DIKSIA.COM - If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh, think, and question the norms and expectations of contemporary culture, then you might want to check out The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood.
This is the debut novel of the acclaimed Canadian author, who is best known for her dystopian masterpiece The Handmaid's Tale. The Edible Woman is a witty, subversive, and hilarious story of a young woman who rebels against the pressures of marriage, consumerism, and conformity in the 1960s.
Introduction
The Edible Woman was first published in 1969, and it is considered one of the earliest examples of feminist literature. It explores the themes of gender roles, identity, sexuality, and autonomy through the lens of humor and irony. The novel has been praised for its originality, style, and insight into the human condition.
The protagonist of the novel is Marian McAlpin, a market researcher who lives a seemingly normal and stable life. She has a steady job, a serious fiancé named Peter, and a group of friends who share her interests and values. However, things start to change when she gets engaged to Peter, who represents everything that society expects from a successful man.
As Marian prepares for her wedding, she begins to feel trapped and suffocated by the demands and expectations of her role as a wife. She starts to lose her sense of self and identity, and she develops a strange aversion to food.
She feels like she is being consumed by Peter and by the society that wants to mold her into a passive and obedient woman. She decides to rebel against this fate by rejecting food, breaking off her engagement, and pursuing her own desires.
Book Details
- Title: The Edible Woman
- Author: Margaret Atwood
- Genres: Feminism, Satire, Dystopia
- Chapters: 22
- Language: English
- Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
- Publication date: 1969
- Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
- Awards: Governor General's Award for Fiction (1969)
Recommended Audience
The Edible Woman is suitable for readers who enjoy witty and clever novels that challenge the status quo and offer a fresh perspective on social issues. It is also recommended for fans of Margaret Atwood's other works, such as The Handmaid's Tale, Alias Grace, and The Blind Assassin.
Overview
The Edible Woman is divided into three parts, each corresponding to a different point of view. The first part is narrated by Marian in the first person, as she introduces her life and her relationship with Peter. The second part switches to the third person, as Marian becomes more detached from herself and her surroundings. The third part returns to the first person, as Marian regains her voice and her agency.
Plot Summary
In the first part of the novel, Marian works as a market researcher for Seymour Surveys, where she conducts interviews and analyzes data. She lives with her roommate Ainsley Tewce, who works as a tester for an electric toothbrush company. Ainsley is obsessed with having a baby without getting married or having a father figure for her child. She plans to seduce Len Slank, a naive and immature man who works at the same company as Marian.
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