Motifs of transformation in four novels of Margaret Atwood

The dominant theme that Margaret Atwood foregrounds in her writing is that of victimisation, whether she is writing of the victimisation of a country, of a minority group, of animals or of an individual. She adopts the position that through acknowledgement of that victimisation, and a refusal to accept the role of victim, it is possible to become a creative non-victim. It soon becomes evident from Atwood's writing that victimisation of one kind or another is what underpins the powerful patriarchal constructions of society. In each of the four novels discussed in this thesis Atwood's female protagonists, all victims of patriarchy, transform themselves, through accessing their creativity, using it transgressively, and overcoming the strictures of patriarchy upon their lives.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of English Language and Literature

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Gribble, Jill

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Fincham, Gail

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10510

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10510