There are many differences in Margaret Atwood's view of how men and women
fare in relationships. Atwood's view of men and women in "Happy Endings" is that they
aren't of equal status. She concludes that men have somewhat of an advantage over
women. These days, women are much more into the whole "independent women" scene,
and that creates more problems for women themselves. My three most important points
are the hardships that women endure, how men and women fare in relationships and how
men are more rewarded within a relationship. Atwood's treatment of gender is unequal
Atwood's opinion of women in relationships is that they, in fact, are the chasers.
Women are the ones running after the men. At this time, when they do succeed in getting
what they want, women aim to please. As shown in Atwood's "Happy Endings", a
woman would do anything for her man. Regardless to the fact that Mary did not enjoy
sex, she still slept with John, just to please him. She got so caught up in love that she
killed herself for him. That's right, in hope that John would show up and save her, Mary
downed as many pills as she could find with a bottle of sherry. John never did show up.
This goes to show that a woman would die for her man. In another case, Mary was seeing
an older, married man named John, but she was in love with a young man named James.
One day, Mary and James got together and who would show up but John. John was upset
so he killed them both and them himself. In this case, Mary died to be with the man she
loved. Atwood believes that women are more often cheated on because they are weak and
emotional. Therefore, they more often let things slide by them. Atwood affirms that
women endure more hardship than men.
Atwood portrays her belief that men hold the advantage in the relationshi
...