Chapter 1: The Siren Summary and Analysis

This is the opening chapter of the first section, which is devoted to describing types of seducers. "The Siren" is a type of seductive woman often empowered by ideas such as a man not needing to marry her, or at least temporarily throw away his troubles in order to enjoy his union with her. This figure is exceptionally sexual in nature and she makes the most of her allure in this regard.

The emphasis on looks, however, is deceptive. The Siren is named for those mythological creatures whose enchanting voices could cause sailors to crash into rocks in times past. While it is possible that the real danger might have been the men fantasizing about a woman or women they knew but who were not with them, the distracting effect on their minds really could be dangerous...