MOTHERHOOD AND FRUSTRATION IN THE WORK OF MARGARET ATWOOD

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze the short story The Resplendent Quetzal by Margaret Atwood from a feminist perspective. The text addresses one of the representative topics of the female imagination: frustrated motherhood. In this sense, assessments are made about the presence of the topic in feminist theory, in order to clarify a definition of the concept of frustrated motherhood. Next, a look is taken at the historical treatment of the maternal figure in literary works of the universal canon, with the intention of considering the different ways that have been adopted when representing frustrated motherhood in literature. Subsequently, the analysis of the story allows us to appreciate the use of symbolic and discursive elements leading to reflection on issues such as the desacralization of motherhood, the historical invisibility of the figure of the mother, the different ways of experiencing frustrated motherhood in marriage, as well as frustrated motherhood as a conscious and personal decision. The above study provokes a reflection on the social stereotypes that weigh on women and motherhood at the present time and that hinder their autonomy and personal growth. It also opens paths for delving deeper into Margaret Atwood's work, in which themes of feminist interest can be mapped, such as the manipulation of motherhood and female social domination, which permeate the literary production of the Canadian author.