Margaret Atwood and Surfacing
The use of animals in literature as either characters with human qualities or in situations that humans face, has long been a device of authors who hope to creatively convey moral messages in their work. Animals often appear in children's literature such as fables in order to make lessons pleasurable and attractive to young readers. In adult literature, animals and the animal-like are commonly used by authors to demonstrate and instruct readers on lessons in the human experience. Stories of life in the Great White North are perhaps appropriately and most often expressed in terms of the environment and nature because of the vastness and dominance of the land in much of Canada. Interestingly, it seems that many Canadian authors use animal imagery because of the sense of how imminent the animalistic is in the environment the theme of biological and geographical origins occupy such a central place in Canadian literature. Interestingly, it seems that many Canadian authors make a strong connection to the animal world because of the sense of how imminent the animalistic is in the environment. . As Canadian readers, animal imagery can help us to recognize things in our behavior. In Sheila Watson's The Double Hook and in Ma
Sheila Watson's The Double Hook, is a dark and complex novel whose central message seems to be to warn the reader of the consequences and costs of trying to break free from community, duty and obligation. As well, the fish can imply a kind of renewal or regenerative quality and this is symbolically expressed in the end when Ara sees "a multitude of fishes". Watson's use of the figure of Coyote is very effective in expressing the characters' struggle with their inner dark side. He returns voluntarily, just as the horses voluntarily return to their barns. 192), she can trust him and go to him. Similarly, we read how Felix catches a fish in a stream and shares it with Angel and the children. " In many of these tales, Coyote also interacts behind the scenes with the humans in an effort to tempt them into straying from the safe and defined order of the community. James pays close attention to the parrot's actions, speech and even addresses him and buys him his own beer. Greta too, is unable to resist Coyote and when he calls her to death she sets herself aflame in her own home. Interestingly, the only male character that she feels hopeful about is "Beautiful Joe"(p. The next interesting animal imagery which appears in Watson's, The Double Hook, is the reference William makes to horses and their behavior. 89) Perhaps Watson means this to be an example of how one has to be resigned to his/her position and make the best of it. Her fishing is symbolic of a different kind of search and questing.
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Acceptance Essays
