Margaret Eleanor Margaret Eleanor AtwoodAtwood

A collection of some A collection of some thoughts about thoughts about SurfacingSurfacing

On Feminism – When an interviewer On Feminism – When an interviewer asked her if she was one:asked her if she was one:

FeministFeminist is now one of those all-purpose is now one of those all-purpose words. It really can mean anything from words. It really can mean anything from people who think men should be pushed people who think men should be pushed off cliffs to people who think it’s O.K. for off cliffs to people who think it’s O.K. for women to read and write. All those could women to read and write. All those could be called feminist positions. Thinking that be called feminist positions. Thinking that it’s O.K. for women to read and write it’s O.K. for women to read and write would be a radically feminist position in would be a radically feminist position in Afghanistan. So what do you mean?Afghanistan. So what do you mean?

In In Cat’s Eye her protagonist responds Cat’s Eye her protagonist responds to an interview about her work:to an interview about her work:

““Well, what about, you know, feminism?” she Well, what about, you know, feminism?” she says. “A lot of people call you a feminist says. “A lot of people call you a feminist painter.”painter.”

““What indeed,” I say, “I hate party lines, I What indeed,” I say, “I hate party lines, I hate ghettoes. Anyway, I’m too old to have hate ghettoes. Anyway, I’m too old to have invented it and you’re too young to invented it and you’re too young to understand it, so what’s the point of understand it, so what’s the point of discussing it at all?”discussing it at all?”

““So, it’s not a meaningful classification for So, it’s not a meaningful classification for you?” she says.you?” she says.

““I like it that women like my work. Why I like it that women like my work. Why shouldn’t I?”shouldn’t I?”

No Essentialist Definitions of No Essentialist Definitions of “Woman”“Woman”

In her fiction, there are no essentialist definitions of In her fiction, there are no essentialist definitions of “woman” or “feminism” or even “Canadian,” but “woman” or “feminism” or even “Canadian,” but instead representations of the endless complexity instead representations of the endless complexity and quirkiness of human behavior which exceeds and quirkiness of human behavior which exceeds ideological labels and the explanatory power of ideological labels and the explanatory power of theory. theory.

She’s interested in the dialectics of power and in She’s interested in the dialectics of power and in shifting structures of ideology. As a “true novelist” shifting structures of ideology. As a “true novelist” she is interested in the dynamic powers of she is interested in the dynamic powers of language and story.language and story.

– There is no single, simple, static “women’s point of view.” There is no single, simple, static “women’s point of view.” Let’s just say that good writing of any kind by any one is Let’s just say that good writing of any kind by any one is surprising, intricate, strong, sinuous. surprising, intricate, strong, sinuous.

– Previous three slides from Coral Ann Howells – Margaret Previous three slides from Coral Ann Howells – Margaret Atwood.Atwood.

But . . . But . . . With her concern with living by eating, with that With her concern with living by eating, with that

quest for the self that has been at the heart of major quest for the self that has been at the heart of major works by women from the past 150 years, with her works by women from the past 150 years, with her passion for becoming conscious of one’s passion for becoming conscious of one’s victimization and ceasing to acquiesce, with her victimization and ceasing to acquiesce, with her insistence on nature as a living whole of which we insistence on nature as a living whole of which we are all interdependent parts, with her respect for the are all interdependent parts, with her respect for the irrational center of the psyche and the healing irrational center of the psyche and the healing experiences beyond logical control, her insistence on experiences beyond logical control, her insistence on joining the divided head and body, her awareness of joining the divided head and body, her awareness of roleplaying and how women suffocate in the narrow roleplaying and how women suffocate in the narrow crevices of sexual identity, she is part of that crevices of sexual identity, she is part of that growing women’s culture already, a great quilt for growing women’s culture already, a great quilt for which we are each stitching our own particolored which we are each stitching our own particolored blocks out of old petticoats, skirts, coats, bedsheets, blocks out of old petticoats, skirts, coats, bedsheets, blood and berry juice. (McCombs)blood and berry juice. (McCombs)

On motifs in the novelOn motifs in the novel The elusiveness and variety of “language” in its The elusiveness and variety of “language” in its

several sensesseveral senses The significance of one’s heritage, including not The significance of one’s heritage, including not

only personal ancestors but the gods and totemic only personal ancestors but the gods and totemic figures of primitive culturesfigures of primitive cultures

The search for a location (both in time and place)The search for a location (both in time and place) The brutalizations and victimizations of loveThe brutalizations and victimizations of love Drowning and surviving.Drowning and surviving. The continuum between human and animalThe continuum between human and animal The continuum between human beings and The continuum between human beings and

naturenature

Atwood and the EnvironmentAtwood and the Environment

Margaret Laurence, another Margaret Laurence, another Canadian writer of great merit, writes Canadian writer of great merit, writes about Atwood that her themes about Atwood that her themes express our most burning express our most burning contemporary issues – the role of contemporary issues – the role of women, the facts of urban life, and women, the facts of urban life, and most of all, the wounding and most of all, the wounding and perhaps killing of our only home, perhaps killing of our only home, Earth.Earth.

