National Identity Crisis in Margaret Atwood’s Through the One-Way Mirror
National identity is one of the most important factors in maintaining
a country. It defines one’s nation, culture and everything associated
with that country. When it comes to Canada, however, it seems that our
national identity has been lost. In Margaret Atwood’s essay “Through
the One-Way Mirror,” she effectively questions Canada’s national
identity through symbolism and ambiguity.
At first glance, this essay seems to be about American dominance in
the Canadian-American relationship with its numerous powerful
metaphors and extensive use of symbolism. However, after a more
thorough examination of the essay, it can be determined that it is not
about the United States’ role in this relationship, but rather it is
concentrated on the Canadian national identity (or lack thereof).
After re-examining the essay, the meaning of the symbols and metaphors
change. The most important metaphor is that which calls the Canadian
people “Porky Pigs” (Atwood 81) who are being mesmerized by the
Americans through this “one-way mirror”(81). A powerful image is taken
from this, the Canadians are looking at the Americans, and the
Americans are looking at themselves. This image implicitly shows how
Canadians care more about the issues in the United States than those
in their own country. A perfect example of this is described by Atwood
when she is comparing the American’s garbage with the Canadian’s
garbage, “There’s a perpetual party, or something, going on [at the
American’s house]—loud music, raucous laughter, smoke billowing from
the barbecue. The Canadians have their own beer bot...
... middle of paper ...
... it is very difficult for
the country to have a defined national identity. This is the message
conveyed by Atwood in order to question Canada’s national identity.
Through analysis of “Through the One-Way Mirror,” it can be concluded
that Atwood thoroughly question Canada’s identity and explores
possible reasons for this problem. Through means of literary devices,
Atwood portrays Canada as being a self-contradicting country who is
not per-occupied with its internal issues and happenings. This
explains Canada’s lack of national identity. Atwood offered no
resolutions, but implicitly proposes that Canadians should take it
upon themselves to determine their national identity
Work Cited:
Atwood, Margaret. “Through the One-Way Mirror.” Marianopolis College
ENG-101 Introduction to College English C. Killam. 81-82.
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An American comedian once joked, “It’s easy to forget about little tiny Canada, all tucked away down there.” Obviously, this person knows little about Canada. Why is it important for peoples of other nations to learn about Canada? How does Canada attempt to impact world affairs? Discuss these questions in detail, using at least three specific examples
Surfacing works at two levels i.e. external which is the worldly pursuit of facts, and
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Neuleib, Janice, Kathleen Shine Cain, and Stephen Ruffus, eds. Mercury Reader for English 101. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013 Print.
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There are many female writers, some known better than other. Female writes most of the time focused their stories in experiences or personal point of view on what is going on around them. Other women write fiction of unusual worlds and character that people can relate to with the struggle or experiences. Margaret Atwood the “Canadian nationalist poetess is a prominebt figure concerned with the need for a new language to explore relations between subjects and society“ (Omid, Pyeaam 1). Atwood wrote her first novel called, “The Edible Woman”; this first novel categorized her as feminist, based on the main character of a strong woman. In an interview with Emma Brockes, Atwood affirms, "First of all, what is feminism? Second, which branch of it? Am I against women having rights? Actually, no. Am I really a puppet of the women's movement? No, I'm too old for that. I've been writing since 1956 and there was no women's movement in sight at the time”. Atwood does stands for women’s right but she never thought of being feminist while writing her stories. Atwood writes about strong women because just like any other female they are tired of reading about weak and submissive woman in books. Is clear that Atwood began writing before the woman movement started and that means she was ahead of her time. Atwood’s works is not just feminist her works represents her art and the way she feel about the world. Margaret Atwood is a poet, critic, novelist, and activist. Atwood’s stands for issues that trouble her and that she sees that are obstacles for her community. Through her entire writing career peoples can see that culture, science, feminism, and environment is reflected in her words and her expression to tell a story the only way she can. Her sho...
when she says “they used to go over it as fast a possible” then later
Canada’s own identity starts with our remarkable sense of culture and customs. For the native peoples, the Canadian identity stretches thousands of years into the search of struggles to retain elements of their ancient culture. From a colonial perspective, the traditions which surface in Canadian culture seem to be born of an earlier time, of different origins and places, of old-fashioned rituals, and customs. Unlike the United States, its senior neighbor, Canada’s aged-like identity is more reserved and skillful, unwilling to commit it self to anything specific. Within each region of Canada-