Research Paper On Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood is a well-known Canadian author and poet; she has written more than sixty novels and collections of poetry (McMahon 12). She is also a businesswoman, environmental activist, and the inventor of the LongPen (“Margaret Atwood Biography” 1) (Christensen 1-2). Growing up during the 1940s and 1950s meant that women were expected to stay at home and take care of the house and children. After reading about Atwood’s background, there are three major reasons that explain why she writes. The time period of Atwood’s childhood motivates her to write because she wanted to break away from the social norms. Atwood’s parents also help to motivate her because they are supportive of her efforts. Her past relationships motivate her because they
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give her personal experience to write about. Atwood uses her historical and social perspective to form the themes in her novels.
Atwood was born on November 18, 1939 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (“Margaret Atwood Biography” 1).
Her mother, Margaret Dorothy Atwood, is a former dietician (Hile 1). Her father, Carl Edmund Atwood, is an entomologist, which is a person who studies insects (Hile 1). Atwood has two siblings, an older brother and a younger sister (McMahon 12). As a child, she loved to read fairy tales, comic books, and stories about animals (Oates 2). Atwood began writing when she was five years old (Oates 2). However, she took a break from writing between the ages of eight and sixteen (Oates 2). Due to her father’s research, Atwood spent much of her time in the woods of northern Quebec (McMahon 12). She did not attend school as a full time student until the eighth grade (Oates 2). By the time she was sixteen years old, Atwood knew that she wanted to write professionally (Hile 4). Atwood began studying at the Victoria College in the University of Toronto in 1957 (McMahon 12). She wrote poems during her time in college and published them in the college’s literary journal (McMahon 13). In 1961, she graduated with a Bachelor of Art in English and continued to study at Radcliffe College as a graduate student (McMahon 13). She married Jim Polk in 1967, but they were divorced in 1977 (McMahon 9). Atwood married Graeme Gibson, a writer, and gave birth to her daughter Jess (McMahon
9).
The historical context of Atwood’s childhood is a large motivation for writing. Atwood grew up during the the 1940s and 1950s when the expectation for women was to get married and take care of the family. “Remember that all this was taking place in the 1950's, when marriage was seen as the only desirable goal. My mother is a very lively person who would rather skate than scrub floors; she was a tomboy in youth and still is one” (Oates 2). In an interview with The New York Times, Atwood explains that her parents had high expectations for her as a child, and they wanted her use her abilities wisely. “They didn't encourage me to become a writer, exactly, but they gave me a more important kind of support; that is, they expected me to make use of my intelligence and abilities and did not pressure me into getting married” (Oates 2). Atwood’s parents, especially her mother, defied societal norms in their own lives and they encouraged her to do the same. Her parents and her childhood have influenced her writing because Atwood was taught from a young age that she can do whatever she wants to do.
During Atwood’s childhood, there were more male authors than female authors. This is a motivator for her writing because her parents encouraged her to do what she wants.
As she told Kim Hubbard in People Weekly, she was somewhat frightened by her decision, for she had few female role models in her chosen profession. ‘Emily Dickinson lived in a cupboard, Charlotte Brontë died in childbirth. They were weird like Christina Rossetti, or they drank or committed suicide like Sylvia Plath. Writing seemed like a call to doom. I thought I would probably get [tuberculosis] and live in a garret and have a terrible life’ (McMahon 12).
Atwood had few female authors as her role models, and she believed that they all had horrible lives. She was wary of her decision to write because she thought that female authors were doomed to having a terrible life. The impression of the female role models motivated Atwood to write about feminism, a common theme in most of her novels. Moral Disorder and Other Stories is a collection of short stories that follows the life of Nell from childhood through adulthood. The book begins with a short story about Nell and her husband as an elderly couple, but then flashes back to the memories of her childhood. Although Atwood claims that none of her works are autobiographical, numerous critics disagree. “They do reflect the struggle she has had to go through herself to assert her identity as a woman and an individual” (Hile 5). In Moral Disorder and Other Stories, there are several similarities between the main character’s and Atwood’s life that support the claim that she wrote about her struggles in her novels. Some similarities include the family members and situations that Atwood has overcome in her own life. The themes of feminism and isolation are prominent themes in Moral Disorders and Other Stories, as well as many of Atwood’s novels because these themes allow her to reflect on her struggles as a female author. The theme of feminism is explored in several of Atwood’s works and the main characters are almost always female.