. . .. . .

Laurence says Atwood addresses all these Laurence says Atwood addresses all these issues with out writing propaganda and issues with out writing propaganda and suggests that “she has been able to do this suggests that “she has been able to do this partly because she has interwoven these partly because she has interwoven these themes with the theme which is central to themes with the theme which is central to our mythology, our religions, our history our mythology, our religions, our history and (whether we know it or not) our hearts and (whether we know it or not) our hearts – human kind’s quest for the archetypal – human kind’s quest for the archetypal parents, for our gods, and for our own parents, for our gods, and for our own meanings in the face of our knowledge of meanings in the face of our knowledge of the inevitability of death.the inevitability of death.

Gods and other thingsGods and other things

What does it mean that the gods who What does it mean that the gods who finally empower the protagonist of finally empower the protagonist of SurfacingSurfacing are the native, pre-historic are the native, pre-historic gods? It’s not Christianity – which gods? It’s not Christianity – which she rejects as inadequate and alien – she rejects as inadequate and alien – that will save her (or us). How do that will save her (or us). How do you interpret that? How does it fit in you interpret that? How does it fit in with the other themes of the novel?with the other themes of the novel?

Atwood on the Writer’s DutyAtwood on the Writer’s Duty

The writer functions in her society as The writer functions in her society as a kind of soothsayer, a truth teller. . . a kind of soothsayer, a truth teller. . . The novel is a moral instrument. The novel is a moral instrument. MoralMoral implies political. . . By political I implies political. . . By political I mean having to do with power; who’s mean having to do with power; who’s got it, who wants it, how it operates; got it, who wants it, how it operates; in a word who’s allowed to do what in a word who’s allowed to do what to whom, who gets away with it and to whom, who gets away with it and how.how.

Cixous and French on PowerCixous and French on Power Cixous – The kind of power that is the will to Cixous – The kind of power that is the will to

supremacy, the thirst for individual and supremacy, the thirst for individual and narcissistic satisfaction is always a power over narcissistic satisfaction is always a power over others. . . . Whereas . . . “woman’s powers” . . . Is others. . . . Whereas . . . “woman’s powers” . . . Is a question of a question of power over oneselfpower over oneself, in other words a , in other words a relation not based on mastery but on availability.relation not based on mastery but on availability.

French – French – Power-overPower-over is attributed to the is attributed to the masculine world of domination and destruction, masculine world of domination and destruction, which can accommodate only those that serve it. which can accommodate only those that serve it. Power-toPower-to characterizes the feminine world, is characterizes the feminine world, is constructive and seeks to create and to further constructive and seeks to create and to further pleasure for everyone.pleasure for everyone.

Power Over/Power ToPower Over/Power To

The protagonist says “My brother The protagonist says “My brother saw the danger early. To immerse saw the danger early. To immerse oneself, join in the war, or to be oneself, join in the war, or to be destroyed. Though there ought to be destroyed. Though there ought to be other choices.”other choices.”

Atwood on Atwood on SurfacingSurfacing ““You can define yourself as innocent and You can define yourself as innocent and

get killed, or you can define yourself as a get killed, or you can define yourself as a killer and kill others. I think there has to be killer and kill others. I think there has to be a third thing again: the ideal would be a third thing again: the ideal would be somebody who would neither be a killer or somebody who would neither be a killer or a victim, who could achieve some kind of a victim, who could achieve some kind of harmony with the world. . . Now in harmony with the world. . . Now in [Surfacing that is not] actualized, but . . [Surfacing that is not] actualized, but . . it’s seen as a possibility, finally, whereas it’s seen as a possibility, finally, whereas initially it is not.” initially it is not.”

Gibson Gibson Eleven Canadian NovelistsEleven Canadian Novelists

Powerlessness is evil, tooPowerlessness is evil, too

Atwood suggests that belief in one’s own Atwood suggests that belief in one’s own powerlessness amounts to evasion of the powerlessness amounts to evasion of the responsibility which power involves. In an responsibility which power involves. In an interview with Graeme Gibson Atwood interview with Graeme Gibson Atwood says says – If you are defining yourself as innocent, you If you are defining yourself as innocent, you

refuse to accept power. You refuse to admit refuse to accept power. You refuse to admit that you have it, then you refuse to exercise it, that you have it, then you refuse to exercise it, because the exercise of power is defined as because the exercise of power is defined as evil, and that’s like people who refuse to get evil, and that’s like people who refuse to get involved in politics because it’s dirty.involved in politics because it’s dirty.

