Rape Fantasies by Margaret Atwood
"Rape Fantasies" by Margaret Atwood is a thought-provoking exploration of the complex interplay between fear, power, and gender dynamics through the lens of a female protagonist, Estelle. Set against the backdrop of a casual office environment, the narrative unfolds as Estelle and her co-workers engage in a discussion about women's rape fantasies, revealing varied perceptions and attitudes towards violence. As Estelle narrates her fantasies, she confronts her insecurities and desires for control, often portraying herself as capable of outsmarting potential attackers. This juxtaposition creates a space for examining the psychological undercurrents of fear, empathy, and the societal expectations placed on women. Estelle’s fantasies range from darkly humorous to unsettling, prompting reflections on the nature of vulnerability and the desire to reclaim autonomy. The story utilizes dramatic monologue to convey Estelle's internal struggles and critiques of both herself and her peers, ultimately inviting readers to reflect on the complexities surrounding the topic of sexual violence and female agency. By blending elements of social realism with imaginative storytelling, Atwood challenges readers to navigate the murky waters of these themes within contemporary society.
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Rape Fantasies by Margaret Atwood
First published: 1975
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: The late twentieth century
Locale: Toronto, Canada
Principal Character:
Estelle , the naïve narrator
The Story
Developed through the literary device of dramatic monologue, this story presents virtually no exposition and little recognizable plot. The reader must wait patiently for tidbits of information while wading through the inane rambling utterances of a protagonist who is obviously speaking to a male not directly involved in the story.
Estelle, the narrator, undertakes her quixotic wanderings by relating an incident that took place earlier in the week. During her lunch breaks at work, she customarily spends time with her office mates—Sondra, Chrissy, and Greta—playing bridge, delving into office gossip, and commenting on the world as they see it. On this particular day their game is interrupted by a more serious matter when Chrissy alludes to a magazine article she is reading about the rape fantasies of women.
As the co-workers take turns sharing their ideas on the topic, Estelle grows more critical not only of their perceptions of rape and rapists but also of each of the other women. She appears to be unaware, however, that through her derogatory descriptions of them, she is disclosing her own underlying insecurity, envy, and frustration.
After recapping her version of the remembered conversation, Estelle launches into the particulars of her own fantasies and it is at this point that the character becomes more fully rounded. She seems convinced—or is attempting to convince her current implied listener—that she is capable of thwarting any potential attacker and that, ultimately, through reason and care, she can touch the core of the rapist and permanently convert him. In viewing herself as a defender of the downtrodden and redeemer of the disillusioned, Estelle unveils her need for control over her own life.
In one imagined encounter, she is approached on a darkened street by a strange, physically repulsive man. Rather than experiencing fear or feeling traumatized in this fantasy, Estelle empathizes with the attacker and expresses genuine pity for his unattractiveness. She takes control by recommending that he visit her dermatologist.
In another such imaginary tryst, Estelle is lying in bed with a cold as her potential rapist climbs through a window. Ironically, he also has a cold and they blissfully share a box of tissue. In her third and most farfetched daydream, Estelle attempts to discourage an attack by telling the rapist she has leukemia. Naturally, in her limited scope, the attacker has been similarly diagnosed, and they move in together and fantasize about funeral arrangements.
Even in her most frightening fantasy—a devil-possessed man who enters her mother's house through a basement coal chute—Estelle is triumphant in outwitting the rapist and in saving herself. This is the most intriguing scenario of her presentation, for not only is she moderately frightened for once, the scene possibly symbolizes her psychic makeup. (The psychoanalytic school of literary criticism might interpret her fear as springing from her seeing the villain penetrating an opening not intended for his use; while the feminist perspective could ascribe the feeling to the violation of the perceived safety of her mother's house.)
Bibliography
Cooke, Nathalie. Margaret Atwood: A Biography. Toronto, Ontario: ECW Press, 1998.
Hengen, Shannon. Margaret Atwood's Power: Mirrors, Reflections, and Images in Select Fiction and Poetry. Toronto, Ontario: Sumach Press, 1993.
Nischik, Reingard, ed. Margaret Atwood: Works and Impact. Rochester, N.Y.: Camden House, 2000.
Stein, Karen F. Margaret Atwood Revisited. New York: Twayne, 1999.
Wilson, Sharon, Thomas Friedman, and Shannon Hengen, eds. Approaches to Teaching Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" and Other Works. New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 1996.