"Listen. This is The Noise of Myth" by Eavan Boland

Throughout the poem, “Listen. This is the Noise of Myth” by Eavan Boland the position of women in Irish History is constantly alluded to and used to portray the disconnection of women and their beliefs, as well as their desires and ideas within their own history.

This poem exemplifies Boland’s subversion of mythology and the idea that women must always be saved. In the first stanza Boland references the use of traditional mythology by describing the two as “Intimates of myth.” Fictions of my purpose. I suppose; I shouldn’t say that yet or at least; Before I break their hearts or save their lives; I ought to tell their story and I will. Boland furthers this allusion in the next stanza by writing, “before I break their hearts or save their lives”This line forms a connection between this poem and the importance of romance, adventure, distressed female characters that supposedly need saving and male domination inside myths and legends that occur in most Irish poetry.

Boland’s use emphasizes the change and development for women’s roles in poetry and as poets. She takes possession of the characters and maintains control over them and the story which will unfold. As Boland describes the couple, she only describes them on the surface. On a deeper level, she describes the ways that women have been shown throughout history and the truth of Irish women’s struggles. Instead of writing women as a myth to place women in fantasy, Boland shows that diversity is possible in different routes and realities within a ourney by showing woman in a variety of truthful moments. “When they first went…” “…They knew they had to go” “their lives unraveling…” “They shunned the densities” Stanzas 3-5 constantly describe the couple as a unit. The man is not more powerful than the woman and does not take on the usual controlling role of the savior. By using “they” throughout the poem, it creates the image of two individuals working together.

In the 13th stanza Boland makes a connection to myth and legend in order for the reader to realize past mythological stories of women in Irish literature and become aware some of the authority being transferred to the woman and away from the man. “Forgive me if I set the truth to rights; Bear with me if I put an end to this: She never turned to him; she never leaned; under the sallow-willow over him.” “They never made love; not there; not here; not anywhere; there was no winter journey; no aconite, no birdsong and no jasmine; no woodland and no river and no weir.” Both of these stanzas show that Boland has clear power over this poem, but it also shows the larger idea of women being able to control their own lives. By doing this, Boland calls attention to the fact that past Irish literature has been very biased and in favor of men.

Conclusion

“Listen. This is the Noise of Myth” represents all women who have ever felt powerless or were never able to get their story told because they were overshadowed or misinterpreted. Eavan Boland is able to create a very vivid and poetic ideal through her imagery, diction, and didactic language. Boland was also able to depict an authentic representation of history while also challenging previously unchallenged roles for woman by drawing connections from traditional Irish literature. By doing all of this, Boland is able to create and take control of her own identity, as well as the individual identities of other women.