National Identity Crisis in Margaret Atwood’s Through the One-Way Mirror
National identity is one of the most important factors in maintaining
a country. It defines one’s nation, culture and everything associated
with that country. When it comes to Canada, however, it seems that our
national identity has been lost. In Margaret Atwood’s essay “Through
the One-Way Mirror,” she effectively questions Canada’s national
identity through symbolism and ambiguity.
At first glance, this essay seems to be about American dominance in
the Canadian-American relationship with its numerous powerful
metaphors and extensive use of symbolism. However, after a more
thorough examination of the essay, it can be determined that it is not
about the United States’ role in this relationship, but rather it is
concentrated on the Canadian national identity (or lack thereof).
After re-examining the essay, the meaning of the symbols and metaphors
change. The most important metaphor is that which calls the Canadian
people “Porky Pigs” (Atwood 81) who are being mesmerized by the
Americans through this “one-way mirror”(81). A powerful image is taken
from this, the Canadians are looking at the Americans, and the
Americans are looking at themselves. This image implicitly shows how
Canadians care more about the issues in the United States than those
in their own country. A perfect example of this is described by Atwood
when she is comparing the American’s garbage with the Canadian’s
garbage, “There’s a perpetual party, or something, going on [at the
American’s house]—loud music, raucous laughter, smoke billowing from
the barbecue. The Canadians have their own beer bot...
... middle of paper ...
... it is very difficult for
the country to have a defined national identity. This is the message
conveyed by Atwood in order to question Canada’s national identity.
Through analysis of “Through the One-Way Mirror,” it can be concluded
that Atwood thoroughly question Canada’s identity and explores
possible reasons for this problem. Through means of literary devices,
Atwood portrays Canada as being a self-contradicting country who is
not per-occupied with its internal issues and happenings. This
explains Canada’s lack of national identity. Atwood offered no
resolutions, but implicitly proposes that Canadians should take it
upon themselves to determine their national identity
Work Cited:
Atwood, Margaret. “Through the One-Way Mirror.” Marianopolis College
ENG-101 Introduction to College English C. Killam. 81-82.
Today Canada and the United States are major trading partners, allies, and two neighboring countries with a long history of cooperation with each other. But is it possible for Canada to protect its independence and culture living next door to the country so powerful and rich as the United States. Since the Canadian confederation, Canada started developing relations with the U.S. As the years passed by, Canada began to relay on the United States in the national defense. Many Canadians think that the military, political and economical dependence would not make a difference to their daily life. But today more then even Canadian culture is affected by the American influence. Media, American artists, economic dependence, American propaganda and political pressure from the United States is making Canada too Americanized. All of these factors reflect on the social life of ordinary Canadians threatening the heritage and the traditions that define Canada as independent country.
In conclusion Canada gained independence because of a series of events that took place during the twentieth century. If it hadn’t been for these events, Canada to this day might have been a part of the British Empire. Through discussion on the Chanak affair we signalled that we wanted autonomy. Through our hard work and lives, the world knew we had the ability to stand alone as a strong nation. While, our international reputation of being a “peacekeeping” country the right to stand as an independent self-governing nation. But finally through the Canada Act, we stood solely independent from our Empire. It is obvious that the twentieth century provided us with great chances to become an independent strong nation.
Canada as a nation has been striving to characterize itself as more ?Canadian? for decades. This has included numerous struggles and events such as protests, bans, and the creation of the Massey Commission, to encourage national development in the arts, and support major companies like the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and National Film Board (NFB). However, this has not been an easy task for the Canadian government, as major influences from below the border (the United States) have been captivating the Canadian audiences by large. American media has had a momentous revolutionizing effect on Canada, even through efforts made to define Canada with its own cultural identity.
Is Canada a nation or has its control just switched empirical hands? As Professor Hutcheson asked, did Canada go from "Colony to Nation or Empire to Empire?" This question has greatly influenced Canada's changing identity since her birth as a British colony with Confederation in 1867 to the present day. The purpose of this essay is to critically analyse the shifting Canadian identities between the years 1890 to 1960. The objective is to illustrate Canada's transforming identity by using the novels The Imperialist by Sara Jeanette Duncan, Barometer Rising by Hugh MacLennan, and Fifth Business by Robertson Davies and to connect the stories of each of these works of fiction to the varying political, economic, and social issues of their times. Each book is written by a prominent author, and portrays an accurate reflection of the demanding political, economic, and social concerns throughout the late nineteen and first half of the twentieth century of Canadian history. All of the novels reflect Canada's peripheral view of the world, as opposed to a central point of view, because throughout its history Canada has always been perceived as a secondary player. As George Grant says in his literary piece Lament for a Nation, Canada is "a branch plant society" , meaning Canada is controlled by another power. The essential question is where has Canada's loyalties traditionally lay and how has this shaped the Canadian identity. The Imperialist by Sara Jeanette Duncan, written in 1904 reflects a very British influenced Canada. At this time, Canada is still a British colony under British rule, and the people of Canada are very content to consider themselves British. The novel predominately ill...
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Thompson, John Herd, and Mark Paul Richard. "Canadian History in North American Context." In Canadian studies in the new millennium. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2008. 37-64.
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Surfacing works at two levels i.e. external which is the worldly pursuit of facts, and
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In addition, author Atwood also creates the once educated and free-spirited women, who eventually end up with pathetic destinies as working ladies at the secret night club, Jezebel’s. When Commander Waterford is introducing the working ladies at Jezebel’s, who were once educated women like sociologists and lawyers, he says, “Well, we have quite a collection…I’m told you can have quite a good conversation with her if all you feel like is talking. They prefer it here, too” (238). Author Margaret reveals that the women who could not bear living as handmaids choose to become working ladies, trading their bodies and their knowledge to the powerful Commanders for survival.
Neuleib, Janice, Kathleen Shine Cain, and Stephen Ruffus, eds. Mercury Reader for English 101. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013 Print.
when she says “they used to go over it as fast a possible” then later