Feminism
Feminism is a significant perspective in Atwood's text which subverts to the ideas of Shakespeare’s concept and theme in The Tempest, this is an evident example that justice is ambiguous, as we can see that the sense of justice present in The Tempest is patriarchal, insinuating to the idea that the desire of this form of justice is due to the demos during the Jacobean era. With Atwood's perspective on feminism, she places a heavy understanding of the concept that Miranda in The Tempest has more depth than what she is originally given. Atwood creates a new perspective by creating two Mirandas, Felix’s ghost daughter, transparent, with no depth, a re-contextualisation of The Tempest Miranda and a second Miranda, a realistic adaptation of Miranda played by Anne Marie, giving the character substance and life. A contrast to Shakespeare’s text, the original Miranda and Felix's daughter Miranda, are submissive characters, although very intelligent and can be independent, is controlled and protected by their fathers, this implies that the authority that Prospero and Felix display towards their daughter, suggests the ideas of patriarchal perspective. However, Atwood contradicts the concept by presenting another Miranda, Anne Marie, showcasing the entire substance that Miranda could have been.
In Hag-Seed, Felix’s description of his daughter is that “She remains simple, she remains innocent”, alluding to The Tempest “And women too, but innocent and pure”, this contrasts to Anne Marie who displays more character than what Shakespeare is implying, “He was never ready when a slice of filth came out of her child-like mouth”. Atwood’s use of juxtaposition of the two Mirandas suggest that women are more than just an innocent child with a demand for protection, this gives rise to an understanding that women do not get enough justice in The Tempest as they should, compared to the real world in today's society. Anne Marie is assertive and manipulates in order to get what she wants, this subverts from Shakespeare’s patriarchal attitudes from the statement “and women too, but innocent and pure”.
In Hag-Seed, Felix’s description of his daughter is that “She remains simple, she remains innocent”, alluding to The Tempest “And women too, but innocent and pure”, this contrasts to Anne Marie who displays more character than what Shakespeare is implying, “He was never ready when a slice of filth came out of her child-like mouth”. Atwood’s use of juxtaposition of the two Mirandas suggest that women are more than just an innocent child with a demand for protection, this gives rise to an understanding that women do not get enough justice in The Tempest as they should, compared to the real world in today's society. Anne Marie is assertive and manipulates in order to get what she wants, this subverts from Shakespeare’s patriarchal attitudes from the statement “and women too, but innocent and pure”.
