How Is Estelle Presented In Rape Fantasies
Anyway
Estelle is the only thoroughly developed character in Margaret
Atwood's "Rape Fantasies." Though she is the narrator and quite thoughtful of
the ideas and reactions of the story's supporting players, it is her almost
obsessive preoccupation with a singular topic that actually prompts her to
fully illustrate her own ideas and reactions, drawing a character far more
compelling than any of the men or women she will attempt to describe. Estelle
begins her story and ruminations swiftly. She considers rape, how rape has
recently been treated like a new scourge, and how essays and tips on rape
prevention have become something of an institution themselves. Estelle
recalls a conversation during a recent bridge game, where "rape fantasies"
was the …show more content…
In this instance, Estelle shows that she is quite
capable of practicing her benevolent behavior in her rape fantasies, whether
she realizes it or not. "...how could a fellow do that to a person he's just
had a long conversation with...?" she asks, not thinking once about the
person to whom she's speaking. She gives this person the benefit of the
doubt, reveals many intimate details about herself, and gives this faceless
person more credit and more candidness than the women at the bridge game. It
is not only the rapists that do not get criticized by Estelle, but anyone who
hasn't had the chance to disappoint her in some way. In Estelle's world, only
strangers are capable of this status of perfection, and therefore worthy of
hearing things like gossip, criticism, and the particulars of her rape
fantasies: things she would never reveal to anyone else.
Estelle is, then, revealed best when the author simply allows her to
speak. To have told the story in the third person would have removed the tone
and wealth of information that hearing Estelle's voice provides.
Estelle is the only thoroughly developed character in Margaret
Atwood's "Rape Fantasies." Though she is the narrator and quite thoughtful of
the ideas and reactions of the story's supporting players, it is her almost
obsessive preoccupation with a singular topic that actually prompts her to
fully illustrate her own ideas and reactions, drawing a character far more
compelling than any of the men or women she will attempt to describe. Estelle
begins her story and ruminations swiftly. She considers rape, how rape has
recently been treated like a new scourge, and how essays and tips on rape
prevention have become something of an institution themselves. Estelle
recalls a conversation during a recent bridge game, where "rape fantasies"
was the …show more content…
In this instance, Estelle shows that she is quite
capable of practicing her benevolent behavior in her rape fantasies, whether
she realizes it or not. "...how could a fellow do that to a person he's just
had a long conversation with...?" she asks, not thinking once about the
person to whom she's speaking. She gives this person the benefit of the
doubt, reveals many intimate details about herself, and gives this faceless
person more credit and more candidness than the women at the bridge game. It
is not only the rapists that do not get criticized by Estelle, but anyone who
hasn't had the chance to disappoint her in some way. In Estelle's world, only
strangers are capable of this status of perfection, and therefore worthy of
hearing things like gossip, criticism, and the particulars of her rape
fantasies: things she would never reveal to anyone else.
Estelle is, then, revealed best when the author simply allows her to
speak. To have told the story in the third person would have removed the tone
and wealth of information that hearing Estelle's voice provides.