Atwood’s concern for strong female characters emerges clearly in her novels, particularly in The Edible Woman, Surfacing, Life before Man, Bodily Harm, and The Handmaid’s Tale. These novels feature female characters who are, Klemesrud reported, ‘intelligent, self-absorbed modern women searching for identity. . . . [They] hunt, split logs, make campfires and become successful in their careers, while men often cook and take care of their households’ (McMahon 13).
Atwood grew up in a time where women were expected to be housewives. This translates into feminism in her novels. “As for us girls, we weren’t sure where we were headed. If we didn’t go on, we’d have to get married or else become old maids; but with a good set of grades, this dismaying fork in the road could be postponed for a while” (Atwood 58). In Moral Disorder and Other Stories, Atwood writes about the importance of education for girls. If girls did not get good grades or dropped out of school, they would have to get married. Atwood began studying at the Victoria College in the University of Toronto in 1957 (McMahon 12). She graduated with a Bachelor of Art in English in 1961 and continued to study at Radcliffe College as a graduate student (McMahon 13). Atwood continued on to college and waited to get married until 1967. Feminism is an important theme for Atwood to write about because it empowers women to do something that may be against the societal norms for women. Another major theme in Moral Disorder and Other Stories, as well as in several other novels, is the comparison between isolation and being in a relationship. Atwood married Jim Polk in 1967, but they were divorced in 1977 (McMahon 9). She married Graeme Gibson, a writer, and gave birth to her daughter Jess (McMahon 9). The theme of isolation in Atwood’s novels allows the protagonist to find their identity before they are married. This may be autobiographical because some critics claim that Atwood had to search for her own identity after her divorce with her first husband. Atwood’s failed marriage with Polk in 1968 may be the reason why many of the main characters in her novels would rather be alone than be committed to a relationship. In Moral Disorder and Other Stories, Nell reflects on her life as a single woman after she marries her husband Tig and they have a child.
Too late for what? To get out, to move on. Yet at the same time I longed for security. It was a similar story with men. Each one was a possibility that quickly became an impossibility. As soon as there were two toothbrushes -- no, as soon as I could even picture two toothbrushes, side by side on the bathroom counter in trapped, stagnant, limp-bristled companionship -- I would have to leave (Atwood 78).
There are several similarities regarding isolation between Nell and Atwood. Both women had a difficult time imagining being in a relationship, but they slowly got over it once they got married. However, once they begin a relationship, they realize that they want to get married at have children.
Today, Atwood finds more comfort in family than writing. . . . The author’s fear of having to sacrifice motherhood for a career has also proved to be unfounded. Atwood is the happy mother of a daughter named Jess. ‘I love being a mother,’ the author says to Ross. . . . ‘I always wanted to have a child under the right circumstances, which for me included an interested partner and enough money. It took me a while to get both. Now my child is what I care about most, and my family as a whole. Writing is a very important part of my life, but it’s not a human being. I’m pretty much aware that there is a difference between them’ (Hile 10).
Atwood says that she loves being a mother and that motherhood did not cause her to give up her writing career. Similarly to Nell’s situation, Atwood decided to wait until the circumstances were right before she decided to marry again.
What is Atwood’s reason for writing? One can only guess what Atwood’s motivation for writing is. She says herself that she has not felt that it is necessary to come up with an answer. “Why do I write? I guess I've never felt the necessity of thinking up a really convincing answer to that one, although I get asked it a lot” (Oates 6). Although her work is not autobiographical, Atwood uses personal experience to write about her past relationships. This may be the reason why she incorporates the theme of isolation versus being in a committed relationship. Atwood’s parents and role models act as motivators because they are supportive of her efforts and allow her to feel more confident in her career choice as a female author. The time period of Atwood’s childhood motivates her to write because she wanted to break away from the social norms. This may explain why the theme of feminism in most of her novels is so strong. Atwood uses her historical and social perspective to form the themes in her novels.
give her personal experience to write about. Atwood uses her historical and social perspective to form the themes in her novels.
