A View From Canada Margaret Atwood Summary
Brittaney Lake
Professor Gomez
English 100
18 October 2010
Canadians vs. Americans Different countries have different sceneries, languages and have a different ways of living. To some people it is interesting but to others they do not like being in another realm. In A View from Canada, Margaret Atwood gives her view as to differences between Canadians and Americans. Canadians and Americans have different ways focusing on the situations in the world, viewing their country, and acting when they travel to other countries.
Who do you think has more of an international outlook; Canadians or Americans? “Canadians… are more international in outlook then Americans are” (82). Atwood remembers back when she read a book called Canada in the World Today that Canada was the mediator between The United States and Britain. They had to have knowledge of what was going on in the world and as a result they have “two radio commentators phoning up just about everyone they can get on the line, anywhere in the world” (82). Americans have an “absence of international news coverage” (82) because they are too involved with what is going on in their own country that they do not have time for …show more content…
other countries news or problems. Canada and America have different ways of viewing their country.
Atwood says that, “Canada sees itself as part of the world” (83) whereas The United States cannot see around the borders inside their country. “The States…has always had a little trouble with games like chess” (83). Since America has borders inside their country, it is hard for them to see America as a whole. Instead, they see themselves as the states being little countries inside a bigger country. Since Canada does not have a lot of people living in their country they see themselves as “a small sinking Titanic squashed between two icebergs, but still inevitably a part” (83). They do not have to be a big country to be a part of the world. Atwood tells us that “politicians [announce] that Canada has finally grown up”
(82).
“Canadians are good at fitting in, partly because they can’t afford to do otherwise” (83). Canadians can take a new country’s way of living and turn it into how they live. Atwood tells of a time when she was in India and she visited parts of New Delhi where Americans and Canadians lived. She says that “The Canadians there lived in a house decorated with Indian things and served [her] a meal of Indian food and told [her] about India” (83). Americans, on the other hand, cannot adapt that well to new culture or ways of living as well as Canadians can. “If they can’t stay in America they take it with them” (83). Since America is obsessed with what is going on in the borders of their own country, they have to constantly be a part of it no matter where they go. They also do not like to experience something that is not familiar to them already. Canadians can adapt easily and they want to experience different parts of the world.
Canadians and Americans have different ways focusing on the situations in the world, viewing their country, and acting when they travel to other countries. Even though Americans and Canadians have similarities, they definitely have differences and a lot of them. To some, how people live is wrong and they criticize them for the way they live. For others, it does not matter how other people live. Live life to the fullest and have an open mind to new experiences.
Professor Gomez
English 100
18 October 2010
Canadians vs. Americans Different countries have different sceneries, languages and have a different ways of living. To some people it is interesting but to others they do not like being in another realm. In A View from Canada, Margaret Atwood gives her view as to differences between Canadians and Americans. Canadians and Americans have different ways focusing on the situations in the world, viewing their country, and acting when they travel to other countries.
Who do you think has more of an international outlook; Canadians or Americans? “Canadians… are more international in outlook then Americans are” (82). Atwood remembers back when she read a book called Canada in the World Today that Canada was the mediator between The United States and Britain. They had to have knowledge of what was going on in the world and as a result they have “two radio commentators phoning up just about everyone they can get on the line, anywhere in the world” (82). Americans have an “absence of international news coverage” (82) because they are too involved with what is going on in their own country that they do not have time for …show more content…
other countries news or problems. Canada and America have different ways of viewing their country.
Atwood says that, “Canada sees itself as part of the world” (83) whereas The United States cannot see around the borders inside their country. “The States…has always had a little trouble with games like chess” (83). Since America has borders inside their country, it is hard for them to see America as a whole. Instead, they see themselves as the states being little countries inside a bigger country. Since Canada does not have a lot of people living in their country they see themselves as “a small sinking Titanic squashed between two icebergs, but still inevitably a part” (83). They do not have to be a big country to be a part of the world. Atwood tells us that “politicians [announce] that Canada has finally grown up”
(82).
“Canadians are good at fitting in, partly because they can’t afford to do otherwise” (83). Canadians can take a new country’s way of living and turn it into how they live. Atwood tells of a time when she was in India and she visited parts of New Delhi where Americans and Canadians lived. She says that “The Canadians there lived in a house decorated with Indian things and served [her] a meal of Indian food and told [her] about India” (83). Americans, on the other hand, cannot adapt that well to new culture or ways of living as well as Canadians can. “If they can’t stay in America they take it with them” (83). Since America is obsessed with what is going on in the borders of their own country, they have to constantly be a part of it no matter where they go. They also do not like to experience something that is not familiar to them already. Canadians can adapt easily and they want to experience different parts of the world.
Canadians and Americans have different ways focusing on the situations in the world, viewing their country, and acting when they travel to other countries. Even though Americans and Canadians have similarities, they definitely have differences and a lot of them. To some, how people live is wrong and they criticize them for the way they live. For others, it does not matter how other people live. Live life to the fullest and have an open mind to new experiences.