Margaret Atwood on Age and Identity
Margaret Atwood, Canada’s most renowned author, reflects on the limited roles society allows older women, summarizing it as being “wise old women or wicked old witches.”
Conversation from Toronto
During a busy rush hour in downtown Toronto, Atwood, aged 85, blends into the crowd wearing dark clothes and a hat that conceals her white, curly hair. On a chilly autumn day, she chooses the terrace of a café to discuss her long-awaited memoirs quietly and with her typical irony.
On Writing Her Memoirs
Atwood was initially reluctant to write her memoirs, questioning its appeal:
“Who wants to read the story of someone sitting at a desk wrestling with a blank page?”
She also expressed the tediousness of such an endeavor:
“It’s boring enough to die of boredom.”
Nonetheless, she completed the memoirs despite her reservations.
Themes in Her Reflection
- Her thoughts extend to current topics like Donald Trump.
- She reflects on the lasting impact of her novel The Handmaid’s Tale.
- Atwood discusses Canadian literature and the concept of mortality.
Author’s Summary
Margaret Atwood offers a sharp insight into aging and creativity, revealing a woman who challenges stereotypes and embraces storytelling despite doubts.
Would you like me to include more from her views on specific political or literary topics?