Mysterious Element in Surfacing by Margaret Atwood

Abstract

Margaret Atwood was born in Ottawa, Canada. She has done her master degree in Radcliffe College. In her childhood, she spends most of her life in wood; eventually she is interested in environmental issues. Her second novel is Surfacing, published in 1972. In the novel, she explores the theme of adventurous journey in the wood.  The protagonist in the novel  Surfacing is  unnamed character who lives in  illusion. Her past childhood affects her present life. The story begins in Quebec where the cultural difference existed. The narrator is mentally distributed by cultural difference, since she belongs to American culture; she is unable to cope with any other one. Quebec is occupied by majority of French people who resides in Canada. In Surfacing, the narrator experiences the secret of the life. She doesn’t know how her father is mysteriously died. Especially in an unknown terrain every things seems to be mysterious. The novel takes the reading like fairy tale. The protagonist recollects the memories of  the past which mirrored Atwood’s character. The novel also reflects a psychological thriller, mystery and a landscape.