Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • apa.csl
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
The dual role of Zenia - destruction and liberation in Margaret Atwoods The robber bride
2000 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year))Student thesis
Abstract [en]

Zenia is a Robber Bride who takes what she wants. She enters the lives of Tony, Charis and Roz, bringing disaster and damage, but also teaching them something. The personalities of the three women are quite different. What they have in common, however, is childhood experiences that have influenced their lives and their identities as individuals and as women. Their vulnerability makes it possible for Zenia to enter the life of each woman, and also to become the link, which ties the three together. By reinventing herself to fit their lives, needs and desires, Zenia finds their weak points and exploits them. She makes them invite her into their lives, takes their lovers and men, uses them and leaves the scene, leaving her victims behind hurt or dead. She is the female representative of power and evil. She is powerful by acting weak, and takes advantage of people’s vulnerability. Nevertheless, despite these negative traits, each of the three women also needs Zenia to be able to understand who they are and what they can be. They mirror themselves in Zenia as well as struggle with her, both physically and mentally. As a result, they develop and take charge of their own lives. The purpose of this essay is to explore the dual role of Zenia, the negative and positive influence she has on the lives of the three protagonists. The essay will also investigate how it is that she is allowed into their lives to rob them of what is of most importance to them.

Abstract [en]

Zenia is a Robber Bride who takes what she wants. She enters the lives of Tony, Charis and Roz, bringing disaster and damage, but also teaching them something. The personalities of the three women are quite different. What they have in common, however, is childhood experiences that have influenced their lives and their identities as individuals and as women. Their vulnerability makes it possible for Zenia to enter the life of each woman, and also to become the link, which ties the three together. By reinventing herself to fit their lives, needs and desires, Zenia finds their weak points and exploits them. She makes them invite her into their lives, takes their lovers and men, uses them and leaves the scene, leaving her victims behind hurt or dead. She is the female representative of power and evil. She is powerful by acting weak, and takes advantage of people’s vulnerability. Nevertheless, despite these negative traits, each of the three women also needs Zenia to be able to understand who they are and what they can be. They mirror themselves in Zenia as well as struggle with her, both physically and mentally. As a result, they develop and take charge of their own lives. The purpose of this essay is to explore the dual role of Zenia, the negative and positive influence she has on the lives of the three protagonists. The essay will also investigate how it is that she is allowed into their lives to rob them of what is of most importance to them.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2000. , p. 30
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-53968Local ID: ENG D-9OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kau-53968DiVA, id: diva2:1102528
Subject / course
English
Available from: 2017-05-29 Created: 2017-05-29

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

urn-nbn

Altmetric score

urn-nbn
Total: 34 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • apa.csl
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf