Character Analysis: Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood

Grace Marks being the protagonist of the historical novel Alias Grace matures and grows as most protagonist do. Grace goes through many stages in her life where she needs to adapt to the situation in order to not be taken advantage of. She is either too naïve, too deep in self-pity or too self-aware. She is a dynamic character who goes from being a scared little girl into a convicted murderess. The stereotype surrounding her being a woman – making her too fragile to take part in such a crime actually helps her and saves her from the noose. Like every proper girl Grace was very naïve when it came to things of the sexual nature. When she observes Nancy’s dress to have some ink-ish snuff stains she tells herself “she most likely slipped and fallen down” (262) She didn’t understand where the stains could’ve came from, besides getting dirty doing house work. Throughout her story Grace speaks a lot about Mary Whitney and all she taught her regarding men such as ‘not sitting where a man just sat’ and how street whores made money. Unfortunately Mary died while going through an abortion, which ironically Grace did not understand at the time. All of this new information did scare Grace, until she finally realised how naïve she really was when she was informed about Mr. Kinnear and Nancy’s relationship as to which she remarked “I was much surprised , and said so; . . . “I was not so knowing as I thought myself, and could scarcely see the nose before my face”. (295-296) Grace started losing luck as soon as she decided to work for Mr. Kinnear. Chapter 23 in the novel is named “Snake Fence” hinting Grace is walking into danger. Immediately after she enters the town she is confronted by a stranger before being saved by Jeremiah (239). Once she began working in the new village she felt very isolated “. . .it struck me at once how very solitary I was, as I had no friends here except Nancy, if she could be called a friend . . .I did not know where my family was, which was