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Victim Position

Margaret Atwood notices that in almost every Canadian story, there seems to be a

victim and their struggle for survival. As a result, Atwood discusses four such mental postures,

which she refers to as the "Basic Victim Positions." In the story The Wedding Gift by Thomas

Raddall, the main character is a young woman called Kezia Barnes. According to Atwood, it is

clear that the position four is the best apply for her. The fourth victim position specifies that

this is not a position for persons who have never been victims. They may embrace their own

experience as it is rather than distorting it to conform to other people's views of it.

Consequently, Ms. Kezia is portrayed as a creative non-victim. It can be seen that she deftly

manipulated her circumstances to her advantage. A snowstorm made her forget about a

tinderbox which is Mr. Barclays' wedding gift for Mr. Hathaway. This storm gave her an excuse

to snuggle up with Mr. Mears and get warm. Insistence on "bundling" with the priest, wrapped

in bearskins, and incisive logic in support of the concept already inspired thoughts of her fleeing

her arranged marriage to Mr. Hathaway from the start. As a result, once the storm had passed,

she told Mr. Mears that she would join him in a hut in the woods, where they would bundle

together. As a result, Kezia was afraid of being reprimanded if she told Mr. Barclay or Mr.

Hathaway about her relationship with Mr. Mears in front of them. She then offered herself as a

wife to Mr. Mears, so this could allow her to escape an unwanted marriage and no longer being
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a victim of the circumstances surrounding her marriage. Within the context of her position, she

exhibited an astonishing degree of intellect. In summary, this position four enables all forms of

creative endeavor. She choses to be a preacher's wife rather than being forced to follow

Mr.Barclay in order to be Mr. Hathaway's wife. This implies that she could alter her life in order

to flee the oppressors.