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Rape Fantasies | Introduction

Margaret Atwood's "Rape Fantasies" was first published in the Canadian version of Dancing Girls and Other Stories in 1977 but was omitted from the American edition of the collection. It has become one of Atwood's best-known works, particularly after its inclusion in the 1985 edition of The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women. The story, a first-person narration in which a woman discusses her concerns about being raped, exhibits many of the qualities often associated with Atwood's work, including biting humor, vivid characterizations, and an exploration of the power struggle between men and women. Furthermore, it highlights many women's fears of crime and victimization in an urban environment where safety depends on striking a delicate balance between trust and suspicion.

Although "Rape Fantasies" is one of Atwood's most popular stories, little criticism of her work focuses on it specifically. Several critics have noted that Estelle seems to be a naive protagonist, but that view is rejected by an equal number of reviewers. Estelle and her female coworkers have very different ideas on what romance is and how to obtain it without falling prey to the insidious forces in society. The story is often used as a starting point for discussing the gap between men's and women's perceptions of each other.

Rape Fantasies Summary

The first-person narrator of "Rape Fantasies" is Estelle, a young office worker who notes how popular the topic of rape has become in women's magazines. According to Estelle, articles on the subject seem to be everywhere; titles like "Rape, Ten Things To Do About It" appear in capital letters on the magazine covers, ''like it was ten new hairdos or something." She recounts a conversation that took place during her lunch hour between herself and her coworkers after Chrissy, a receptionist in Estelle's office, has read one of these articles. Chrissy interrupts her coworkers' bridge game to ask if any of them ever fantasize about rape. Each character's response defines her personality: Estelle would rather continue playing cards, Chrissy and Sondra are interested in trading stories, and Darlene, the oldest and the only divorced woman in the group, finds such fantasies disgusting and turns her back on the women to go to the coffee machine.

Greta fantasizes about a handsome man coming through her balcony doors, a fantasy that draws on romantic television shows and movies. Chrissy relates that her fantasy is for a man to break into her apartment while she is taking a bath. Estelle responds to both women by saying "those aren't rape fantasies. I mean, you aren't getting raped, it's just some guy you haven't met formally ... and you have a good time. Rape is when they've got a knife or something and... ยป Complete Rape Fantasies Summary