Margaret Atwood
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Major Issues Major IssuesMargaret Atwood’s thematic study of Canadian literature, Survival, has been used by many critics as a starting point in their analysis of Atwood’s own works. Atwood argues that the typical Canadian protagonist is not the active heroic individual seen in Anglo and American literature, but rather a representative victim. Reviewers and scholars have examined the extent to which Atwood’s female protagonists fit this model. They have also analyzed Atwood’s presentation of the victimizing forces; these include the landscape, social pressure, the patriarchy, families, totalitarianism of all forms, and historical and contemporary politics. Atwood’s carefully honed style is often remarked upon, as is her penchant for figurative language. She is a master of the simile. Atwood’s works often have myth, fairy tales, and fantasy woven into their realistic settings. These unusual combinations allow her to simultaneously present the characters’ inner and outer worlds. Her fiction has been the subject of many structuralist and poststructuralist critical studies, especially feminist criticism. Author LinksMargaret Atwood Information SiteExtensive site providing biographical, bibliographical, and critical information, including reviews and FAQs, as well as essays, lectures and recent speeches by Atwood. The Atwood Society’s Information Site Comprehensive and well-organized lists of works by and about Atwood, with lots of links to other Atwood internet resources. Mother Jones Interview A 1997 Interview in which Atwood talks about politics, creativity, "discrete truths," victim-hood and sisterhood. "Spotty-Handed Villainesses: Problems Of Female Bad Behaviour In The Creation Of Literature" A 1994 speech in which Atwood talks about the portrayal of bad girls and evil women in literature. Rape Fantasies Annotation and short commentary on "Rape Fantasies."
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