Essay Questions

Why does Margaret Atwood include the symbol of pimples in the narrator’s rape fantasy? (“Rape Fantasies”)

In the fantasy, the rapist is inflicted with pimples that make him a dreadful man. The narrator uses the pimples as a bargaining chip to prevent the rapist from violating her. The inclusion of the pimples, in the fantasy, elucidates the correlation between low-self-esteem and rape. Some rapists, with low self-esteem, use rape so as to project their low esteem to the victims. Conceivably, such rapists need assistance for them to transcend the influences that stimulate the lowly self-worth.

How does the narrator employ the appeal to Ethos? (“Rape Fantasies”)

In one of her fantasies, a rapist tells the narrator, “he’s hearing angel voices that’re telling him that he’s got to kill me( the narrator).” The narrator appeals to Ethos when she tells the fellow, “I hear the same angel voices and they’ve been telling me for some time that I ‘m going to give birth to the reincarnation of St. Anne who in turn has the Virgin Mary and right after that comes Jesus Christ and the end of the world, and he wouldn’t want to interfere with that.” The narrator’s appeal to the ethos of Christianity liberates her from the executioner who leaves without slaying her. Even though her appeal to ethos is in a fantasy, it makes evident the how religion can be versatile in modifying the rapists’ mind-set.

How does Margaret Atwood created the tone in “The Man from Mars”?

Atwood splits some words using a hyphen. Examples of such words include: ‘ Chris-tine’, ‘grip-ping’, ‘welcome-ing’, ‘pa-per’, ‘care-ful’, ‘par-lour’. Splitting the words guides the reader’s stress when reading the words. Furthermore, the splitting results in a hesitant tone because it triggers the reader to pause in the midst of one word before finalizing the reading.

Why does Christine find it difficult to accept the possibility that ‘The Man From Mars’ was insane? - “The Man From Mars”

Overlooking the man’s insanity accords Christine the illusion of being an eye-catching woman worth a man’s devotion. Disregarding the man’s insanity placates her unconscious craving of getting the validation of a man regardless of her masculine attributes.

What is the overarching similarity between “The Man From Mars” and “Rape Fantasies”?

“The Man From Mars”Both ‘The man From Mars’ and “Rape Fantasies” incorporate fantasy. “Rape Fantasies” spells out fantasies that are related to sex and rape. Comparatively, in ‘The Man From Mars’ Christine has delusions about the Oriental man long after he is deported to his country for pestering her. In the resolution of “The Man From Mars”, Atwood explains, “she was beginning to have nightmares in which he was coming through the French doors of her mother's house in his shabby jacket, carrying a packsack and a rifle and a huge bouquet of richly colored flowers. He was smiling in the same way but with blood streaked over his face, partly blotting out the fea-tures.” Christine’s delusion about the man heaps on due to the war pictures that she views with the anticipation of recognizing him among the soldiers. The fancies are long-drawn-out because the man is the only one, according to Christine’s fantasy, who ratifies her womanhood.