Surfacing by Margaret Atwood

Surfacing

-         Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian writer. She is a poetess, novelist and short story writer. She is eco-centric writer and a feminist. Her best novel surfacing (1972) focuses the relationship between nature and human. In Surfacing Atwood explores how women and nature are victimized by the patriarchy. She is the first Canadian Eco-feminist writer. Her themes are based on the status of women and environmental issues

In Surfacing the unnamed narrator returns home after nine years to Northern Quebec after World war II. She comes in search of her father. She realizes the transformation of the place. She discovers that the Americans and Canadians were the main cause for environmental degradation.

In the past children ran through the snow with their barefoot and enjoyed nature. But in the present nature is fragile. She claims that “White birches are dying; the disease is spreading up from the south”.

The protagonist stumbles to discover the alien land, “For a moment she thinks to return home”. She reaches this land along with her friends David and Anna. She accompanies her lover Joe in the car. Three of them move along with the nameless heroine to make a movie named Random Samples. David and Anna are married couple. Joe is like a buffalo on the US. The nameless heroine moves in search of her father along the “cow sprinkled hills and leaf trees and dead elms – skeletons”. She explores the truth behind the bloody Americans destroying the scenic beauty of nature. She travelled towards hills and discovers the old Bridge torn by huge concrete structure dwarfing the village. She recalls her past childhood days and was reminded of nature and present destruction. She is frustrated to see the deserted church which is losing purity and reminded of nature and present destruction. She is frustrated to see the deserted church which is losing purity and geniusness of her recollections. The heroine expresses a deep concern for nature and helps us to understand the connection between nature and women.  After reaching the cabin of the nameless heroine opens a room used by her mother who passed away for nameless heroine. After marriage things changed for the nameless heroine. Joe puts his arm around the protagonist. She feels better than her husband. She examines her lover face. Divorce is like an amputation. The nameless heroine is a commercial artist who does posters. She wanted to be an “real artist”. She was not happy to lead her life with her husband. “I’ll never trust that word again. He wanted a child, that’s normal he wanted us to be married”. She is reminded of her past childhood memories. She explores how she was not allowed to attend Sunday school by her father. The protagonist was furious with her father. She decides to destroy the paintings of her father., “my father will have the island to himself”. She recalls her mother’s teaching “Not to attach anybody”. She realizes the fact that emotional bondage will cause pain. The heroine recalls her abortion like a pig. She hates marriage and feels her marriage is a sacrifice.

The nameless heroine refuses to be a victim. The protagonist explores her past. She is ready to confront and explore the present. She seems to be growing more and more animal like. She desires for harmony. She goes in search of herself. Throws the film into the river. She finally begins to function like an animal.