen, Leda, was so beautiful that Zeus, ruler of the gods, decided he must have her. Since immortals usually did it. not presenting himself to humanity in their divine forms, Zeus transformed himself into a great swan and, in this form, ravished the helpless maiden” (3716). Zeus as a swan is described as being “great” and blessed with “feathered glory” (lines 1-6). He is a wonderful product of nature, but his masculine sexual tendencies get the better of him and he gives in to his uncontrollable desire for Leda. Zeus is a selfish man who uses his superhuman powers to exploit an innocent human. Obviously, the oppositions used by Yeats provoke intrigue...... middle of article ......Literary criticism. Ed. Denis Poupard. Detroit: Gale Publishing, 1989. 397. Hathorn, Richmond Y. Greek Mythology. Lebanon: American University of Beirut, 1977. Johnsen, William. Yeats and postmodernism. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1991. Kuehn, Robert E. “Yeats.” Criticism of contemporary literature. Ed. Dedria Bryfronski. Detroit: Gale Publishing, 1979. 284. Lucas, John. "Yes." Criticism of world literature. Ed. James P. Draper. Detroit: Gale Publishing, 1992. 4110.Magill, Frank N. ed. Critical investigation of poetry. Pasedena: Salem Press, 1992 “The Swan and Leda.” Online. Internet. July 1996. Available on Netscape Navigator: http://charm.physics.ucsb.edu/people/hart/poem/swan.html Yeats, William Butler. “Leda and the Swan.” Literature: structure, sound and meaning. 4th ed. Ed. Laurence Perrine. New York: Harcourt. 1983. 636