Surfacing Surfacing is also about . . .is also about . . . The symbolic journeyThe symbolic journey

– Hero: can be male or female or even animalHero: can be male or female or even animal– The Call to Adventure: the call invites the hero to an adventureThe Call to Adventure: the call invites the hero to an adventure– Supernatural Aid: often accompanies hero to the “threshold”Supernatural Aid: often accompanies hero to the “threshold”– The Threshold: metaphoric line between what is known and The Threshold: metaphoric line between what is known and

unknownunknown– Threshold Guardians: protects us from taking journeys before we Threshold Guardians: protects us from taking journeys before we

are ready; or challenge us to prove we are ready.are ready; or challenge us to prove we are ready.– Helpers and mentors: individuals, creatures, or spirits who assist Helpers and mentors: individuals, creatures, or spirits who assist

the hero in her journeys.the hero in her journeys.– Challenges, obstacles, temptations: The hero faces these to test Challenges, obstacles, temptations: The hero faces these to test

his courage and mettlehis courage and mettle– The Abyss: Symbolic death and rebirth; accompanied by The Abyss: Symbolic death and rebirth; accompanied by

revelation and understandingrevelation and understanding– Transformation: The result of the hero overcoming the Transformation: The result of the hero overcoming the

challenges: the hero changes in positive wayschallenges: the hero changes in positive ways– The Atonement: Change leads to self-discovery and forgiveness; The Atonement: Change leads to self-discovery and forgiveness;

at one with yourselfat one with yourself– A gift from the Gods: Symbolic reward for meeting all A gift from the Gods: Symbolic reward for meeting all

challengeschallenges– Return: Hero returns changed, with a new understanding Return: Hero returns changed, with a new understanding

Surfacing Surfacing is about . . .is about . . .

Using the symmetry of drowning by Using the symmetry of drowning by water/drowning by air and death of the water/drowning by air and death of the parent/death of the child in parent/death of the child in SurfacingSurfacing, , Atwood . . . Imaginatively condenses Atwood . . . Imaginatively condenses the implications of the contemporary the implications of the contemporary schism between flesh and spirit, schism between flesh and spirit, secular and sacred, conscious and secular and sacred, conscious and unconscious; the destroyed fetus is the unconscious; the destroyed fetus is the anomalous buried half of these anomalous buried half of these necessarily complementary pairs. necessarily complementary pairs.

. . .. . .

The frequent references to mutilation, The frequent references to mutilation, amputation, anesthesia, and the robot-amputation, anesthesia, and the robot-like, mechanized or wooden reality of the like, mechanized or wooden reality of the narrator’s own immediate past are now narrator’s own immediate past are now seen as consequences of the abortion. In seen as consequences of the abortion. In removing life, “they had planted death in removing life, “they had planted death in me like a seed . . . Since then I’d carried me like a seed . . . Since then I’d carried that death around inside me, layering it that death around inside me, layering it over, a cyst, a tumor, black pearl. . .”over, a cyst, a tumor, black pearl. . .”

. . .. . .

To interpret this image simply as a To interpret this image simply as a political statement against abortion political statement against abortion would be to misunderstand the would be to misunderstand the significance of the fetus as Atwood’s significance of the fetus as Atwood’s metaphor for the self-destructive metaphor for the self-destructive diseases of contemporary life, and diseases of contemporary life, and the incomplete development of the the incomplete development of the self.self.

(read p. 31 of CLC)(read p. 31 of CLC)

Legacies of the ParentsLegacies of the Parents

She has to learn, not only to deal She has to learn, not only to deal with the future, but also how to deal with the future, but also how to deal with the past.with the past.

What legacies does her father leave What legacies does her father leave her?her?

What legacies does her mother leave What legacies does her mother leave her?her?

Ontogeny/PhylogenyOntogeny/Phylogeny

Ontogeny -- the development or course of Ontogeny -- the development or course of development especially of an individual development especially of an individual organism organism

Phylogeny -- the evolution of a genetically Phylogeny -- the evolution of a genetically related group of organisms as related group of organisms as distinguished from the development of the distinguished from the development of the individual organismindividual organism

One critic claims that this is a repeated One critic claims that this is a repeated chorus in the novel – agree/disagree? chorus in the novel – agree/disagree? Where’s the evidence for this claim?Where’s the evidence for this claim?

GenreGenre You could call it an adventure thriller set in You could call it an adventure thriller set in

the wilds of Northern Quebec. the wilds of Northern Quebec. You could call it a detective story You could call it a detective story

centering on the search of the main centering on the search of the main character’s missing father. character’s missing father.

You could call it a psychological novel, a You could call it a psychological novel, a study of madness both individual and study of madness both individual and social. social.

You could call it a religious novel which You could call it a religious novel which examines the origin and nature of the examines the origin and nature of the human lust to kill and destroy.human lust to kill and destroy.

Which one would you call it and why?Which one would you call it and why?

ThemeTheme

Is it a novel about women and their Is it a novel about women and their oppression in patriarchal cultures?oppression in patriarchal cultures?

Is it a novel about Canadian Nationalism, Is it a novel about Canadian Nationalism, about postcolonial issues?about postcolonial issues?

Is it a novel about the evils of capitalism?Is it a novel about the evils of capitalism? Is it a novel about the necessary journey Is it a novel about the necessary journey

into the self to achieve wholeness?into the self to achieve wholeness? Other possibilities?Other possibilities? Which do you choose? Why?Which do you choose? Why?