Laura Hamersma
Dr. Fan Shen
English 1118
22 February 2016
A Unique and Strong Writer
As a fictitious writer, Margaret Atwood has written several short stories and novels. As such, she has written "Happy Endings" in 1983. It is, in my honest opinion, one of the most unique pieces of writing I have ever laid my eyes upon. Not only is it wildly different than almost any other story, it's crafted beautifully- symbolism, a clear link between cause and effect, and bouts of irony. Atwood is a strong writer who deserves appreciation.
Firstly, the story is structured to appear much like some epistolary does; it has sections that develop differently, similar to an entry. This sort of crafting I find to be beautifully unique . The structure it is in is familiar, but the way each section could be broken off as it's own little story is not quite so. I also find it amazing because they possess connections to each other, though they are quite subtle. B and C have similar ideas behind them. Each feature someone loving another who doesn't love them back or the same way, as well as ending in suicides and homicides. The two stories that follow this set are connected too, but much differently. Here, E has a much different outcome than D, and possibly suggests relationship problems, unlike the former. This kind of structure is what I think is unique about the story.
Another thing to note is her style. For one, though it appears relatively short, it contains ideas that aren't stereotypically associated with short pieces. Instead of things being more straight to the point, factual, without insight, it was more intense and insightful. The stories are actually deep. Atwood has put her thoughts and effort in this piece. She also has the appearance of sudden outbursts. Meaning, her sentences are going elegantly, before abruptly being interrupted by something considered crude, blunt, or harsh. Typically, it's shown for no more than an entire sentence. Story B first says things more gently by saying John is using her for her body. Not even two sentences later, it's described with significantly brutal word in contrast. C does a similar thing with the words "stoned" and "high."
Secondly, the symbolism found within is not only suggested, but laying just underneath, further enforcing the idea that she should be appreciated. In B, "Mary collects all the sleeping pills and aspirins she can find, and takes them and a half a bottle of sherry. You can see what kind of a woman she is by the fact that it's not even whiskey" (521). The author is suggesting the symbolism here. Sherry really does represent Mary. She is more fancy, classy, and considered to be gentle.
When Atwood tells the story in C, Mary and James get high together as they climb into bed. Then, "everything becomes very underwater . . ." (521) hinting at how everything is unclear and slow, as if trying to walk underwater. The characters aren't entirely aware of what they're doing in their state of mind. Nothing at the time or what comes next is clearly understood.
There are other examples that are not as obvious to the reader are ones that need to be looked into and thought about. Unlike some, they aren't suggested or partially explained. One of the smaller sections, D, is guilty to have such a thing. "The rest of the story is about what caused the tidal wave and how they escaped from it. They do, though thousands drown . . ." (521). Atwood could very well be symbolically saying that the wave is the tough times couples have. Not every life is happy and successful, and the wave could be couples breaking apart because they could no longer struggle together.
The third thing that makes Margaret Atwood an excellent writer is that in all of her split endings, there is a handful of events where cause and effect is clearly understood, without always needing to use the word "because." For instance, the last paragraph on page 520 explains why she killed herself: because John taking another woman to a restaurant when he wouldn't take her there was the last straw for her. Before, he had used her over and over, and she had known it. Before, he had criticized her cooking and hurt her feelings. She believed there was another John inside himself, that was a better and truly cared. Now, he had deemed her unworthy of a nice date out at a restaurant where she didn't have to cook. In the section right after where that event took place, it's discovered what pushed John over the edge, causing him to kill James, Mary, and himself. He's incredibly upset about balding, his marriage being unpleasant enough for him to cheat, and then his mistress is now with another man much younger than himself. It became too much for him and he broke. He felt insufficient and old and troubled. So, he retaliated the way he did.
A forth concept Atwood brings into play is irony. There are plenty spurts of it if the reader looked just a bit deeper. Though, not all of her irony is hard to find. C possesses the most obvious one of all. John is cheating on his wife because, as he presents it, " . . . he can't leave his wife because a commitment is a commitment" (521). That itself is ironic and hypocritical. Clearly he is not committed if he's with another woman. Another example of irony within the same event is that John walks in on his lover having sex with another man. Of course, he gets greatly upset and jealous. But, again, he is the one cheating originally.
Something else ironic can be found in B. Although everyone seems to be telling Mary just how awful John really is and how much she shouldn't be with him, she doesn't seem to understand. She goes against what everyone is saying, up until the very end. She believes in John, so even when she's swallowed the pills and the wine, she leaves a note for him. She left her life in his hands, and he didn't come and he let her down, and she wasn't saved.
Furthermore, the entire story is one, big ball of irony. The title itself represents it. "Happy Endings?" Most things are very unhappy, though they do come to an end. Death could also be perceived as unhappy, depending on the reader. In the very end of the story, irony hits very hard, one last time. "You'll have to face it, the endings are the same however you slice it" (522). Everyone dies. "The only authentic ending is the one provided here: John and Mary die. John and Mary die. John and Mary die" (522). It's just like cosmic irony; fate (death) caught up to them all.
Margaret Atwood has an undoubted style that is striking and unique. She has the ability to make an intense and deep storyline within a small number of lines. She has proven herself able to efficiently use symbolism multiple times. She excels at showing the reader the causes of the effects that were displayed in each segment. Plus, she included irony within her entire piece. Atwood is a well-developed writer, capable of using many literary elements with her own unique style. Margaret Atwood should be appreciated.