Gloria Steinem once stated that “Being misunderstood by people whose opinions you value is absolutely the most painful.” Society can be a cruel place to live for those who do not fit the mold. This mold excludes deformity and so called strange or abnormal behavior. But this cruel treatment does not exclude people who cannot control certain aspects of themselves. Margret Atwood’s “Lusus Naturae” portrays humanity as cruel and harsh to those thought of as monsters or unworthy people who cannot contribute to society.
Reality plays a vital role in Atwood’s story revealing one’s true nature through the actions of other’s influence. Individuals grow, change, and conform according to the type of society they thrived in whether that society included many or few people. Societies shape individuals and the world around them from birth to death. The protagonist in Atwood’s story dynamically changed not due to her attitude towards herself, but the attitude others, including her own flesh and blood, harbored towards her. The protagonist states “It was decided that I should die” (Norton 226). Because of her family’s influence, the protagonist has conformed to the idea that her presence is revolting and she must “die” in order to satisfy her family. …show more content…
Feeling unwanted or unneeded by those closest creates insanity because individuals need interaction to survive emotionally. Atwood brings to light that the protagonist’s mother continued to come and go “as quickly as she could” from the protagonist’s room (Norton 227). A mother’s love is one of the most influential sources of advice and comfort, therefore, not receiving this nurturing takes a toll on the mother’s child emotionally. This nurturing stopped with the “death” of the protagonist. Her “death” also accounted for the “death” of love and affection for her from her
Reality plays a vital role in Atwood’s story revealing one’s true nature through the actions of other’s influence. Individuals grow, change, and conform according to the type of society they thrived in whether that society included many or few people. Societies shape individuals and the world around them from birth to death. The protagonist in Atwood’s story dynamically changed not due to her attitude towards herself, but the attitude others, including her own flesh and blood, harbored towards her. The protagonist states “It was decided that I should die” (Norton 226). Because of her family’s influence, the protagonist has conformed to the idea that her presence is revolting and she must “die” in order to satisfy her family. …show more content…
Feeling unwanted or unneeded by those closest creates insanity because individuals need interaction to survive emotionally. Atwood brings to light that the protagonist’s mother continued to come and go “as quickly as she could” from the protagonist’s room (Norton 227). A mother’s love is one of the most influential sources of advice and comfort, therefore, not receiving this nurturing takes a toll on the mother’s child emotionally. This nurturing stopped with the “death” of the protagonist. Her “death” also accounted for the “death” of love and affection for her from her