Margaret Atwood on Age and Perception
In a Toronto café during rush hour, Margaret Atwood, Canada’s most renowned author, blends into the crowd unnoticed. At 85, dressed in dark clothes with a hat concealing her white curls, she chooses the terrace on a sunny autumn day to discuss her long-awaited memoirs quietly and with her trademark irony.
Reflections on Memoirs
Atwood initially doubted the value of writing memoirs. She questions,
“Who wants to read the story of someone sitting at a desk wrestling with a blank page?”and concludes,
“It’s boring enough to die of boredom.”Yet, she completed them, sharing her thoughts candidly.
On Aging and Society’s Expectations
She critically addresses society’s limited views on older women, stating they are expected to fit two narrow roles:
- Wise old women
- Wicked old witches
Other Topics Covered
- Her perspective on Donald Trump
- The lasting impact of The Handmaid’s Tale
- Insights into Canadian literature
- Thoughts about mortality
Atwood’s memoirs provide a reflective and witty look at her life, her work, and the world around her.
Author’s summary: Margaret Atwood challenges societal stereotypes about aging women while offering a candid and ironic view of her memoirs, literature, and cultural themes.