The Psychological State of Mind of Female Characters in Margaret Atwood’s Novel “The Edible Woman”

The Edible Woman, Margaret Atwood’s first published novel, sparked a lot of controversy and established Atwood as the author who tackles the topics which were considered taboo at the time in an open and truth-revealing manner. The Edible Woman sheds light to a plethora of issues related to the women living in 1960s and 1970s, such as the influence of patriarchal institutions on them and how the female identity gets oppressed by men and the society. In this paper I will attempt to explore the psychological state of mind of women who feel pressured to fulfil the role that the society imposes on them. I will look into the psychological transformations of the female characters and how they defy gender stereotypes. Eventually I will examine possible solutions to battling the traditional expectations from women based on the actions of female characters in the novel.