H.D.’s Helen provides a surprising depiction of Zeus’ much desired daughter, revealing man’s dislike for a woman’s sexuality. Instead of romanticizing Helen – often called the most beautiful woman in the world, she describes her beauty but then expresses Greece’s distaste for her. This notion comes in stark contrast to other’s portrayals of the figure, such as Edgar Allen Poe. As suggested by Susan Stanford Friedman, in H.D.’s poem, “Helen does not stand alone, unveiled before the adoring eyes of [Poe]. Instead, she is accompanied by a hate-filled gaze that never leaves the beauty of her body.” Her good looks, it seems, are a reason for dislike.

The poem only describes Helen’s physical appearance – which “All Greece hates.” With “still eyes in the white face, the lustre as of olives…and slenderest knees,” Helen is beautiful but that is all we know. Nothing is said of her personality or what she has done. However, in mythology, Helen instigates the Trojan War when she is abducted because of her beauty. Thus, her sexuality can be considered dangerous because it literally starts a war. Greece can hate her because she tears the country apart because she is an attractive woman. Linking a woman’s beauty and sexuality to war suggests that it is a bad thing, perhaps because it makes her important, a threat to men.

The only way to suppress Helen’s sexuality so that Greece “could love indeed the maid” is through her death, if she “were laid, white ash amid funereal cypresses.” The word “laid” also carries sexual connotations. Lay can mean to sleep with someone, so if Helen were laid, she may be taken advantage of sexually, allowing for male dominance.

In a world where men have historically been in power, Helen acts as a threat. Her beauty can captivate men, have power over them, and lead them to such conflicts as war. Because she is empowered, Helen is hated.