The symbolism of nature as a mirror of the protagonist’s and Canadian identity in Margaret Atwood’s Surfacing

Abstract

The present thesis examines nature as a mirror of both the protagonist’s and Canada’s identity in the 1960s in Margaret Atwood’s Surfacing. The aim of this work is to analyze the symbolism of the forest, animal imagery, particularly fish and heron, and the lake, showing how these elements reflect the heroine’s changing perception of herself and her homeland. The thesis consists of an introduction, two main chapters, and a conclusion. The introduction provides a brief summary of the novel, the aim of the study, and the chosen methodology. The first chapter is a literature review that establishes the theoretical framework by discussing key ecocritical concepts, their relevance to Canadian literature, and previous interpretations of Surfacing. The second chapter analyzes the chosen symbols and their connection to personal and national identity. The conclusion summarizes the main findings of the thesis. Keywords: Surfacing, ecocriticism, personal identity, national identity, symbolism.