The Robber Bride | Themes & Symbolism

The Robber Bride Significant Topics

War

Margaret Atwood explores the battle between the sexes in The Robber Bride through her clever use of the theme of war. The story is written in the same historical style as female protagonist Tony Fremont uses to chronicle ancient battles. Tony's fascination with reenacting battles between factions long dead is put to good use as Tony reenacts the interpersonal battles waged by antagonist Zenia. Zenia may not have realized, admits Tony, that her actions amounted to acts of domestic warfare, but Tony, Roz and Charis are all casualties of Zenia's attacks. They have all fought Zenia over their men and lost the battle. The four women treat their relations as if they are fighting a war. They use their men as pawns and struggle to capture each other's territory.

Perhaps the protagonists view life and love as a battlefield because they are all war babies. Tony is the accidental product...
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