An Exploration of Postmodernist Minor Literature: Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale'

The concepts of postmodernism and minor literature present a rich and complex exploration of the literary landscape. To better understand these concepts, let’s delve into the example of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale

Modernism and Postmodernism: A Critique of Reality

The distinction between modernism and postmodernism lies in their relationship to the previously dominant literary forms, realism and mimesis. Modernist movements, such as impressionism, expressionism, symbolism, and surrealism, questioned the traditional notion of art as a direct representation of reality. Instead, they sought to create new realities through art itself. Postmodernism, on the other hand, took this rejection of realism a step further by questioning the very nature of art and reality.

The Handmaid's Tale: A Postmodern Literature Example

One well-known example of postmodern literature is Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Upon closer inspection, the novel reveals a meta-narrative intertwined with the main narrative. The reader initially believes the story to be a first-person account of a handmaid named Offred, but this assumption is later overturned. The narrative structure cleverly reorients the reader’s perspective, revealing that the diary is in fact transcribed by a historian named A. V. Each. Each, along with three other historians, formulates the narrative, dissecting and questioning the very existence of the handmaid as a character. This metafictionality is a hallmark of postmodern literature.

Deleuze and Guattari's Definition of Minor Literature

But what about the term "minor literature"? Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's work provides a more nuanced understanding of this concept. According to them, "une littérature mineure" is not about a language that is minor, but rather literature created by a minority within a major language. Their concept of minor literature is a provocative and critical stance against the establishment and the dominant voices within literature.

Characteristics of Minor Literature

Deleuze and Guattari highlight three characteristics of minor literature in order of importance:

La déterritorialisation de la langue: This involves the disruption and reorganization of linguistic structures, questioning the conventional use of language. Le branchement de l'individuel sur l'immédiat-politique: This refers to the intertwining of personal experiences with immediate political discourse, challenging the separation between the individual and the political. L'agencement collectif dénonciation: This points to collective arrangements and the denunciation of power structures, promoting social and political critique.

Modern English and French literatures also qualify as minor literatures

In a contemporary context, almost all literatures, especially those written in English or French, can be characterized or read as minor literatures. These literatures are marked by the absence of a master narrative and they emphasize the text as an utterance of a collective social milieu. Characters and authors take on the role of subject positions within temporally and linguistically defined structures of power. Language itself is often disconnected from its source or foundation, reflecting a dynamic and fluid representation of reality.

Application to Canadian Literature

Considering Deleuze and Guattari’s criteria, it can be argued that Canadian literature, especially that written in English or French, qualifies as a minor literature. The diverse voices, cultural contexts, and socio-political dynamics within Canadian literature often challenge and subvert the dominant literary traditions. Authors like Margaret Atwood, who explores complex and often contentious themes, exemplify this minor literature.

Conclusion

The intersection of postmodernism and minor literature offers a lens through which to analyze and appreciate the richness and diversity of contemporary literature. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale and other works that reflect Deleuze and Guattari’s concepts of minor literature demonstrate the potential for literature to disrupt, challenge, and redefine our understanding of reality and language.