Review of The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

**Review of The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood**

The Blind Assassin (2000) by Margaret Atwood is a captivating and intricately woven novel that explores themes of love, loss, family secrets, and the complexities of female identity within the constraints of societal expectations. The novel is structured around two main narratives: the first is the life story of Iris Chase, an elderly woman looking back on her life, and the second is a fantastical story that Iris’s younger sister, Laura Chase, wrote before her death. The novel seamlessly intertwines these two narratives, blending realism with fantasy and taking readers through a labyrinth of emotions, memory, and mystery.

Atwood uses the format of a multilayered narrative to explore complex relationships and themes, making The Blind Assassin both an elegant family saga and a darkly suspenseful tale. As Iris reflects on her own life and her role in her sister’s tragic fate, the story raises questions about the role of storytelling, the power dynamics between men and women, and the secrets that families hide. The Blind Assassin is a rich, thoughtful novel that challenges its readers to reflect on the nature of truth, memory, and the hidden motives behind human actions.

Themes in The Blind Assassin

Family Secrets and Lies: One of the central themes of The Blind Assassin is the role of secrets and deception within families. The novel reveals how family members, particularly Iris and her sister Laura, become entangled in webs of mystery and misunderstanding. The Chase family, wealthy and seemingly respectable, is plagued by dark secrets, especially around the untimely death of Laura. Atwood uses these secrets to critique how family dynamics can be shaped by power, manipulation, and suppression of truth, reflecting broader social themes about control and the invisibility of women’s lives.
Memory and the Subjectivity of Truth: The novel delves into the theme of memory and how it shapes our understanding of the past. Iris’s narrative, which alternates between her reflection on her life and excerpts from Laura’s posthumous manuscript, reveals the inherent subjectivity of memory and the construction of truth. Both Iris and Laura’s perceptions of events differ, showing how personal bias and emotion can distort what we consider to be true. Atwood’s exploration of memory raises questions about the reliability of stories we tell ourselves and others, suggesting that memory itself is a form of fiction and is shaped by individual perspectives and motives.
Love, Power, and Gender: Atwood intricately examines the dynamics of love and power within the context of gender. Iris’s relationships with men, including her marriage to the manipulative and controlling Richard Griffen, reveal the gendered power imbalances that dominate her life. These relationships are defined by patriarchal control, where women’s voices and agency are often repressed. The complex dynamics of romantic love and sexuality are explored in the novel, particularly as Iris reflects on her own marriage and the relationship between her sister and the elusive Alexis. The Blind Assassin thus critiques the roles women are forced into by society, especially within the confines of marriage and romantic relationships.
Fiction and Reality: A major aspect of the novel is the interplay between fiction and reality. The fantasy story that Laura writes within the novel, The Blind Assassin, serves as a metaphor for the ways in which individuals create their own realities to cope with difficult situations. The fantastical elements of the story within a story, particularly the mythic nature of the tale and its fantastical characters, create a sense of ambiguity between what is real and what is imagined. Atwood blurs the lines between these realms to show how fiction can serve as both a form of escape and a means of understanding the complexities of life, particularly when confronting trauma and loss.
Isolation and the Female Experience: The novel explores how women, particularly those in the upper class, are often isolated and disempowered by their social roles. Iris and Laura, despite their wealth, are both trapped by the rigid expectations of class and gender. Their isolation is both physical—through the confinement of societal expectations—and emotional, as they struggle to express their desires and needs. The lack of agency and the invisibility of women’s voices are central to the novel’s critique of a society that prioritizes male power. The tragedy of Laura’s life and eventual death is a result of this isolation and the repression of her true self, illustrating the devastating effects of silencing women.

Character Roles in The Blind Assassin

Iris Chase: Iris Chase is the primary narrator of the novel and serves as the bridge between the present and the past. Through her reflections, the reader learns about her life, her marriage, and the tragic events that occurred within her family. Iris’s character embodies the theme of memory and self-discovery, as she comes to terms with her past and seeks understanding for the choices she made, especially regarding her sister Laura. Over the course of the novel, Iris undergoes significant emotional and psychological development, as she confronts the truth about the events that shaped her life and her relationship with her sister.
Laura Chase: Laura Chase is the younger sister of Iris, and her tragic story forms the emotional core of the novel. Laura’s manuscript, which is interspersed throughout the novel, reveals her inner world, her intense feelings of isolation, and her complex relationship with her family, particularly Iris. Laura’s character represents the silent suffering of women, especially within a patriarchal structure. She is a highly intelligent and sensitive woman whose emotional vulnerability and desire for independence ultimately lead to her tragic end. Laura’s story is one of repression, loss, and the longing for a life outside of the constraints placed upon her.
Richard Griffen: Richard Griffen is Iris’s husband, and his character is emblematic of the theme of patriarchal control. He is a manipulative and ambitious man, and his influence over Iris is part of the social and emotional constraints that she faces. Richard represents the oppressive forces that limit the lives of women, particularly in marriage, where women were expected to fulfill domestic and social roles without question. His treatment of Iris reflects the power dynamics that shape their relationship, and his role in the story is one of the primary antagonisms that Iris must contend with as she navigates her personal journey of self-awareness and redemption.
Alexis: Alexis is a key figure in the narrative, and his relationship with Laura plays a central role in the unfolding of her emotional journey. He is mysterious, alluring, and somewhat tragic in his own right. Alexis represents the escape that Laura yearns for and is a figure of romantic idealism in her life. However, their relationship is ultimately fraught with miscommunication and disillusionment, which further underscores the themes of loss and unfulfilled potential. Alexis’s character serves as both a source of passion and a symbol of unattainable freedom in Laura’s life.

Linguistic Tools in The Blind Assassin

Narrative Structure: The Blind Assassin is told through a dual narrative structure: the first is Iris’s reflection on her life, and the second is the posthumous manuscript of Laura’s fantasy story. This structural complexity allows Atwood to explore the themes of memory, truth, and subjectivity. The alternating narratives provide a rich, layered reading experience, as the reader is invited to piece together the connections between the two stories. The use of story-within-a-story also enhances the thematic exploration of fiction and reality, blending the realistic and the fantastical to highlight the characters’ emotional states and motivations.
Imagery and Symbolism: Atwood uses vivid imagery and symbolism to deepen the novel’s themes of secrets, desire, and loss. The recurring imagery of fire, blindness, and light throughout the novel suggests the tension between truth and obscurity, as well as the characters’ struggles to illuminate or conceal the darker aspects of their lives. The blind assassin in the story-within-a-story acts as a metaphor for the ways in which the characters, particularly Iris and Laura, are “blind” to their own desires and motivations. These symbols enrich the novel’s examination of the characters’ internal worlds and their efforts to confront their pasts.
Poetic and Lyrical Prose: Atwood’s writing is known for its lyrical quality, and The Blind Assassin is no exception. The prose is rich and evocative, often blending metaphor, irony, and dark humor to convey the complexity of the characters' emotions and experiences. Atwood’s use of language heightens the emotional resonance of the novel and provides a profound exploration of the psychological landscape of the characters, especially in relation to memory, loss, and regret.

Conclusion

The Blind Assassin is a haunting and intellectually rich exploration of family secrets, memory, and the limitations imposed on women by society. Through the complex intertwining of two narratives, Atwood examines the painful consequences of repression, missed opportunities, and the social constraints of marriage and gender. The novel challenges readers to reflect on the nature of truth and reality, as well as the roles that storytelling and fiction play in coping with the trauma of loss and unfulfilled desires. With its sophisticated narrative structure, compelling characters, and richly layered themes, The Blind Assassin is a powerful and thought-provoking work of contemporary literature