Alias Grace - 1
Relationships in Alias Grace
Thesis: In Alias Grace, not only does Grace keep several people in her life attracted to her, she also draws the reader in as part of her fascinated audience.
To begin with, Simon Jordan is one of the main characters of Alias Grace. Doctor Jordan was a specialist in mental illnesses and is granted permission to handle Grace’s case. Through attempting to figure out whether Grace is innocent or not, Doctor Jordan begins to cast his sexual desires onto Grace Marks. Margret Atwood exploits an interesting side with the lives of people that are close to Grace, including Doctor Jordan. The story revolves around the meetings that Grace and Doctor Jordan have at the governor’s house where she works as a trustee. During the time that they spend together, Grace feels that “while he writes, it’s as if he is drawing me; or not drawing me, drawing on me - drawing on my skin - not with the pencil he is using, but with an old-fashioned goose pen, and not with the quill end but with the feather end. As if hundreds of butterflies have settled all over my face, and are softly opening and closing their wings.” Grace values the time that she has with Doctor Jordan and begins to tell him the things he wants to hear. This way, Grace is the one who has ultimate control over what is known by the Doctor. She is able to compose her tale to suit Doctor Jordan’s personal view of herself through her insanity. In the novel, Grace’s story-telling requires the return of Doctor Jordan’s desire. When Doctor Jordan and Grace are talking about the type of quilt Grace wants to make for herself, she “said this last thing to be mischievous. I did not give him a straight answer, because saying what you really want out loud brings bad luck.” (Atwood, 89) Grace very rarely gives Doctor Jordan straight-forward answers because she believes that it keeps him interested in her. To Doctor Jordan, as long as Grace says something, she is right and she is doing well. Another
Thesis: In Alias Grace, not only does Grace keep several people in her life attracted to her, she also draws the reader in as part of her fascinated audience.
To begin with, Simon Jordan is one of the main characters of Alias Grace. Doctor Jordan was a specialist in mental illnesses and is granted permission to handle Grace’s case. Through attempting to figure out whether Grace is innocent or not, Doctor Jordan begins to cast his sexual desires onto Grace Marks. Margret Atwood exploits an interesting side with the lives of people that are close to Grace, including Doctor Jordan. The story revolves around the meetings that Grace and Doctor Jordan have at the governor’s house where she works as a trustee. During the time that they spend together, Grace feels that “while he writes, it’s as if he is drawing me; or not drawing me, drawing on me - drawing on my skin - not with the pencil he is using, but with an old-fashioned goose pen, and not with the quill end but with the feather end. As if hundreds of butterflies have settled all over my face, and are softly opening and closing their wings.” Grace values the time that she has with Doctor Jordan and begins to tell him the things he wants to hear. This way, Grace is the one who has ultimate control over what is known by the Doctor. She is able to compose her tale to suit Doctor Jordan’s personal view of herself through her insanity. In the novel, Grace’s story-telling requires the return of Doctor Jordan’s desire. When Doctor Jordan and Grace are talking about the type of quilt Grace wants to make for herself, she “said this last thing to be mischievous. I did not give him a straight answer, because saying what you really want out loud brings bad luck.” (Atwood, 89) Grace very rarely gives Doctor Jordan straight-forward answers because she believes that it keeps him interested in her. To Doctor Jordan, as long as Grace says something, she is right and she is doing well. Another