Margaret Atwood “Rape Fantasies” 

“Rape Fantasies” by Margaret Atwood is a very peculiar piece and not at all what I expected when I began reading. This story is rather comical and lightens up the issue of rape. This is ironic humor because the topic of rape is a very sensitive, intimidating, and scary subject. However, the women in this office lunchroom really just make a big joke about the whole subject.  

The way the women talk about their fantasies and make quick witted jokes back and forth at each other lightens the tone of this story. It’s a bunch of women sitting around in a lunchroom on their break, playing cards and reading magazines. It’s almost like they have nothing better to do except start talking about the latest and hottest issue in the magazines: Rape Fantasies.  

Each woman describes her rape fantasy, but what’s ironic is that none of their stories are actually stories of rape. These women have no idea! They describe a “Clint Eastwood” look alike, or a “Mr. Clean” look alike, or just a decent looking man coming into their rooms, unarmed, and taking them. They don’t describe themselves being frightened, fighting back, or screaming. The way these women describe their fantasies, it sounds like they just want to be laid or swept off their feet for a one night stand by a good looking, complete stranger. They don’t cover the issues that most rapists will hurt you, have total control over you, and are filthy, scum bags who should be imprisoned. To these women it’s all a game, especially to the narrator.  

Her stories are funny because in all of them she creates a totally new life for herself to convince the rapist not to rape her, like she has leukemia and is dying. But, aha! To her surprise he has leukemia also and they spend the rest of their lives sick together and in love. That’s hilarious and would never happen like that.  

Margaret Atwood approaches the topic of rape with a completely humorous aspect, maybe to make the topic more open and easier to really talk about in a serious sense.