Margaret Atwood: Memorable quotes from Atwood's 'The Testaments'

Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo jointly won the 2019 Booker Prize on Monday after the judging panel declared the tie. Atwood becomes the only second female author to win the award twice. Atwood’s The Testaments was released last month and is said to be her best work to date. Apart from this, British Indian novelist, Salman Rushdie’s tragicomic Quichotte was among the six books which are shortlisted for the prize. Below listed are some popular quotes from Margaret's award-winning book-

“You don’t believe the sky is falling until a chunk of it falls on you.”- Lydia

This quote tells how Lydia waited too long before attempting to leave the US. Despite dealing with how badly things were going daily, she believed things would get better, and the issues would be resolved. Later she realised she had misjudged a difficult situation.  

ALSO READ: Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood In 2019 Man Booker Longlist

“Being able to read and write did not provide answers to all questions. It led to other questions, and then to others.”- Agnes

This quote reveals the struggle Agnes had as she started to learn more about the world. Growing up in Gilead, she was not allowed to read/write. Later, however, her aunt decides to teach her how to read the Bible. She soon realises that the stories she had been told as a child were not the same as what was written.

ALSO READ: Atwood Tipped By UK Bookmakers To Win Fiction’s Booker Prize

“But it’s difficult to be grateful for the absence of an unknown quantity. I’m afraid we did not fully appreciate the extent to which those of Aunt Lydia’s generation had been hardened in the fire. They had a ruthlessness about that that we lacked”.-Agnes

This quote shows the Agnes reflecting on her past. Agnes sees that she and other Gileadean children never knew about the way life used to be for women. They grew up only knowing Gilead’s strict regime. They could not have the freedoms and rights enjoyed by women, earlier.

Margaret Atwood books

Margaret Eleanor Atwood is a Canadian poet, novelist and essayist. As per reports, since 1961 she has published 17 books of poetry. Her work includes themes like gender and equality, religion and myth. She is best known for her book, Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature which was published in 1972. Her other notable works include The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), Cat’s Eye (1989), The Robber Bride (1993), Alias Grace (1996) and many more.

ALSO READ: Booker Prize Awarded Jointly To Margaret Atwood, Bernardine Evaristo

ALSO READ: Booker Prize: Margaret Atwood, Salman Rushdie Nominated With 4 Others