Happy Endings By Margaret Atwood
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Moral in "Happy Endings" by Margaret Atwood
Thesis: If fiction is supposed to appeal to our ethical nature in Atwood’s opinion, what is the happy ending, or moral, we are being asked to look for and help society attain in “Happy Endings”?
I. Obstacles are a natural part of life as seen with how Atwood portrays the lives of typical people as they struggle to overcome various obstacles.
(a) While they all have individual differences, these plots ultimately end in the same way with one identical outcome.
1. “Eventually they die.”
Regardless of how one lives their lives or who they’re in love with, the only guaranteed outcome in life is death. Death is inevitable.
(b) It’s a human’s perception that experiencing obstacles in life sets someone up for great rewards, …show more content…
“If you think this is all too bourgeois, make John a revolutionary and Mary a counterespionage spy and see how far that gets you,” “Remember, this is Canada. You’ll still end up with A.”
Atwood addresses these values by reinforcing the ludicrousness that romantic fiction is.
IV. Atwood applies humor in critiquing romantic fiction to emphasize that it’s not the end that matters but the journey both in life and writing.
(a) It’s evident that she’s ridiculing conventions of fiction writing throughout her story.
1. "If you want a happy ending, try A."
The lack of form in this metafiction alludes to how romantic fiction lacks depth or structure.
(b) While all versions end in version A, Atwood challenges all authors to pen authentic work.
1. “A what and a what and a what.”
. She feels that romantic fiction writing lacks emotion and sincerity and is only kept together by clichés and stereotypes.
References
Atwood, Margaret. Happy Endings.1983.
Retrieved from: < http://www.napavalley.edu/people/LYanover/Documents/English%20123/English%20123%20Margaret%20Atwood%27s%20HappyEndings.pdf
Course:
Instructor:
Date:
Moral in "Happy Endings" by Margaret Atwood
Thesis: If fiction is supposed to appeal to our ethical nature in Atwood’s opinion, what is the happy ending, or moral, we are being asked to look for and help society attain in “Happy Endings”?
I. Obstacles are a natural part of life as seen with how Atwood portrays the lives of typical people as they struggle to overcome various obstacles.
(a) While they all have individual differences, these plots ultimately end in the same way with one identical outcome.
1. “Eventually they die.”
Regardless of how one lives their lives or who they’re in love with, the only guaranteed outcome in life is death. Death is inevitable.
(b) It’s a human’s perception that experiencing obstacles in life sets someone up for great rewards, …show more content…
“If you think this is all too bourgeois, make John a revolutionary and Mary a counterespionage spy and see how far that gets you,” “Remember, this is Canada. You’ll still end up with A.”
Atwood addresses these values by reinforcing the ludicrousness that romantic fiction is.
IV. Atwood applies humor in critiquing romantic fiction to emphasize that it’s not the end that matters but the journey both in life and writing.
(a) It’s evident that she’s ridiculing conventions of fiction writing throughout her story.
1. "If you want a happy ending, try A."
The lack of form in this metafiction alludes to how romantic fiction lacks depth or structure.
(b) While all versions end in version A, Atwood challenges all authors to pen authentic work.
1. “A what and a what and a what.”
. She feels that romantic fiction writing lacks emotion and sincerity and is only kept together by clichés and stereotypes.
References
Atwood, Margaret. Happy Endings.1983.
Retrieved from: < http://www.napavalley.edu/people/LYanover/Documents/English%20123/English%20123%20Margaret%20Atwood%27s%20HappyEndings.pdf