The other is a love story between a man and a woman who meet in dingy backstreet rooms and tell each other stories. The man is a fugitive writer who is wanted by the authorities for his subversive activities.
The woman is a wealthy socialite who is trapped in a loveless marriage. They use the science fiction story as a way of escaping their reality and expressing their feelings. The novel ends with the woman driving a car off a bridge, killing herself and the manuscript of the novel.
Themes and analysis
The Blind Assassin is a complex and layered novel that explores themes such as memory, truth, identity, power, gender, class, and family. It also examines the role of storytelling and fiction in shaping one’s life and perception of reality.
The novel challenges the reader to question the reliability and motives of the narrator, Iris, who reveals her secrets and lies gradually and selectively. The novel also plays with the genres of historical fiction, mystery, romance, and science fiction, creating a metafictional commentary on the nature and purpose of literature.
The novel also reflects on the social and political changes that occurred in Canada and the world during the twentieth century, such as the Great Depression, the rise of fascism, the Second World War, the Cold War, and the feminist movement.
Reception and legacy
The Blind Assassin received critical acclaim and commercial success upon its publication. It was praised for its intricate plot, rich language, and compelling characters. It was also lauded for its originality and innovation in blending different genres and narratives.
It won the Booker Prize in 2000, becoming the second novel by Atwood to receive the prestigious award, after The Handmaid’s Tale in 1986. It also won the Hammett Prize in 2001, an award given by the International Association of Crime Writers for literary excellence in the field of crime writing.
It was also nominated for the Governor General’s Award, the Orange Prize, and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. It was ranked 94th on the BBC’s The Big Read poll in 2003, and 8th on CBC’s Canada Reads in 2011. It was also adapted into a radio drama by the BBC in 2002, and a stage play by Michael O’Brien in 2007.
Conclusion
The Blind Assassin is a novel that showcases the talent and versatility of Margaret Atwood, one of the most celebrated and influential writers of our time. It is a novel that combines mystery and drama, history and science fiction, reality and imagination, to create a captivating and unforgettable reading experience.
