Module B: Spotty Handed Villainesses Flashcards
Renowned Canadian author Margaret Atwood successfully reflects this notion in her lecture ‘Spotty Handed Villainesses’ as she
artfully explores the portrayal of female characters in literature and how this can impact and influence women’s roles in society and gender equity, (addressing the timeless global issue of achieving equal rights for women)
When
1994
Whilst not directly identifying with the feminist movement, what does Atwood do with her lecture?
campaign for the multidimensional portrayal of female characters so they may reflect the real women of our society.
What does Atwood encourage and empower through her speech
other women to think differently about how women are represented.
Why is her speech still valued today?
it addresses the forever topical issue of women’s roles in society. The theme transcends time as full gender equality still remains an ideal in our society, not yet a reality.
In her speech Atwood intersects the creative with the political
as she promotes for the real portrayal of women as a way of achieving gender equity
What is special about her entertaining approach,
it is inviting for subsequent audiences and its plethora of language devices powerfully adds to the credibility of the subject matter and Atwood’s message.
What did this speech enable?
A platform for others to express their views on the feminist movement, such as by Dorothy Johnston in her2012 article ‘Why Literature Needs Bad Women”
What is an underlying, yet principle purpose and message of the speech
by understanding the flaws of feminist ideologies and women’s issues, feminism will evolve into the future.
By critiquing the portrayal of women, she promotes the evolution of literature so that it can continue to reflect our society
Her speech is easy to follow because of its
distinctive chronological flow
Through her allusion to the nursery rhyme in her personal anecdote “there was a little girl/who had a little curl”
Through an anecdote, A makes a personal connection to her audience, appealing to ethos, whilst using satire to introduce the extreme views of women illustrated by the literature. We realise that…
Through an anecdote, A makes a personal connection to her audience, appealing to ethos, whilst using satire to introduce the extreme views of women illustrated by the literature. We realise that…
even from a young age, girls are influenced by the stereotyping of female characters in literature.
The paradox “Create a flawless character and you create an insufferable one; … I am interested in spots.”
is critical of feminist writers who portray women as one dimensional. Atwood symbolises the moral complexity of individuals.
Despite angering some feminists through her lecture, Atwood does attempt to present herself as a balanced observer, as evidenced by the explicit phrase
“To summarise the benefits of the women’s literature movement…”, establishing Ethos.
Atwood’s calls for the more realistic portrayal of women in literature, as she critiques the feminist movement for attempting to divide morality by gender and simplifying their issues. She cynically asks “Were women being confined yet again…? slaves in the salt mines of goodness? How intolerable.”
The pysma compels her audience to reflect and reconsider the issue as she further advocates for the right of women to dictate their own portrayals.
