Half Killed Margaret Atwood Analysis

In most societies scapegoating is a popular form of action. Many people do what they want to do without thinking of the consequences. So instead of them facing up to the consequences they have created, they place the blame of their actions on other people. In an interview with Bill Moyer, Margaret Atwood states,“I think it’s the kind of event that replays itself throughout history when cultures come under stress. When societies come under stress these kinds of things happen. People start looking around for essentially human sacrifices. They start looking around for somebody they can blame. And they feel if only they can demolish that person, than everything’s going to be okay” (Atwood). Margaret Atwood believes that scapegoating is a popular

Mary was hanged and left for dead. She was hung for several hours and went through a great struggle trying to not give up. At midnight she is the most tempted to give up and stop fighting. “.. I want this, I want that. Oh far beyond. Call it please. Call it Mercy. Call it Not yet, not yet..” (Atwood 3). This is Mary Webster pleading to god for her life . Mary found the strength, she prayed to god to help her through the night, and that is what he did. When they came to cut her down in the morning she was still alive. Mary says “surprise, surprise: I was still alive” (Atwood 4). She is gloating that she survived. Her living through this is her own “In your face” to the person or people who accused her, and those who did nothing to defend her. Everyone was shocked, even though Mary wasn't associated with witchcraft in the first place and was used as a scapegoat she used what she was accused of to her advantage. Since she survived people learned to fear her even more, she was left

Abigail drank a charm in order to try to kill Elizabeth Proctor, John’s wife because she wanted him all to herself. Word got out about Abigail drinking the charm so she began accusing others of witchcraft, leading to many people losing their lives. As Margaret Atwood stated in her interview with Bill Moyer, “...they feel if only they can demolish that person, then everything's going to be okay” (Atwood). This shows how Abigail feels. She didn’t care what would happen as long as she got to be with John. She was willing to kill a woman, to take her husband, not caring how many lives she would wreck in the