On Multiple Narratives Of The Mirror Image In Atwood’s Novels

The mirror image is repeatedly used by in Atwood’s novels. In this thesis, theauthor takes the mirror image as the breakthrough point. On the basis of analysis onAtwood’s own personal experience and the colonial experience of nationality, theauthor summarizes and analyzes mirror image used repeatedly in Atwood’s novel withreference of its rich cultural significance in western culture. By doing this, the authorattempts to explore Margaret Atwood’s profound insight and thought implied inmirror image.This thesis is mainly divided into four parts. The first part is about motivations ofthe mirror image used by from his personal experience, Atwood’s inheritance andinnovation of the mirror image in western culture, and analysis of Atwood’ novelswith application of Lucan’s Theory of the Mirror. The second part is the femalenarrative of mirror image, which refers to women’s realization of their livingpredicament enlightened by the mirror in Atwood’s novel. As a result of this, womenacquire the cognitive self image and go beyond of it. Therefore, the double image ofmirror implies women’s construction of the ideal self. The third part is the colonialnarrative. Mirror is the metaphor of Canada’s relationship with Britain and America. Itreflects the colonial identity Canada wants to stay, which causes the dilemmas of itsnational identity and forces Canada to strive to build its own national identity. Thefourth is the ecological narrative of the mirror image. Human and naturecommunicates through the water——mirror of nature. This mirror reflects thepredicaments both in human society and the natural world aroused by wrongdoings ofhuman beings. Atwood explores human’s seeking for the original vitality of ecologicalnature after getting lost in the postmodern civilization by description of human’sdrowning. She rethinks and redefines the relationship between human and naturethrough the dialogue of establishment between man and nature.