The timeline of the feminist movement whilst Atwood was developing her speech.

Late 19th early 20th century – Focus on securing equal rights and voting for women.

1960s 1970s – The focus was right to education, work and equal pay.

1990s - challenged white middle class orientation broadened the agendas of non-working-class
women of color and shallowed pay gap.

Atwood’s Authorial purpose – argues that evil female characters are necessary and good for
literature.

She seeks to draw attention to and break down negative binaries. (Madonna Whore complex). She
argues that women have far more to them than just virtue and are multidimensional human beings
with subterranean depths. Strong women do not necessarily align themselves with evil in cultural
representation.

She critiques the women’s movement and the idea that women should only be represented in a
positive light. Evil women exist in life, and therefore, should exist in literature.

Form Discursive, persuasive hybrid

Tone Wry, self-deprecating, humorous but sharp
Metafictional In its exploration of female within literature
and queries about the identity of the novel and
what makes a good one
Extended devices Metaphors, allusions/intertextuality,
subversion, irony.