Haunted By Abjection: The Interplay Of Power And Horror In Margaret Atwood’S Alias Grace

Abstract

This paper is structured around two pivotal inquiries: First, what are the diverse manifestations of the abject within Alias Grace that gradually foster Grace Marks’ murderous impulses, leading to her transformation into an abject figure? Second, how does the treatment process for this abject figure influence Dr. Jordan, her psychotherapist, reshape the third space created by Grace into an abject realm for him as well? Drawing on Julia Kristeva’s framework, the paper aims to elucidate the fragmented identity of Grace Marks, situating her within the realm of the abject and exploring the "third space" she constructs for herself. In Kristeva’s conception, abjection evokes horror, disgust, and fear, illuminating the dual experience of terror and the violent, reactive impulses that arise within the human psyche. This paper traces Grace’s evolution from a victim of abject horror to an active agent of it, examining her transformation into an abject being who withdraws into a self-constructed psychological third space—one that oscillates between estrangement and a semblance of solace. The paper seeks to illuminate the profound power of horror in destabilizing human subjectivity and precipitating a descent into abjection, whereby individuals like Grace are both consumed by and transfigured into the abject. Through this lens, Alias Grace is examined as a narrative that intricately weaves the psychological and existential dimensions of abjection, unraveling human vulnerabilities and blurring the boundaries between victim and perpetrator.

Keywords: abjection, abject horror, metamorphosis, third space.