Rape Fantasies by Margaret Atwood Essay - 1653 Words

The plot of Rape Fantasies by Margaret Atwood is all within the mind of Estelle, who talks to the reader as she might to a new friend. Estelles personality becomes exposed to us through the narration of her fantasies and lunchtime work experiences. We are told of Estelles workplace where she is with her friends discussing their rape fantasies. Examining Estelles world through her perspective of the conversation, we find she is a game player both outwardly in playing bridge and in her relationship with herself. I like to guess a persons age and then look it up to see if Im right. I let myself have an extra pack of cigarettes if I am. (31). This example of Estelles competitiveness is expressed in three other ways in the story.†¦show more content†¦In her third fantasy, Estelle helps a man with a bad cold who breaks into her apartment to rape her. She gives him Kleenex, Neo-Citran and scotch and they watch the Late Show together. The next fantasy involves a man in her mothers basement with an axe, but she tells him, I hear the same angel voices and theyve been telling me for some time that Im going to give birth to the reincarnation of St. Anne who in turn has the Virgin Mary and right after that comes Jesus Christ and the end of the world, and he wouldnt want to interfere with that, would he? (35). This sends him back up the coal shoot. Then she briefly fantasizes about a number of potential rape situations where she hurts or physically overpowers her assailant, but quickly returns to less threatening possibilities. Her last fantasy is, in Estelles words, the most touching#8230; and kind of dignified (pg. 35) rape fantasy where she is dying of leukemia and is grabbed by a man in the same condition. She woos him and they move into an apartment where they die together. Estelle likes power; she is not helpless in her fantasies. Her fantasies of being a Kung-Fu expert demonstrate her wish for control over her body and her safety. Estelle can outwit, confuse, and fool her fantasy rapists; in fact she hopes she is not too vicious to them. By calmlyShow MoreRelatedRape Fantasies By Margaret Atwood And The Other Place1861 Words   |  8 PagesThe short stories â€Å"Rape Fantasies† by Margaret Atwood and The Other Place† by Mary Gaitskill are both short stories that have ominous sounding titles are many ways very comparable. â€Å"Rape Fantasies,† as you can guess, is about the very taboo subject of rape. Furthermore, â€Å"The Other Place† is about violence subject matter and taboo subjects of violence involvi ng the narrator and his violent thoughts towards women. The short stories â€Å"Rape Fantasies† and The Other Place† are similar pieces of work dueRead MoreEssay about Rape Fantasies698 Words   |  3 PagesRape Fantasies Sadly rape is an all too common accurance, which has been going on forever. 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