Article

Myth And Fantasy in Margaret Atwood’s Maddaddam Trilogy

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Abstract

This paper discusses the use of myth and fantasy in Margaret Atwood’s apocalyptic science fiction trilogy Maddaddam. While the plot of the first novel in this trilogy unremittingly moves in a linear direction towards total destruction, the final novel reconnects the end with the beginning of human origins and as such, the trilogy reveals also a cyclic structure. It is especially in the connection between the apocalyptic future and the past of human origins that elements of myth and fantasy are foregrounded. Just like science, myth is a mode of understanding and making sense of the world and the way Atwood employs myth and fantasy underscores her engagement with the question pertaining to the nature of what it means to be human. Referring to Mircea Eliade’s concept of humanity as a species marked by a desire to distinguish the sacred from the profane, Atwood, in the last novel of her trilogy, Maddaddam, increasingly drawsparallels between biblical beginnings and her post-apocalyptic fictional world, as the narrative places the fate of the human survivors within the context of the Old Testament. Sharing postmodernism’s anti-humanist stance, mainly revealed in the relentless direction humanity takes towards total annihilation, Maddaddam simultaneously advocates humanist values such as self-determination and the ability to consciously opt for the good. The humanist ideals are significantly connected with elements of myth and fantasy and thus with transcendence. Through the use of myth and fantasy, Atwood advocates humanist values, because in view of increasing global violence and exploitation, responsible moral action becomes the only alternative to ward off the dangers of a disastrous future awaiting humanity

Abstract (Turkish, translation)

Margaret Atwood'un Maddaddam Üçlemesinde Mit ve Fantastik

Bu makale, Margaret Atwood’un Maddaddam adlı apokaliptik bilim kurgu üçlemesindeki mitsel ve fantastik öğelerin kullanımını tartışır. Üçlemenin birinci romanındaki kurgu, insanlığın yok oluşunu çizgisel bir biçimde gösterirken, son romanı, insanlığın sonunu başlangıcıyla bağdaştırarak, üçlemenin aynı zamanda bir döngüsel bir yapısının oluşmasını sağlar. Mit ve fantastiğe ait öğeler özellikle apokaliptik bir gelecek zamanla, insanlığın ortaya çıkışı arasındaki ilişkide ortaya çıkmaktadır. Mitler de, bilim kurgu gibi dünyayı anlama ve anlamlandırma çabasından doğmaktadır ve Atwood’un mitsel ve fantastik öğeler kullanması, insanın asli doğasını irdeleme arzusundan kaynaklanmaktadır. Üçlemenin Maddaddam adlı son romanı, Kutsal Kitap’ta anlatılan insanlığın başlangıcıyla, romanda anlatılan insanlığın yok oluşu sonrasındaki dünya ile gittikçe daha netleşen bir paralellik kurmakta; büyük felaketten sonra hayatta kalmayı başaran bir avuç insanın kaderi Tevrat bağlamına yerleştirilmekte. İnsanlığın gözü kapalı doğrudan bir biçimde yıkıma doğru yol alışını göstererek, Atwood postmodernizmin birçok kez takındığı hümanist karşıtı tutumu sergilemekte, ancak Maddaddam aynı zamanda da kendini anlamlandırma ve bilinçli bir biçimde iyiyi seçme yeteneği gibi hümanist değerleri de savunmaktadır. Bu hümanist idealler ise romanda kullanılan mitsel ve fantastik öğelerle ve dolayısıyla da maddi dünyanın ötesiyle ilişkilendirilmektedirler. Atwood, mitsel ve fantastik öğeleri kullanarak hümanist değerleri savunmaktadır, çünkü globalleşen dünyamızda gittikçe artan şiddet ve sömürü olayları karşısında, bireyin sorumululuk alarak ahlaki eylemler sergilemesi, ileride insanlığın başına gelebilecek felaketleri önlemenin tek çaresi gibi görünmektedir.

