Monologue and Narration

A monologue is a speech given by one person in a performance or work of literature. The entire narrative of "Rape Fantasies" is a monologue by Estelle. By creating a story in which the point of view is first person and everything, including the descriptions, actions, and words of the other characters are filtered through the narrator's perception, Atwood creates a highly subjective story in Wh1Ch much of the interpretation is up to the reader. This is one reason why criticism on first-person stories, including "Rape Fantas1es," often focuses on whether or not the narrator is reliable. If the narrator is reliable, then his or her words can probably be taken at face value, and little other interpretation of events need take place. If, however, the narrator is not reliable, readers must exercise caution in interpreting the events of the story. Atwood provides few...