Continuing to read Cat's Eye, I have delved deeper into the psyche and haunting memories of Risley. Sifting through her childhood memories, she is tormented by her "girl friends" and these dreadful events are the inspiration for her artwork. Each chapter is titled after one of her paintings; just as her artwork, each memory is very chilling. Although Risley is fifty years old, memories from her childhood are still vivid and disturbing. She has not yet broken free from her past.
I'm in awe at Atwood's ability to describe the power struggles between young, seemingly innocent girls. Female society has rules of its own, and it's fascinating to see a feminist writer's depiction of sinister little girls. I am still trying to understand the complex effect Cordelia has on Risley. I have never read a novel where a character is so consumed and disturbed by the mere memory of another person. As the novel progresses, Risley's digust and repulsion towards Cordelia increases. However, although she pretends to move on from her traumatic experiences with her best friend, Risley never forgets these powerful memories. Cordelia's ability to influence the other girls to psychologically and emotionally hurt Risley is fascinating in itself. The power she holds over all her friends is a tad bit scary.
I am having a hard time deciding what to focus on for my paper. The major themes that I am interested in are Risley's psyche and how it is expressed through her art (and how it is the inspiration for her works), the complex realm of female relationships, and the concept of "memories", or Atwood's take on the the definition of "evil".
Sources:
1. Constructing the Self through Memory: "Cat's Eye" as a Novel of Female Development
Carol Osborne
Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, Vol. 14, No. 3 (1994), pp. 95-112
Published by: University of Nebraska Press
2. Science for Feminists: Margaret Atwood's Body of Knowledge
June Deery
Twentieth Century Literature, Vol. 43, No. 4 (Winter, 1997), pp. 470-486
Published by: Hofstra University
3. Virgin Mary Motif in Cat's Eye: http://www.answers.com/topic/cat-s-eye-novel-8
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1 comment:
Deeps--my wife the middle school counselor calls girls like Cordelia "power brokers." They get to decide who's acceptable and who's not, reward the "acceptable" and punish those who are found wanting. And she says that age 12 (about 6th grade) is the time when it's worst.
You've got plenty of topics to work with, so come talk to me if I can be a listener and help you figure out what you want to do.
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