Atwood was born on November 18, 1939 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (“Margaret Atwood Biography” 1).
Her mother, Margaret Dorothy Atwood, is a former dietician (Hile 1). Her father, Carl Edmund Atwood, is an entomologist, which is a person who studies insects (Hile 1). Atwood has two siblings, an older brother and a younger sister (McMahon 12). As a child, she loved to read fairy tales, comic books, and stories about animals (Oates 2). Atwood began writing when she was five years old (Oates 2). However, she took a break from writing between the ages of eight and sixteen (Oates 2). Due to her father’s research, Atwood spent much of her time in the woods of northern Quebec (McMahon 12). She did not attend school as a full time student until the eighth grade (Oates 2). By the time she was sixteen years old, Atwood knew that she wanted to write professionally (Hile 4). Atwood began studying at the Victoria College in the University of Toronto in 1957 (McMahon 12). She wrote poems during her time in college and published them in the college’s literary journal (McMahon 13). In 1961, she graduated with a Bachelor of Art in English and continued to study at Radcliffe College as a graduate student (McMahon 13). She married Jim Polk in 1967, but they were divorced in 1977 (McMahon 9). Atwood married Graeme Gibson, a writer, and gave birth to her daughter Jess (McMahon
9).
The historical context of Atwood’s childhood is a large motivation for writing. Atwood grew up during the the 1940s and 1950s when the expectation for women was to get married and take care of the family. “Remember that all this was taking place in the 1950's, when marriage was seen as the only desirable goal. My mother is a very lively person who would rather skate than scrub floors; she was a tomboy in youth and still is one” (Oates 2). In an interview with The New York Times, Atwood explains that her parents had high expectations for her as a child, and they wanted her use her abilities wisely. “They didn't encourage me to become a writer, exactly, but they gave me a more important kind of support; that is, they expected me to make use of my intelligence and abilities and did not pressure me into getting married” (Oates 2). Atwood’s parents, especially her mother, defied societal norms in their own lives and they encouraged her to do the same. Her parents and her childhood have influenced her writing because Atwood was taught from a young age that she can do whatever she wants to do.
During Atwood’s childhood, there were more male authors than female authors. This is a motivator for her writing because her parents encouraged her to do what she wants.
As she told Kim Hubbard in People Weekly, she was somewhat frightened by her decision, for she had few female role models in her chosen profession. ‘Emily Dickinson lived in a cupboard, Charlotte Brontë died in childbirth. They were weird like Christina Rossetti, or they drank or committed suicide like Sylvia Plath. Writing seemed like a call to doom. I thought I would probably get [tuberculosis] and live in a garret and have a terrible life’ (McMahon 12).
Atwood had few female authors as her role models, and she believed that they all had horrible lives. She was wary of her decision to write because she thought that female authors were doomed to having a terrible life. The impression of the female role models motivated Atwood to write about feminism, a common theme in most of her novels. Moral Disorder and Other Stories is a collection of short stories that follows the life of Nell from childhood through adulthood. The book begins with a short story about Nell and her husband as an elderly couple, but then flashes back to the memories of her childhood. Although Atwood claims that none of her works are autobiographical, numerous critics disagree. “They do reflect the struggle she has had to go through herself to assert her identity as a woman and an individual” (Hile 5). In Moral Disorder and Other Stories, there are several similarities between the main character’s and Atwood’s life that support the claim that she wrote about her struggles in her novels. Some similarities include the family members and situations that Atwood has overcome in her own life. The themes of feminism and isolation are prominent themes in Moral Disorders and Other Stories, as well as many of Atwood’s novels because these themes allow her to reflect on her struggles as a female author. The theme of feminism is explored in several of Atwood’s works and the main characters are almost always female.
