Historical Context : based on the mysterious real-life murders of Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery, in 1843, Canada. Both James McDermott and Grace Marks were also real people.
In the year 1859, Grace Marks, a convicted murderess in the eyes of the people of Kingston, is still imprisoned after eight years. She now works as a servant in the house of the prison governor as a seamstress, making quilt. Grace and James McDermott were accused of murdering Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. In Chapter 2, the public version of the murders is presented through a poem, which portrays Grace as a jealous and manipulative woman who persuaded McDermott to commit the crimes.
However, the truth about Grace’s involvement remains uncertain. Grace herself claims that she cannot clearly remember what happened because the events took place when she was still young and traumatized. Into this mystery comes Dr. Simon Jordan, an American doctor who becomes interested in Grace’s mental condition and begins interviewing her in hopes of discovering whether she is truly guilty, innocent, or psychologically disturbed.
The difference between Dr. Bannerling and Dr. Simon Jordan’s examinations is important because it shows the contrast between the old and modern approaches to mental health, which was still uncommon in Canada at that time. Dr. Bannerling treats Grace harshly and quickly judges her as dangerous or insane, while Dr. Simon Jordan tries to understand her mind, memories, and trauma more carefully. Through their different methods, Grace Marks becomes both a mental health study case, whether she is truly insane or sane, and also a criminal case that continues to question whether she is really guilty of the murders or not. Because of Grace’s good behavior while working in the governor’s house, some people there begin to believe that she deserves justice and another chance in life and return to society.
I am enjoying this novel very much. Through this story, Margaret Atwood wants readers to see how difficult life was for women at that time. Women often became victims of men’s selfishness and social power. I feel sympathy for Nancy Montgomery and Mary Whitney though Dr. Simon Jordan himself finds it difficult to prove whether Mary Whitney was truly a real person or only part of Grace’s memories and imagination. They aretruly victims, but not completely innocent, they do not fully understand how dangerous the world is, especially for poor women at that time. They are easily influenced by men and emotional decisions.
Atwood also intentionally makes Grace an unreliable narrator, so readers can never be completely certain about what is true, Compared to Nancy and Mary, Grace seems more intelligent, careful, and better at surviving because she observes people closely and hides her true thoughts.
The novel is based on true events, and we can search what happened at the end of the real case. But, I feel bewitched by Grace. Margaret Atwood makes her mysterious and sympathetic, so it is hard not to care about her. Even though the truth is still uncertain, I feel Grace deserved a better.
I almost forgot to mention the quilt patterns. They become an important symbol throughout the whole novel. 
And since that time I have thought, why is it that women have chosen to sew such flags (quilts) and then to lay them on the tops of beds? For they make the bed the most noticeable thing in a room. And then I have thought, it’s for a warning. Because you may think a bed is a peaceful thing, Sir, and to you it may mean rest and comfort and a good night’s sleep. But it isn’t so for everyone; and there are many dangerous things that may take place in a bed. It is where we are born, and that is our first peril in life; and it is where the women give birth, which is often their last. And it is where the act takes place between men and women that I will not mention to you, Sir, but I suppose you know what it is; and some call it love, and others despair, or else merely an indignity which they must suffer through. And finally beds are what we sleep in, and where we dream, and often where we die.
Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬✬ (5/5)
Title : Alias Grace
Author : Margaret Atwood
Publisher : Anchor Books
Year : 1997 (First Published in 1996 )
Format / Pages : Softcover / 468 pages
ISBN :
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