Apologia of Margaret Atwood's Contribution to the Canon of Canadian Literature

Margaret Atwood’s works have had a huge effect on the image of Canadian literature. This is evident through the many awards and diverse recognition that Atwood has received, and continues to receive. Atwood has received these acknowledgments for many reasons, but primarily because of her ability to present abstract and outer worldly concepts in a relatable, very human way, as can be seen in her book The Handmaid’s Tale. This ability has made her an author that is not only respected in Canada, but around the world.

As aforementioned, Margaret Atwood has been highly regarded throughout Canada and the world for her writing. In Canada Atwood has been honored with the Governor General’s Award for both The Circle Game and The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as many other presentations(Demour). As early as 1994 Atwood was given the Oxford Literary Festival: Award for Literary Excellence (Demour). In 2005 Oryx and Craig was bestowed with the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (Impac Dublin). This prize regards writers from around the world, who write in any language (Impac Dublin). More recently, Atwood recieved the Prince of Asturias’ prize for letters (Herald). The jury in Madrid, Spain justified this award by drawing attention to Atwood’s ability to execute many genres with “sharpness and irony” (Herald). They also praised her for “defend[ing] the dignity of women and denounce[ing] situations of social in justice” (Herald). This short list of honours and awards gives a small glimpse into the distinctions that have recognised Margaret Atwood both in Canada and internationally. When one thinks about the impact Atwood’s work must have on fundamental human attributes, to have the ability to appeal to such a diverse audience it gives a better impression of the magnitude of her works.

Atwood’s works are so applicable because of the universal themes that the stories she writes encompass, as well as the way in which she portrays these themes so elegantly. The effect Atwood’s feminist views have on her work have created controversy and discussion since the beginning of her career, but it is likely that these ideas are a large part of the universality of her writing. In The Handmaid’s Tale feminism is evident throughout. In an interview about her book, Atwood said,
“I clipped articles out of newspapers. I now have a large clippings file of stories supporting the contentions of the book. In other words, there isn’t anything in the book not based on something that has already happened in history or in another country, or for which actual supporting documentation is not already available” (Atwood, 391).
Even the mode of dress that Atwood describes as having been assigned to the characters could be related to issues of women’s rights around the world throughout history, and in our modern times. The narrator of the story, Offred, describes her clothing as
"red shoes, flat-heeled to save the spine and not for dancing… Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us. The skirt is ankle-length, full, gathered to a flat yoke that extends over the breasts, the sleeves are full. The white wings too are prescribed issue; they are to keep us from seeing, but also from being seen” (Atwood, 9).
This passage brings to mind the women that practice Islamic traditions and are expected to wear a burqa when in public (Business Network). This tradition stems from the holy text of the Qur’an, as this book states that men and women should dress and act as modestly as possible whilst in public (Business Network). Like the costume Offred is depicted in, this attire is formless – often simply a large square of fabric with a mesh window for the eyes – and restricts the women’s view to about less than half of what is naturally available (Business Network). The traditions of Islamic women can be so well paralleled with Atwood’s characters, in multiple ways. The fact that Offred and the handmaids are ‘kept from seeing’, but also kept ‘from being seen’, correlates perfectly with the restricted views of women who wear extremely modest clothing. The idea of the handmaids, as well as real women in our world, not being able to see but also not being seen could be viewed in multiple ways. The most common is that these clothing restrictions are a tool of female oppression. Opposing this idea is one that is presented in The Handmaid’s Tale, the idea that the cloaking of the female form, and the suppression of sexuality, is the best way to avoid sexual misdemeanours. This controversial, and sensitive, topic is placed exceptionally in Margaret Atwood’s writing style. Her opinions, thoughts, and ideas are placed in the text of The Handmaid’s Tale in a beautiful way – subtly enough that readers will likely be entirely absorbed in the story as they are reading, but will connect the fictional issues to those of the world around them once they have closed the book. Similarly, only a few chapters into The Handmaid’s Tale the readers are introduced to ‘The Aunts’ at the Red Centre. This centre has been created to train women for the new utopia the government has supposedly created. In a highly disturbing scene the Aunts are teaching about rape, and the old world.
"It's Janine, telling us about how she was gang-raped at fourteen and had an abortion. She told the same story last week. She seemed almost proud of it, while she was telling. It may not even be true. At Testifying, it's safer to make things up than to say you have nothing to reveal. But since it's Janine, it's probably more or less true.But whose fault was it? Aunt Helena says, holding up one plump finger.Her fault, her fault, her fault, we chant in unison.
Who led them on? Aunt Helena beams, pleased with us.
She did. She did. She did.
Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen?
Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson."
(Atwood, 67)

At first this seems extremely disturbing and obscene. But upon further reflection a reader must consider the world around them, especially if they are living in North America. In North American society sex is a way of life; one can hardly participate in society without being bombarded with image of sex and sexuality. True to her nature, Atwood is able to present the idea that perhaps the venereal atrocities of the world are less at the fault of the individuals that commit the crimes, and more in the hands of society. This is a delicate topic to write about, especially in such extremes, but Atwood is able to present her point in an elegant, poetic manner. Atwood’s ability to place universal themes in fictional stories is a large part of the reason she has become such an acclaimed author in our world.

The reasons for Margaret Atwood’s significance in Canadian literature, as well as literature of the world, would be nearly impossible to outline in a simple essay. Because of her immense recognition as an exceptionally talented writer, and as a forward thinker in our modern world Atwood has been immortalised through her works in many of our world’s institutions. At the age of 68, Margaret Atwood is still writing, and likely will be for many years to come, and Canadian literature will be richer for it.