Atwood’s concern for strong female characters emerges clearly in her novels, particularly in The Edible Woman, Surfacing, Life before Man, Bodily Harm, and The Handmaid’s Tale. These novels feature female characters who are, Klemesrud reported, ‘intelligent, self-absorbed modern women searching for identity. . . . [They] hunt, split logs, make campfires and become successful in their careers, while men often cook and take care of their households’ (McMahon 13).
Atwood grew up in a time where women were expected to be housewives. This translates into feminism in her novels. “As for us girls, we weren’t sure where we were headed. If we didn’t go on, we’d have to get married or else become old maids; but with a good set of grades, this dismaying fork in the road could be postponed for a while” (Atwood 58). In Moral Disorder and Other Stories, Atwood writes about the importance of education for girls. If girls did not get good grades or dropped out of school, they would have to get married. Atwood began studying at the Victoria College in the University of Toronto in 1957 (McMahon 12). She graduated with a Bachelor of Art in English in 1961 and continued to study at Radcliffe College as a graduate student (McMahon 13). Atwood continued on to college and waited to get married until 1967. Feminism is an important theme for Atwood to write about because it empowers women to do something that may be against the societal norms for women. Another major theme in Moral Disorder and Other Stories, as well as in several other novels, is the comparison between isolation and being in a relationship. Atwood married Jim Polk in 1967, but they were divorced in 1977 (McMahon 9). She married Graeme Gibson, a writer, and gave birth to her daughter Jess (McMahon 9). The theme of isolation in Atwood’s novels allows the protagonist to find their identity before they are married. This may be autobiographical because some critics claim that Atwood had to search for her own identity after her divorce with her first husband. Atwood’s failed marriage with Polk in 1968 may be the reason why many of the main characters in her novels would rather be alone than be committed to a relationship. In Moral Disorder and Other Stories, Nell reflects on her life as a single woman after she marries her husband Tig and they have a child.
Too late for what? To get out, to move on. Yet at the same time I longed for security. It was a similar story with men. Each one was a possibility that quickly became an impossibility. As soon as there were two toothbrushes -- no, as soon as I could even picture two toothbrushes, side by side on the bathroom counter in trapped, stagnant, limp-bristled companionship -- I would have to leave (Atwood 78).
There are several similarities regarding isolation between Nell and Atwood. Both women had a difficult time imagining being in a relationship, but they slowly got over it once they got married. However, once they begin a relationship, they realize that they want to get married at have children.
Today, Atwood finds more comfort in family than writing. . . . The author’s fear of having to sacrifice motherhood for a career has also proved to be unfounded. Atwood is the happy mother of a daughter named Jess. ‘I love being a mother,’ the author says to Ross. . . . ‘I always wanted to have a child under the right circumstances, which for me included an interested partner and enough money. It took me a while to get both. Now my child is what I care about most, and my family as a whole. Writing is a very important part of my life, but it’s not a human being. I’m pretty much aware that there is a difference between them’ (Hile 10).
Atwood says that she loves being a mother and that motherhood did not cause her to give up her writing career. Similarly to Nell’s situation, Atwood decided to wait until the circumstances were right before she decided to marry again.
What is Atwood’s reason for writing? One can only guess what Atwood’s motivation for writing is. She says herself that she has not felt that it is necessary to come up with an answer. “Why do I write? I guess I've never felt the necessity of thinking up a really convincing answer to that one, although I get asked it a lot” (Oates 6). Although her work is not autobiographical, Atwood uses personal experience to write about her past relationships. This may be the reason why she incorporates the theme of isolation versus being in a committed relationship. Atwood’s parents and role models act as motivators because they are supportive of her efforts and allow her to feel more confident in her career choice as a female author. The time period of Atwood’s childhood motivates her to write because she wanted to break away from the social norms. This may explain why the theme of feminism in most of her novels is so strong. Atwood uses her historical and social perspective to form the themes in her novels.