National Identity Crisis in Margaret Atwood's "Through the One-Way Mirror

Roy

David Roy

Ms. Cheri Killam

English 101-19

2 December, 2004

National Identity Crisis in Margaret Atwood’s “Through the One-Way Mirror”

National identity is one of the most important factors in maintaining a country. It defines one’s nation, culture and everything associated with that country. When it comes to Canada, however, it seems that our national identity has been lost. In Margaret Atwood’s essay “Through the One-Way Mirror,” she effectively questions Canada’s national identity through symbolism and ambiguity.

At first glance, this essay seems to be about American dominance in the Canadian-American relationship with its numerous powerful metaphors and extensive use of symbolism. However, after a more thorough examination of the essay, it can be determined that it is not about the United States’ role in this relationship, but rather it is concentrated on the Canadian national identity (or lack thereof). After re-examining the essay, the meaning of the symbols and metaphors change. The most important metaphor is that which calls the Canadian people “Porky Pigs” (Atwood 81) who are being mesmerized by the Americans through this “one-way mirror”(81). A powerful image is taken from this, the Canadians are looking at the Americans, and the Americans are looking at themselves. This image implicitly shows how Canadians care more about the issues in the United States than those in their own country. A perfect example of this is described by Atwood when she is comparing the American’s garbage with the Canadian’s garbage, “There’s a perpetual party, or something, going on [at the American’s house]—loud music, raucous laughter, smoke billowing from the barbecue. The Canadians have their own beer bottles and barbecue smoke, but they tend to overlook it” (81). Atwood continues to talk about the difference between Canadians and Americans and discusses the topic of education, stating that, “The Canadians … are taught about the rest of the world first and Canada second” (81). Once again she shows how the Canadians are thinking about everybody else except for themselves. Canadians definitely lack interest in their own country and Atwood implies that in order for a country to have a national identity, the people must concentrate on the internal issues before the external issues.

This is a preview of the whole essay

Atwood continues by addressing Canada’s ambiguity, as a weakness and reason why Canadians lack a national identity. Atwood discusses Canada’s relationship with the United States to show how Canada periodically changes its opinion. Atwood starts by showing the negative relationship between the two countries, “The Canadians often find they have more to talk about with the Australians, the West Indians … than they do with the impenetrable and mysterious Yanks.” (81) Atwood includes “But only sometimes” (81) at the beginning of the next paragraph to leave room open to contrast that point. She then describes how well Canadians understand the Americans, “surely the Canadians understand the Yanks. Shoot, don’t they see Yank movies, read Yank mags, bobble around to Yank music” (81). Lastly, she explains how Canadians do not really understand the Americans “[Canadians] don’t understand the Yanks as much as they think they do” (81). A great discrepancy can be noted between the three quotes. Atwood used this technique to describe how Canada is so obsessed with American culture, yet she later portrays Canadians as disliking the Americans. Furthermore, if Canada expects to have a national identity, it must be clear in its decisions with other countries. Atwood illustrates that due to Canada’s ambiguity, it is very difficult for the country to have a defined national identity. This is the message conveyed by Atwood in order to question Canada’s national identity.

Through analysis of “Through the One-Way Mirror,” it can be concluded that Atwood thoroughly question Canada’s identity and explores possible reasons for this problem. Through means of literary devices, Atwood portrays Canada as being a self-contradicting country who is not per-occupied with its internal issues and happenings. This explains Canada’s lack of national identity. Atwood offered no resolutions, but implicitly proposes that Canadians should take it upon themselves to determine their national identity

Word Count: 747

Work Cited:

Atwood, Margaret. “Through the One-Way Mirror.” Marianopolis College ENG-101 Introduction to College English C. Killam. 81-82.