Women's Histories In Selected Novels Of Margaret Atwood

This dissertation addresses Margaret Atwood's understanding of women in the context of twentieth-century history from three perspectives. The dissertation is divided into three chapters corresponding to these. While praising the mutual support and care between female friends, Atwood complicates the major theme of the contemporary women's movement -sisterhood - by exposing the negative feelings existing between women. While confirming the achievements of the women's movement, Atwood reveals some limitations of the movement by depicting uncooperative men. Challenging the official history which often makes women invisible, Atwood focuses on the victimization of women by the major events during the twentieth century. Atwood provides her unique perspective of sisterhood, women's movement and women's life in relation to national and international history.