Summary Of Margaret Atwood's Power

In Atwood’s Power Politics poem, which initially seems to be a conservative love poem soon turns obscure and troubling. Atwood replaces the common characterization of “hook and eye” and instead, alters it with an image of cruelty and forcefulness. From the second stanza of the poem, the clause ‘a fish hook an open eye’, challenges readers initial thoughts of an optimistic image of sexuality, by stipulating the type of hook and eye. Atwood conscientiously wrote these powerful words because after reading them, women must now disregard their initial opinions on the poem. Once the reader comprehends this line, they will amend it with an altered view of violence that provokes a reaction of hurt, distaste, and fear. The poem’s fishhook which is intended to represent a penis and the vagina-shaped eye is an illustrative

Once readers have an understanding of the discomfort of sexual domination in the poem, the female reader must rethink another premise, for this poem is not essentially a poem against sex or men. It appears that regardless of the hurt involved, the act (or fit) is accepted: the eye is open. Atwood’s poem in another similar point of view signifies the weakness and discomfort of feeling stuck in an unhealthy romantic relationship. This poem is at first positive but soon becomes dark and even embodies a new surprising tone. The speaker assures her lover is a perfect “fit” in the opening line, in order to signify a relationship that is both emotionally and sexually sustaining. The author compares this fit to that of a “hook into an eye”. This simile proposes their relationship is