or prostitution.

Ironically, the nineteenth-century perception of femininity may have spared Grace from execution and serving her full prison sentence. During that time, women were seen as delicate, moral, and incapable of committing heinous crimes like murder. Despite circumstantial evidence linking Grace to the murders, she avoids the death penalty and eventually gains early release from prison. Would the same have occurred if she were a man? The answer seems clear in the fate of her accomplice, James McDermott, who faced little doubt about his guilt and was sentenced to hang. Additionally, the peculiar relationship between Grace and Jamie Walsh is significant. Walsh, who had a crush on Grace, later testified against her, providing crucial evidence leading to her conviction. Atwood suggests that Walsh's actions were motivated by jealousy over Grace's alleged involvement with McDermott. However, in the end, Walsh plays a pivotal role in securing Grace's early release, promising to marry, support, and protect her. Grace's femininity—or at least the nineteenth-century perception of it, which made her seem incapable of harm—convinces Walsh that he had wronged her and must now save her.

Grace is an Irish immigrant whose mother passes away during their journey to Canada. Her father is an abusive and negligent alcoholic. After starting work in domestic service, she loses touch with her siblings. Her best friend, Mary Whitney, dies from complications of an illegal abortion after becoming pregnant by their employer's son.

While incarcerated, Grace becomes a cause célèbre for a reform-focused religious group. The group enlists the young Dr. Jordan to assist in proving her innocence. Dr. Jordan, eager to advance his career, is fascinated by the burgeoning field of psychology and aspires to one day establish his own asylum. He is an upper-middle-class American who, despite recent financial setbacks, is conducting experiments on Grace, a lower-class Canadian, whom he sometimes perceives as merely a puzzle ("a hard nut to crack"). This relationship highlights issues of social class and international dynamics. Although Dr. Jordan is a well-developed and believable character, he is clearly symbolic, fulfilling multiple roles as envisioned by Atwood. He embodies the state of psychology at the time, serves as a potential redeemer and romantic interest for Grace, and becomes her confidant as she shares her narrative.

The themes explored in Alias Grace will strike a chord with readers who are acquainted with Atwood's other works, such as Surfacing (1972), Bodily Harm (1982), and The Handmaid's Tale (1986). Grace is depicted as both a pawn to external forces and the commanding center of her own existence. No matter her actions or the events that befall her, she remains entrenched in a strict social hierarchy that dictates conduct and shapes identities. This situation is particularly relevant for women, who were only granted suffrage in the United States in 1920 and, according to recent data, continue to earn less than men for equivalent work. Themes of interpersonal politics, highlighting conflicts between women and men and women against a patriarchal society, are prevalent in Alias Grace, as they are in most of Atwood's novels.

What is particularly striking and somewhat disconcerting in this novel is Atwood's examination of the dual self, a timeless literary theme that she reinvigorates with vibrant energy. Is Grace "possessed" by Mary Whitney's spirit? Does she experience a split personality, akin to schizophrenia? Or is she pretending to appear innocent or less responsible? Grace herself confesses, "I have a good stupid look, which I have practiced." Could this suggest she also rehearses being Mary? Who exactly is Grace Marks? Throughout her early years, she faced such terror and suffering that it's understandable why she struggles to define and explain herself to Dr. Jordan. Grace often dismisses doubts and fears like unwanted hairs, saying, "When you are sad, it is best to change the subject."

However, Atwood offers few clues about who truly killed Nancy Montgomery, the housekeeper and lover of Thomas Kinnear. While McDermott undoubtedly murdered Kinnear, no one is ever prosecuted for Nancy's death, as McDermott and Grace have already been convicted and sentenced for Kinnear's murder. If Grace strangled Nancy or assisted in her death, it might have been due to fear of McDermott, or she could have been influenced by, or acting as, Mary.

One unsettling element of Atwood's approach to this theme is the lack of definitive answers. The narrative implies that every person is made up of a multitude of personalities. People are like collages, similar to this novel, with their components constantly shifting as they engage with a perpetually changing world.

Atwood offers no firm ground to stand on, no straightforward ideologies, and no convenient belief systems. The novel remains as open-ended as the idea of freedom itself, which, when explored honestly and deeply, can be quite intimidating. Furthermore, as Atwood noted in a lecture on the literary portrayal of madness, "The prospect of losing our self and being taken over by another, unfamiliar self is one of our deepest human fears" ("Ophelia Has a Lot to Answer for," Stratford, Ontario, September 1997).

In her afterword to Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood delves into the sensationalism surrounding the Kinnear/Montgomery murder case, emphasizing how it gripped the attention of journalists due to its mix of "sex, violence and the deplorable insubordination of the lower classes." Atwood observes that the diverse reactions to both the case and Grace Marks herself mirrored a broader societal uncertainty about women's nature. This ambiguity is a central theme in the novel, with Atwood presenting its multifaceted aspects to the readers.

Atwood opens her chapters with an array of sources—newspaper articles, letters, poems, confessions from McDermott and Grace, and entries from Susanna Moodie's journal. By weaving these elements together, she not only portrays the various perspectives surrounding Grace but also highlights the complexities involved in understanding her character. The novel guides readers through the murder, the subsequent trial, and efforts to secure Grace's pardon, all the while underscoring the elusive nature of historical truth. Atwood insists on the factual certainty of Mr. Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery's deaths, yet she skillfully maintains an air of mystery regarding Grace’s involvement, ensuring that her true role remains unresolved in the eyes of both the characters within the story and the readers themselves.

At the heart of the novel is Grace's compelling voice, inviting readers into her world and rendering her both sympathetic and credible. Her narrative, however, stops short of unraveling the enigma of "Who is Grace Marks?" Instead, it presents her in a fresh ambiguity, defying easy categorization. Grace emerges not as the woman others anticipate nor as a simplistic embodiment of her gender; rather, she is a richly layered individual. Just like any person, Grace embodies complexity and unpredictability, resisting the confines of neatly defined expectations and simplistic explanations.

Throughout her life, Grace finds herself ensnared in a web of powerlessness, constrained by societal and personal forces that dictate her circumstances. From her destitute beginnings, she is at the mercy of those around her, whether it be her overbearing father, the employers who shape her servitude, or the judicial system that confines her to prison. Each phase of her existence is marked by a dependency on men, such as Mr. Kinnear, the volatile James McDermott, the inquisitive Simon Jordan, and later, Jamie Walsh. These figures underscore her lack of control over her own destiny.

Yet, beneath this enforced powerlessness lies a reservoir of inner strength that sets her apart. Grace exhibits an unwavering resilience and a steadfastness of spirit that defies the constraints imposed upon her. Despite the shackles of her environment, she maintains a sense of self that challenges the stereotypical depiction of women in her position. It is through the narrative that Grace's true power is revealed—the power of her will and the ability to remain dignified and whole, transcending the limitations placed upon her by society and becoming a fully realized, individual presence.

The narrative unfolds with each chapter beginning with a depiction of a quilt pattern, weaving a rich metaphor into the fabric of the story. Quilting, a craft requiring immense patience and a keen sense of order, mirrors the life and experiences of Grace, the protagonist. As an adept quilter, Grace meticulously pieces together the moments of her journey, creating a tapestry that reflects both the chaos and beauty inherent in her life. This metaphor not only emphasizes her skill but also highlights her ability to bring coherence to the disparate elements of her existence, much like the quilt she fashions with careful precision and artistic flair.