Post Apocalyptic Vision in the Works of Margaret Atwood

Abstract

Margaret Atwood s post-apocalyptic vision narrates an organic line of understanding for human newlinesociety to observe and rethink their attitude toward nature. Her works share a peculiar observation newlinethat she had about contemporary society. Additionally, they also reflect the possibilities that newlinehumans may face in the future. The ideas that Atwood conceives about the future in her works newlinecontain elements and sub-themes that challenge humans ethical claims. The present study is an newlineattempt to critically examine and unearth hidden concerns in the select works of Atwood. The thesis newlinefocuses on four novels of Atwood titled: The Handmaid s Tale (1989), Oryx and Crake (2003), The newlineYear of the Flood (2009), and MaddAddam (2013) and explores the personality of the characters newlineand their journey in the texts using various theoretical applications like existentialism, collective newlineunconscious, Stockholm syndrome, and Milgram s experiment. The findings of the research newlineconducted in the thesis suggest that the traumatic experiences of the characters and the impact newlineexhibited in the later part of the novels serve as a logical glue in the text. Atwood empowers her newlinecharacters with strong observations that they as narrators share with the readers. Their struggle for newlineboth physical and mental survival is of utmost significance in the novels. Her protagonists seem to newlinecomply with the authority in one scene and in another they exhibit their rebel spirit. The research newlinepaved path for future researchers and policy makers to consider and utilize the apocalyptic literature newlinefor engaging the commoners in the discourse related to sustainable development goals. Future newlineresearch may focus on other apocalyptic works of Atwood and other authors and also use more newlinediverse applications on the select works. newline