Margaret Atwood The Journals of Susanna Moodie Analysis

Apart from the uniqueness of specific poems, the success of the book originates from the close interaction and connection between poems which play a critical role in presenting Susanna Moodie's rationalized experience. Additionally, the cohesiveness of the novel has been achieved based on Susanna Moodie’s personality such that Atwood can trace the changes in her life based on how she reacts about the land. Atwood has been able to trace Susanna’s growth and development by moving her from alienation to a situation where she becomes the essence of the land that she once despised. These changes present the book as an organized piece of literature that makes it easy for the audience to understand and follow the events in a structured manner.

Though, the book adopts a different style from that of a novel the writer focuses on the main character through a series of events about her life (Atwood 49). Interestingly the main topics addressed in the book are still relevant in the modern day. The only difference is that the world now allows movement between countries at a faster rate than before a situation that makes the poems more fascinating (Atwood 62). The book is critical for people dealing with identity and acceptance issues especially after migrating from one nation to the other. Journal One This part covers Susanna Moodie’s time in the bush and the initial stages of her transformation. Disembarking At Quebec This poem covers her arrival in the new land.

Further Arrivals In this poem, the land is viewed as “a large darkness,” but Susanna and his partner blame their ignorance for entering it. Additionally, Susanna attempts to make the first gesture towards reaching out to the land. She does this through understanding the darkness and establishing a dominant reaction to the land. She also understands that her inner self is characterized by fear as her brains grope nervous tentacles in the night. The use of the term “tentacles” is significant as it presents the genesis of her transformation (Atwood 12). The end of her son creates a connection between Susanna and the land. The son represents Susanna’s new feelings and emotions towards nature. Planting the son in the earth like a flag symbolizes that Susanna now has a special relationship with the land (Atwood 30).

It’s an essential step towards acceptance this is because a flag is a symbol of identity and patriotism thus planting him like a flag means that she now associates herself with the land. Also, the fact that the sun was still shining symbolizes that the journey will continue. Journal Three In this section, the transformation of Susanna Moodie occurs as she starts to have a preference for the land instead of society. Daguerreotype Taken In Old Age This poem is evidence enough of the striking contrast in the Moodie that arrived in Canada compared to the current Susanna Moodie. Susanna could now associate herself with the land as the figure of the night. The perception of Susanna as a moon presents her as the light of the nation.