The Motif of Ageing in the Modern Canadian Literature: A Feminine Aspect (“The Bear Came Over The Mountain” by Alice Munro and “Torching The Dusties” by Margaret Atwood)

Abstract

The article focuses on the analysis of artistic peculiarities in terms of the depiction of the motif of ageing in the short stories “The Bear Came over the Mountain” and “Tourching the Dusties” written by two outstanding Anglo-Canadian authors Alice Munro and Margaret Atwood. The attempt has been made to reveal the range of representative features, which serve to embody the abovementioned motif in modern Anglo-Canadian short stories, throughout the comparative analysis of works, similar in their plot. The motif of ageing as well as the idea of discrimination against elderly people (ageism) are widely presented in the modern Canadian literary heritage, which corresponds to the general tendency of the considerable increase in number of plots about the representatives of this age group in well-developed countries. Drawing on the example of the chosen short stories, it turns out to be possible to assume that both gender and national identities are vividly embodied in terms of realization of motif of ageing. The protagonist is a woman that reveals the peculiarities of a way of living, typical for elderly Canadian citizens: problems of existence in the nursery home, loneliness, loss of family relations and the necessity of new social contacts. Deep-laid psychologism, revealed through the images of nature, morally strong, creative personality of the main heroine are typical features of Canadian identity manifestation. Peculiarities of woman’s attitude towards ageing are embodied in her self-perception through the lens of fading beauty, problem of self-continuation through children, self-realisation and lack of financial stability in the old age. These components of narrative and problematic aspect establish the typical Anglo-Canadian variant of ageing theme, reflected through the lens of feminine outlook.