Self-Reliant or Submissive?
Margaret Atwood retells the Shakespearean classic The Tempest in an exciting and engaging way. In Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood, Atwood gives life to a play written four hundred years ago in a way that readers can relate to the play. In Hag-Seed, Atwood writes about a grief-stricken man named Felix who tries to bring back his dead daughter by directing the play, The Tempest. In particular, he finds a special actor for Miranda named Anne-Marie. Anne-Marie in the novel and Miranda in the play relate and differ in Shakespeare’s and Margaret Atwood’s writing. Miranda and Anne-Marie show similarities in their physical features and in their relationships but differ in their emotions and personalities.
Anne-Marie in the novel and
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Anne-Marie portrays herself as a confident, energetic, and self-reliant person. She begins acting and dancing at a young age which leads to her energy and athleticism, and Felix describes her as “Percolating with energy” (142). Once Felix realizes that Anne-Marie’s level of energy helps to brighten Fletcher Correctional, he thinks to himself, “Despite her razor edge she’s a bright light in a dim space” ( Atwood 151). At the beginning of the novel, Anne-Marie shows no interest in marriage and acts with self-reliance. When Dylan, the security guard, offers to help Anne-Marie, she responds, “‘Thanks,’ says Anne-Marie curtly in her I-can-take-care-of-myself voice” (150). Anne-Marie’s dismissal of Dylan shows her independence. Her self-reliance and strength allow for a strong relationship with the Fletcher Correctional Players. Dissimilar to Anne-Marie, Miranda acts much more moderately and naive. Miranda relies completely on Prospero. Prospero protects her from Caliban, and he ensures that Miranda marries a worthy husband, Ferdinand. Ferdinand loves Miranda but complains about Prospero’s protection of