Margaret Atwood is not looking for simple themes or messages. Her book “Alias Grace” has many meaningful stories, to which the brain is constantly searching for answers. Atwood’s books are always full of skeletons in the closet, life conflicts, difficult and intricate interpersonal and family relationships. Moreover, there is a place for drama as well as for various social problems. This book is no exception. On the contrary, “Alias Grace” is a rule. Margaret Atwood tries to comprehend and tell us her version of the story about the most famous Canadian feloness Grace Marks, who was accused of killing two people, but she escaped the penalty, unlike her accomplice.
Despite the complicated and intricate history, the author manages to emphasize it in such a way that the reader initially does not feel to the main heroine those negative emotions that we must feel to the murderer of two people, one of whom was still pregnant. At least, the author succeeds it. Margaret tries to look impartially at the ongoing events through the eyes of Grace Marks, through the eyes of Dr. Jordan and through the eyes of society, which has divided into two parts – those, who do not mind to release the innocent Grace and those, who believe that nothing is stolen without hands. The reader needs to make a verdict – to execute or forgive. After reading, everyone will decide on their own.
The reader really sympathizes with Grace Marks, because she has a difficult life since her childhood. It is possible to go crazy because if a person has an unstable psyche, any light breeze can turn into a hurricane. No one knows what is hiding in the soul of Grace and which secret thoughts and terrible secrets are unknown to her. Thanks to the unpleasant life experience, Grace has amazing wisdom of life and tenacity, despite her young years. Her character bribes the reader. It is more than boldly to take the liberty to describe the fate of the accused woman in the bloody murder of one of the most prominent scandals in due times.
There is a desire to express the opinion about the language of “Alias Grace”. It is so beautiful, clear, concrete, devoid of various unnecessary phrases, but so vivid and lively, filled with irony, and sometimes sarcasm, behind which there is a clear description of each character or situation. Reading the book, there is always a desire to memorize the whole paragraphs and quote them.
In addition, the whole story has the most powerful social problems – the role of women in society, class, and social inequality, the system of punishments. This is only a small part of the topical issues of that period and this is another undoubted advantage of the work. All characters are living, characteristic, bright and everyone is original and interesting in his or her own way. Undoubtedly, this book teaches readers to be honest, fair and responsible for their actions. Because if you do not admit your guilt or mistake, your fate will be in the hands of strangers and you cannot save your soul.
