Margaret Atwood's Moral Disorder

In “Moral Disorder,” Atwood highlights the moral defects of a patriarchal society and the bond between animals and human beings. The short story opens with “there’s never been such a lovely spring” (115). Springtime evokes the notion that the cycle of life is beginning, but this is a form of situational irony because in this short story the spring time is plagued by death. The setting is described as having “a hard- to- place odor. Not dry rot, not dead mouse, not sewage” (117). Thereby, illustrating the image of the odor of death. Especially when discussing the bond between animals and humans. The first animals that Nell and Tig have contact with are the “barred owl [teaching] her young to hunt” and the “twelve ducklings Tig had bought and

The young lamb was rejected by it’s mother right after it’s birth. Nell takes it upon herself to care of it by feeding it, “rocking it, and singing to it” (135). It shows that she considers the Lamb a baby. Although she says that she will not fall into “the trap of naming it” (135) because she fears the creation of an emotional attachment. She egregiously fails at this because of how far she goes to make the lab a human baby. Nell decides to make “a diaper out of a green plastic garbage bag” (135). Also, Atwood includes this animal imagery to contradict the relationship that exist between Tig and Nell. While the attachment grows, the lamb becomes increasingly hostile towards Tig. To the point, that it attacks him. This prompts thee dialogue: “He thinks it’s a contest, said Nell. He’s in love with you, said Tig. I’m glad somebody is, said Nell” (136). This short dialogue denotes the disadvantages and advantages of animal and human bonds. The lamb is able to remedy Nell’s need for motherhood, but it shows the flaws in Tigs and Nells relationship because she distrusts his affections for her. Tig’s answer for this lack of trust is to send the Lamb to Anderson’s Custom Slaughtering (138). It shows that he is in power and he would like to maintain