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References

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Cite this publication

APA 7

Şavkay, C. (2018). Myth And Fantasy in Margaret Atwood’s Maddaddam Trilogy. Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Letters, 36(2), 244–252. https://doi.org/10.32600/huefd.434008

BibTeX

@article{savkay2018myth,
  author = {{\c{S}}avkay, Canan},
  title = {{Myth And Fantasy in Margaret Atwood's Maddaddam Trilogy}},
  journal = {Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Letters},
  volume = {36},
  number = {2},
  pages = {244--252},
  publisher = {Hacettepe {\"U}niversitesi},
  year = {2018},
  month = {6},
  issn = {1301-5737},
  doi = {10.32600/huefd.434008},
  url = {https://hacettepe.hbtech.com.tr/en/publication/myth-and-fantasy-in-margaret-atwoods-maddaddam-trilogy},
  language = {en},
  keywords = {Alman Dili, Edebiyat{\i} ve K{\"u}lt{\"u}r{\"u}},
  abstract = {This paper discusses the use of myth and fantasy in Margaret Atwood's apocalyptic science fiction trilogy Maddaddam. While the plot of the first novel in this trilogy unremittingly moves in a linear direction towards total destruction, the final novel reconnects the end with the beginning of human origins and as such, the trilogy reveals also a cyclic structure. It is especially in the connection between the apocalyptic future and the past of human origins that elements of myth and fantasy are foregrounded. Just like science, myth is a mode of understanding and making sense of the world and the way Atwood employs myth and fantasy underscores her engagement with the question pertaining to the nature of what it means to be human. Referring to Mircea Eliade's concept of humanity as a species marked by a desire to distinguish the sacred from the profane, Atwood, in the last novel of her trilogy, Maddaddam, increasingly drawsparallels between biblical beginnings and her post-apocalyptic fictional world, as the narrative places the fate of the human survivors within the context of the Old Testament. Sharing postmodernism's anti-humanist stance, mainly revealed in the relentless direction humanity takes towards total annihilation, Maddaddam simultaneously advocates humanist values such as self-determination and the ability to consciously opt for the good. The humanist ideals are significantly connected with elements of myth and fantasy and thus with transcendence. Through the use of myth and fantasy, Atwood advocates humanist values, because in view of increasing global violence and exploitation, responsible moral action becomes the only alternative to ward off the dangers of a disastrous future awaiting humanity},
  affiliation = {{\.I}STANBUL {\"U}N{\.I}VERS{\.I}TES{\.I}}
}

.bib

RIS

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Şavkay, Canan
TI  - Myth And Fantasy in Margaret Atwood’s Maddaddam Trilogy
T2  - Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Letters
VL  - 36
IS  - 2
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/06/14/
SP  - 244
EP  - 252
PB  - Hacettepe Üniversitesi
SN  - 1301-5737
DO  - 10.32600/huefd.434008
UR  - https://hacettepe.hbtech.com.tr/en/publication/myth-and-fantasy-in-margaret-atwoods-maddaddam-trilogy
AB  - This paper discusses the use of myth and fantasy in Margaret Atwood’s apocalyptic science fiction trilogy Maddaddam. While the plot of the first novel in this trilogy unremittingly moves in a linear direction towards total destruction, the final novel reconnects the end with the beginning of human origins and as such, the trilogy reveals also a cyclic structure. It is especially in the connection between the apocalyptic future and the past of human origins that elements of myth and fantasy are foregrounded. Just like science, myth is a mode of understanding and making sense of the world and the way Atwood employs myth and fantasy underscores her engagement with the question pertaining to the nature of what it means to be human. Referring to Mircea Eliade’s concept of humanity as a species marked by a desire to distinguish the sacred from the profane, Atwood, in the last novel of her trilogy, Maddaddam, increasingly drawsparallels between biblical beginnings and her post-apocalyptic fictional world, as the narrative places the fate of the human survivors within the context of the Old Testament. Sharing postmodernism’s anti-humanist stance, mainly revealed in the relentless direction humanity takes towards total annihilation, Maddaddam simultaneously advocates humanist values such as self-determination and the ability to consciously opt for the good. The humanist ideals are significantly connected with elements of myth and fantasy and thus with transcendence. Through the use of myth and fantasy, Atwood advocates humanist values, because in view of increasing global violence and exploitation, responsible moral action becomes the only alternative to ward off the dangers of a disastrous future awaiting humanity
KW  - Alman Dili
KW  - Edebiyatı ve Kültürü
LA  - en
AD  - İSTANBUL ÜNİVERSİTESİ
ER  -

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