Point of View

The novel is told in first person from the perspective of Elaine Risley, the narrator, from her childhood to the present.

Setting

The novel takes place in modern times, with multiple flashbacks going as far back as the end of World War II. The setting is mainly in Toronto, with some excursions to the northern Canadian wilderness.

Language and Meaning

Atwood uses words in the same way that a painter uses paint, as she manipulates words to create vivid images and strong emotional responses. She is particularly adept at creating aphorisms that reveal great truths in few words. Although some of the vocabulary is somewhat specialized, the reader has no trouble following the thread of the novel as it weaves through the world of childhood, art, science, academia, and human nature.

Structure

The seventy-five chapters of the novel are divided into fifteen parts. The narrative...