Margaret Atwood’s poem, “Bread,” skillfully presents relatable scenarios that stir the reader’s emotions and empathy. By using bread as a metaphor, Atwood suggests that while we enjoy comfort and prosperity, many others suffer worldwide. The poem criticizes Americans for ignoring global issues and highlights the reader’s own guilt and self-blame for contributing to starvation and war.
Atwood effectively presents her argument through the simple act of enjoying a generously topped slice of bread in our everyday lives, which can be directly related to the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. The wealth and privilege of the top 1% is oppressive to the remaining 99%. However, we must acknowledge a broader perspective as we criticize billionaires for their mistreatment of the poor and shrinking middle class. The pursuit of wealth and greed has persisted into the present day as a timeless endeavor. We cannot disregard our own complacency towards those in the world who are truly suffering from hunger and death caused by war.
The first story by Atwood demonstrates that we live in abundance, using the example of bread. Atwood’s purpose in showcasing this example is to make us reflect on our indifference towards the mundane things we often overlook. We have countless options, making bread insignificant to the majority. In the story, Atwood exposes our complacency with different types of bread, including white bread in the refrigerator and a rye heel that was once satisfying but is now decaying. The fact that food can be easily replaced leads most people to not worry about spoilage.
In a nation of wealth and abundance, where conveniences are plentiful, we have access to an array of food options in our supermarkets. We also enjoy the luxury of clean water and all the necessities for sustaining life. The author extensively delves into the symbolism of bread in these stories, urging readers to reconsider its significance by imagining a famine scenario. While we may understand the impact bread has on our lives, it is often challenging for us to truly envision the harsh reality of famine. This leads readers to question the importance attributed to bread in the initial story. Atwood vividly depicts horrifying conditions during famines, including starvation, distended stomachs, and flies landing on one’s eyes – details that disturb many.
Atwood prompts readers to imagine themselves in a similar situation, emphasizing the authenticity of the predicament. At this point in the essay, readers experience strong emotions and gain a deep understanding of the difficulty in deciding what to do with bread. You are carrying a dirty and damp cloth, along with the last piece of bread in your home – valuable sustenance you have saved for desperate times. Now, you must choose. Do you give the bread to your sister or venture outside to find another source of nourishment? However, the streets outside are filled with scavengers and the smell of death fills the air. The importance of the bread from earlier in the story becomes clear – it should not be taken lightly. The moldy bread left in the refrigerator could mean survival for someone else.
As Atwood progresses into the third story of being in a prison, bread undergoes a gradual transformation from nourishment to something sinister and perilous. While incarcerated, those in power entice you with bread, which you readily accept in exchange for maintaining your silence. Speaking a word to any of your acquaintances would result in their death. That night, you choose not to utter anything due to the allure of that bread, as Atwood explains, “They always choose the night. You don’t think about the night, however; but about the piece of bread they offered you.” The bread now serves as a catalyst for the demise of others, as it fuels killing and manipulation in pursuit of one’s objectives.
The bread, initially perceived as ordinary, has now transformed into a chilling emblem of suffering and demise. This bread is not to be trusted; it is insidious and does not represent life. At this point in her essay, Atwood has presented two symbolic interpretations of bread to the reader. The bread that resides in most refrigerators, comforting and abundant, is also the bread that inflicts agony and destruction. Bread can signify existence but can also represent death. In Atwood’s fourth narrative, she draws a connection between the bread in the first story and the bread in the second and third stories.
Atwood illustrates the correlation between avarice and the anguish of others through a fairy-tale narrative. The tale revolves around two siblings: one sister possesses wealth but lacks offspring, while the other is impoverished, widowed, and burdened with five children. The destitute widow, unable to even afford a single morsel of bread for her children’s nourishment, implores her sister for assistance. Regrettably, her sibling declines, asserting insufficiency in her own provisions. When the affluent sister’s spouse returns home famished and slices into his portion of bread, scarlet blood unexpectedly gushes forth—a chilling depiction that serves as a potent emblem for the terrorizing significance associated with bread throughout this account.
The reader now sees the symbolism of the bread of comfort and the bread of anguish as one. Those who choose to ignore others’ suffering are metaphorically called the rich sister. These individuals lack compassion and prioritize their own satisfaction over helping others. The author asks why someone would treat their own sister this way, prompting reflection on mistreating fellow human beings. The reader cannot imagine treating their own family in such a manner. At this point, it is clear that society’s “rich sisters” must take responsibility for their actions. However, in the last story, Atwood’s message extends beyond just the “rich sisters” to all readers themselves. Atwood reveals everyone’s selfishness and shows how readers often overlook the heartless treatment of the poor by the wealthy.
In this passage, the author presents an image of a loaf of bread floating above a table in a kitchen. The author emphasizes that there are no tricks or indications of how the bread got there. There are no visible strings or attachments to the bread or the blue cloth beneath it. The author suggests that a simple swing of the hand would confirm this lack of tricks or illusions. Despite initially considering it to be a cheap trick or illusion, the reader eventually acknowledges the reality of starvation and suffering, as explained by Atwood. Atwood wants the reader to recognize and accept that starvation is not a mere illusion but a genuine occurrence. This serves as a rude awakening for the reader. Atwood uses various descriptions of bread to illustrate that greed is responsible for suffering and death. Greed drives people to wage wars and seek control and wealth, leaving others devastated in their path. As a result, while the rich continue to amass wealth, families and children endure starvation or perish in these conflicts.
The excessive desire for wealth has led to poverty in other nations. People who have multiple homes, private jets, and extravagant lifestyles have negatively affected not only our nation but also others. The impact of their greed is evident in the deteriorating state of our economy and its ripple effect on other countries. This insatiable greed has perpetuated conflicts as the wealthy distort reality to further their destructive agenda. It’s possible that even some readers have justified their role in causing suffering and death. The rich often find ways to rationalize their crimes to find comfort and sleep well at night. However, one would expect that these individuals, with blood on their hands, would never experience a peaceful night’s sleep.
Regardless of economic status, we cannot ignore the unfolding events in our world. The disillusionment that exists in America and other nations is unsustainable. Our planet is under attack from greed, wars, and conflicts. While some people enjoy the comforts of their homes, unspeakable atrocities are being committed. Many individuals choose to overlook or deny these harsh realities. It could be argued that our country values personal freedom and responsibility for success or failure. However, how can we ignore the suffering of others? How can we, as a nation that prides itself on freedom, deny what is undeniable? As human beings, we cannot dismiss the claims presented in Atwood’s essay.
The world’s responsibility lies with the human race. Starvation and death cannot be justified or blamed on those who are suffering, especially when their country is ravaged by war. As citizens of a democratic country, we have the power to vote and be heard, making a difference. Atwood’s thought-provoking statement suggests that we intentionally choose to remain ignorant and indifferent. By disregarding the news and spending our money extravagantly, we turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. Atwood’s symbolism of bread urges us to support her argument. It is essential for countries to share this “bread” with all of humanity.
