An Mhaighdean Mhara agus na Meisceoirí

Publication Instance Details #232

Publication Overview

Translation	Is Multilingual	Explicit Irish Context?	Ekphrasis	Has Paratext?	Reference to News, Media or Technology
Yes	No	No	No	No	No

Details

Human Rights Issues	Gender-based violence
Languages	Irish
Original Language	Spanish
Original Poem	Fabula de la Sirena y los Borrachos
Original Author	Pablo Neruda
Genre	Short Lyric
Medium	Print Collection
Notes	This poem alludes to gender-based violence. The mermaid in this poem could be read as an allegory for an immigrant or displaced person acclimatizing to a new culture. There is a mutual lack of understanding and comprehension between the mermaid and the men, with the men resorting to violence and teasing to humiliate the mermaid, who doesn't react to their abuse. This poem by Pablo Neruda has motifs in common with mermaid folktales found in Ireland and particularly with Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill's series of poems 'Na Murúcha a Thriomaigh' (The Merfolk on Dry Land).