The Depiction of Society Impact in 'Lusus Naturae'

In 'Lusus Naturae' summary paper the analysis of this work is made. So this tory written by Margaret Atwood, it is made perfectly clear how often people will put how they are perceived by society before the wellbeing of those members of their family considered different, or what is considered not normal, in their societal groups. It is no surprise that even today it is considered detrimental to fit in. Young children often feel this pressure starting at a very early age and continuing for the rest of their lives. It is hard telling how much money is spent on advertisements, articles, news stories, and more to sell to the public what they should be doing or buying to fit in with those around them. Atwood is most popularly known for her works of fiction which often focus on the experience of women in their societies. In Lusus Naturae, Atwood continues this tradition with a look on how a rare hereditary condition can ruin one’s life when family members consider it societal death.

When raising children, parents want what is best for their children. Some parents struggle with this when their children’s lives and what they want out of life, or what they need out of life, differ from what society tells them is best for their children, even though most of the time, society knows nothing about these individual beings. Children are often grouped together, a blanket rule being put on them of what they should do and what is considered successful, payinh no mind that each child is an individual person with individual needs and wants. This is seen with parents of gay children, or parents whose children switch or drop religions, have babies out of wedlock, live with significant others out of wedlock, choose different career paths, choose not to go or finish college, and many more situations that don’t fit in to the parent’s pictures of their children’s future. Parents can argue that society won’t accept this so they can’t accept it either. They will say things like our circle of friends won’t understand, none of our friend’s children have done things this way, etc. What is overlooked, is these individuals lives who are kicked out of their families or hidden away from their family’s societies because of shame. Shame that has nothing to do with what is best for these humans, but what makes it easier on mom and dad and doesn’t take away from their stature in society. In Lusus Naturae, the young girl is considered a monster, and turned into one by her family, because of a hereditary condition. Often thought to be a vampire, or a monster of the night, the young girl is “killed off” to the public while being hidden in private. Although offered the hope of medical treatment, her family decides that hiding her is the best choice to not interrupt how the townspeople see their family or her sister’s chance at a bountiful marriage. This family, full of cowards, creates a monster out of this young girl instead of giving her a chance at a life. If given the support and love that she deserved, it is most assuredly that she would have a better quality of life and have known love as all humans should.

In “Lusus Naturae”, the narrator’s sister says, “Curse or disease, it doesn’t matter, either way, no one will marry me if they find out.” The selfishness of this quote, as well as the fact of the fake funeral that all her family members went along with, just so society wouldn’t see their family as wrong or different, proves to what extreme people will go to so as to not know embarrassment from having a different life than those around them. Which is absurd, because no one’s life is the same as another. That is the problem with this world. Different is considered wrong. The fact that this girl is going through a painful disease at no thought to what it’s doing to her, but just what hardships it means to the family. It’s sickening especially at the end when her sister is apart of the mob that comes to kill her. The sister didn’t speak up out of fear that society would kick her out, much like she did her sister.

This story brings to light how sad it is that people judge others on their differences. What is usually talked about is what someone can’t do, not what they can do. This girl could have a much better life with treatment and a little bit of love. Instead, she was left alone, in the dark, and abandoned by the ones who were supposed to keep her safe. She had no advocate, no hope, no love, because she didn’t fit in with what was considered normal. She had no weapons given to her to fight for her live, a live worth living, no matter how different it would be. She had no tools shown to her to succeed in whatever type of life she was meant for. The only thing horrifying about this story is how a young girl was turned away from her family, society, the world and her chance at happiness. What her happiness may have been, no one knows. It most definitely wasn’t something society has seen before, but that doesn’t make it wrong. Telling a human being their wrong because they’re different, it’s like telling a fish it’s wrong because it can’t fly.

To conclude, Margaret Atwood’s works are taught across the world in a variety of subjects including the humanities. It’s no wonder her literature is used to help be and advocate to those not just in the fictional world, but those who struggle with the societal issues, in 1939 or 2019. Her works are just as relevant today as ever. They will continue to be used throughout the history of humanity. Atwood is a highly commendable author who uses her talents to express to the world what could be done better. A true humanitarian at heart, she engrosses readers with the will to be the change this world needs. In an interview The Telegraph, Atwood says “The ability to remember the past helps us plan for the future”, Atwood reminds those to look at the past and plan for the future, correcting the mistakes of those in the past, and correcting the mistakes humans are sure to make again, maybe before they get the chance to happen.