The Professor and The Siren p.

2
Julia Adams

In the second part of the literary reading, “The Professor and the Siren”, by Tomasi di Lampedusa, I was
first struck to read about the theme of Greek mythology. Throughout the first part of reading, the
Professor makes different references to Greek language and culture - while seemingly talking down upon
colleagues with less Greek education stating, “I detest speaking with people who think they know what
they do not” (p.8). The south of Italy, specifically Sicily, was heavily colonized by the Greeks thus being
called “The Greater Greece”, perhaps igniting the evident early fascination the Professor has for Greek
mythology displayed through the “life-size photographs” and artifacts (18). However, his relationship
with “Lighea” (pg. 30) played a big part in cultivating that Greek admiration. With the introducement of
the siren Lighea, noted as “an almost bestial delight in existing, a joy almolst divine” (29), a theme of
Aestheticism comes into play. The way the Professor describes the memories of her “splayed breasts, her
perfect stomach -(her) magical smell of the sea” (30), revealing the search for beauty and inability to
move forward. Italians specifically hold much pride in their rich historical and classical culture, making it
hard to move on as the world does. In the Professor’s case, the beauty and presence of the past has been
carried with him all his life through the fond memories of Sicily's land, Greek influence and Lighea. Even
at the end of his life, he “f(alls) into the sea” (37), after reminiscing about his intensely passionate past
along the shore. Interestingly, both highly admired Greek and Siren figures are granted to Paolo - the
fellow Sicilian who hears about his past. (38).

Quotes
“A shame its not open to those deficient in Greek” pg. 23
“She lay back, resting her head on interlaced fingers, displaying with serene immodesty the delicate little
ahirs of her armpits, her splayed breasts, her perfect stomach” pg. 30
“I have clumsily referred to as a perfume, a magical smell of the sea, of decidedly youthful sensuality”
pg.30
“She spoke and thus was I overwhelmed, after her smile and smell; by the third and greatest of her
charms; her voice” pg. 30
“I loved as much as a hundred fo your Don Juans put together” pg.31