Answer: The common element shared by Auden's "Musée des Beaux Arts" and Williams's "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" is B. The role of Daedalus in Icarus's drowning is left out.
Explanation: In both poems, the focus is not on the character of Daedalus, the father of Icarus, or his involvement in Icarus's demise. Instead, both poets choose to highlight the indifference and lack of attention from the witnesses or people around Icarus.
In "Musée des Beaux Arts," Auden describes how everyday life continues without interruption despite Icarus falling into the sea. The people in the painting by Bruegel, which the poem refers to, are engrossed in their own activities, oblivious to Icarus's tragedy. This lack of concern for Icarus's fate reflects a general indifference towards suffering in the world.
Similarly, in "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus," Williams presents a scene where Icarus is depicted as a small figure falling into the sea, while the rest of the world, represented by the plowman and the ship, carries on with their tasks, seemingly unaware or unconcerned about Icarus's fate.
By omitting Daedalus's role, both poems emphasize the insignificance of individual tragedy within the broader scope of human existence. The poems suggest that people are often preoccupied with their own lives and are indifferent to the suffering of others. This common element serves to convey a deeper message about human nature and the indifference that can exist in society.
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