The Mirror Motif in Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye

Authors

  • Milena Nikolić

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18485/bells.2017.9.7

Keywords:

fiction, reality, creativity, reflection

Abstract

This paper will try to show how the mirror motif is symbolically presented through the images of eyes and water (as symbols of reflection) in the life of the novel’s heroine – Elaine Risley. The mirror motif reveals the psychological state of Elaine’s mind, initiates changes in her perspective and indicates that reality is only a reflection of what she is able to see at a given moment. The aim of this paper is to reconstruct the stages of painting as a creative act by establishing the internal and external factors that led our controversial painter and narrator to engage in the process of creation, as well as to indicate the significance of creative expression in resolving her complex relationship with Cordelia, the girl who marked her childhood. By identifying the elements of fiction and reality of the main character and indicating their interaction and interconnectedness, we will try to explore the symbolism of Elaine’s creative process and determine the extent to which fictional elements have contributed to both her art and perception of reality. Both ontological and psychological theories will be used as a framework for exploring the relation between Elaine’s possible liberation from fantasy, which is an indispensable resource for her fictional world, and the potential for identifying the real causes of her traumas and subtle misogyny.

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Published

2017-11-11

How to Cite

Nikolić, M. (2017). The Mirror Motif in Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye. Belgrade English Language and Literature Studies, 9(1), 107–122. https://doi.org/10.18485/bells.2017.9.7

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2017): BELLS - volume 9

Section

LITERARY STUDIES

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