Searching for Self through Starvation in Atwood
"The Edible Woman" Relationships Between Men, Women and Food.
Written in the 1960’s, The Edible Woman follows Marian McAlpin deep into a self-exploration symbolized by her rejection and eventual acceptance of food. Marian gives up food in her search for a place in society and her true persona. In the male-dominated society in which Marian lives, there are two options - eat, or be eaten.
Marian chooses both.
The Question of Anorexia
Nowadays, Marian would clearly have a case of anorexia. She literally stops eating for most of the novel, unable to consume food in fear that she will also be consumed. However, in the 1960’s, anorexia was not considered the widespread social problem that it is today. It was a condition known to the medical community but, for the most part, it was kept behind closed doors.
Instead, her rejection of food acts as a metaphor for her rejection of the male-dominated society to which she belongs. Her entire life is run by men. When Peter proposes, Marian’s body starts to reject food and she is unable to eat. Because she feels like she is being consumed by Peter, she cannot consume food. Not only has she lost her appetite, but also she has lost her sense of self.
The Edible Woman and the Sense of Self
Marian’s loss of appetite is also connected to the loss of her voice. The first part of this novel is written in the first person. Readers learn about Marian’s life through her eyes and her voice. Marian appears to be a strong, independent woman.
However, once Peter proposes to her, she loses this sense of self and becomes a victim to the male-domination that females in society are accustomed to. Marian stops making decisions and relies heavily on Peter to decide what to do. Atwood uses a switch to the third person to demonstrate this change. Although the story still follows Marian, it is through “she”, not “I”.
In the end, Marian is able to eat again. In fact, she literally eats herself and then the sense of self, and the “I” returns. When Peter refuses to eat the female figure - symbolising Marian – from the wedding cake, Marian devours it. Instead of being consumed by the male-dominated society, Marian chooses to consume herself, thus demonstrating that Marian is, once again, in control.
The Feminist in Marian and Margaret
Marian becomes The Edible Woman, but she chooses to be both the consumer and the consumee. During the 1960’s, this feminist outlook was quite uncommon. With Marian McAlpin, Atwood is defying the conventional female figure and breaking the “wife” mould that most females were expected to play during the 1960’s. Instead, Marian becomes her own person and her own decision-maker.
Atwood suggests that in conventional society, women are edible. They are swallowed up by their male counterparts. Marian accepts this and decides that if she must be eaten, then she will take control of her own life and eat herself.
Through the character of Marian McAlpin, Atwood has literally taken a bite out of the traditional gender roles and spat out a new non-conformist future for women.
Works Consulted:
Atwood, Margaret. The Edible Woman. United Kingdom: Virago Press, 1994.
You Are What You Eat
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