If the short story by Margaret is decoded, it can be added here that the story is more about growing up and dealing with the traumas of life. Trauma is the main theme of the story itself. Trauma is the basis of failure in life being faced by Lois. There are two levels based on which the deconstruction within the story can be identified. The first level has been achieved by the author herself and the second level where the short story needs to be decoded itself (Wilson 29).
In the case of the first level, at the level of the author, the effect of trauma in the life of an individual has been explained in terms of an ability of an individual to cope with the trauma. In these cases, the author has decoded the relationship that exists between coping abilities and the quality of life of an individual. The author has mentioned that the way the trauma was dealt with Lois was unproductive and it was leading her into further depression. Her social appearance was lessening and the relationship that she had with her family was greatly reduced, thus having a negative effect on Lois's life. The main aim of the story is to attract the attention of the audience and illustrate the fact that dealing with traumatic events in the past in a positive way is important. Though it may seem of lesser importance, but the effects that the events can have on an individual are immense, unless coping is done in a productive manner.
The second level of decoding is at the level of the reader. When the information is decoded at the level of the reader, the information being given to the reader deals with the fact of how relationships can be affected by various events in life. but, these events need to be dealt with positively. Otherwise, there are greater negative effects on an individual himself and his or her surroundings.
From here, it can be seen...
The interrelationship of the
psychology of an individual and her surroundings is one of the facts of post colonial theories. The link between gender and the psychologies of individuals is also an important fact. The way in which young girls deal with trauma is different as compared to the ways adopted by the boys. Secondly, the importance of a traumatic event has been highlighted by the author. Important facts have been illustrated by the author. How
loneliness overcome Lois as she remains surrounded by the feeling of guilt of somehow is responsible for what happened with her friend. In addition, how depression, loneliness and guilt plays a role in having a negative effect on the simplest relationships that she had in her life (the Oxford books 89).
Conclusion
Death by Landscape' written by
Margaret Atwood was to be analyzed with the help of two important theories, the deconstruction
theory and post colonialism. Deconstruction of the concept of trauma has been done by the author by mentioning the negative effects that trauma can have on an individual, if coping is not done in a proper manner. The interrelationships of an individual with his or her surroundings are also negatively affected by traumas.
Works Cited
Norris, Christop. Deconstruction: Theory and Practice, New Accents. Edition 3. Routledge, 2002.
The Oxford books. The Oxford book of adventure stories. Oxford University Press, 1995.
Wilson, Rose, Sharon. Margaret Atwood S. Textual Assassinations: Recent Poetry and Fiction, Volume 1 of Margaret Atwood's Textual Assassinations: Recent Poetry and Fiction, Sharon Rose Wilson. Ohio State University Press, 2003.
Young, Robert. Postcolonialism: An Historical Introduction. John Wiley & Sons, 2001.
