Who inspired Margaret Atwood to write?

Hailed for radically imaginative novels like The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood has cemented herself as one of history’s most renowned feminist authors. Yet Atwood found inspiration from diverse sources ranging from Victorian gothic tales to her own Canadian upbringing. Examining her formative influences sheds light on the wellspring of Atwood’s creativity and commentary on women’s lives.

Early Literary Influences and Childhood Reading

Atwood began honing her craft through voracious childhood reading. She consumed grim Brothers Grimm fairytales along with seminal sci-fi works like George Orwell’s 1984. These instilled in Atwood an appreciation for speculative fiction’s power to probe timeless truths through imagination. She also cited Emily Dickinson’s sly poetic wit as inspiration.

Academic Years and Feminist Awakening

Atwood’s undergraduate years at the University of Toronto immersed her in the scholars, writers and activists collectively awakening to feminist consciousness in 1960s Canada. Studies of Victorian literature revealed to Atwood the systematic cultural erasure of women’s voices. She realized her power to counter this by writing women into visibility.

Drawing Inspiration from Real Women in Atwood's Life

However, Atwood’s greatest inspiration came directly from the complex realities of women she knew. Her female family members and acquaintances informed sympathetic portraits of women navigating societal limitations. Atwood transformed the lives of ordinary women into extraordinary art by elevating their experiences.

Conclusion

Atwood’s works declare that no voice deserves silencing, and bring compassion to the invisible. She reveals violence and oppression through intimate storytelling, following inspirations ranging from1984’s dystopia to a cousin’s anecdote. For Atwood, literature offers hope by illuminating the humanity in each of us.