Atwood’s representation of the landscape and the wilderness in “Death by Landscape” is employed to symbolize the inscribing of Atwood’s portrayal of the self in a post-colonial setting; as it foregrounds a post-colonial topic. The symbolic usage of the landscape illustrates the explorations of the national and geographical identities, social class, and the psychological boundaries. The wilderness illustrates the hierarchical constructions of gendered and national identities. On the margins of the state of empire, Atwood situates her story in both the landscape and the city.
Both the city and the wilderness function, in differing ways, as a vehicle and a symbolic locus for the ethic identity’s strata, the historical and cultural experience, and the social class; as these meanings are portrayed through Lois and Lucy. The exploitation of “the other” world is clearly evident in Atwood’s story. The problematisation of the place is linked to the post-colonial identity. …show more content…
Since Lucy had disappeared without a trace while they were at the camp in the wilderness, she has lived with landscape collections. Lois then recalls what happened in the summer trying to find an answer to the disappearance of Lucy as well as the gap that she left. This loss is associated with distressing feelings causing Lois to live with this wilderness. The narrator states that: “`Out on the lake there were two loons, calling to each other in their insane, mournful voices. At the time it did not sound like grief. It was just background' (`Death by Landscape, page 5). This quote demonstrates how the meaning of the images and sounds has altered for Lois over time, as these meaning are imbued with the pain and loss she has experienced; as it doesn’t highlight the use of visual and pictorial representations only, but also serves to problematise the representations of both the place and
Both the city and the wilderness function, in differing ways, as a vehicle and a symbolic locus for the ethic identity’s strata, the historical and cultural experience, and the social class; as these meanings are portrayed through Lois and Lucy. The exploitation of “the other” world is clearly evident in Atwood’s story. The problematisation of the place is linked to the post-colonial identity. …show more content…
Since Lucy had disappeared without a trace while they were at the camp in the wilderness, she has lived with landscape collections. Lois then recalls what happened in the summer trying to find an answer to the disappearance of Lucy as well as the gap that she left. This loss is associated with distressing feelings causing Lois to live with this wilderness. The narrator states that: “`Out on the lake there were two loons, calling to each other in their insane, mournful voices. At the time it did not sound like grief. It was just background' (`Death by Landscape, page 5). This quote demonstrates how the meaning of the images and sounds has altered for Lois over time, as these meaning are imbued with the pain and loss she has experienced; as it doesn’t highlight the use of visual and pictorial representations only, but also serves to problematise the representations of both the place and