ABSTRACT

Lady Oracle glances comically at the political but it is certainly not a political novel in the narrower sense of that term. Atwood's commentary on the economic realm is also couched in comedy. The economic activity she focuses on, the publishing industry, is, however, one she took quite seriously. Atwood depicts the publishing industry as concerned less about art and more about profit. In addition, unlike more overtly political novels, Lady Oracle does refer to Canadian Prime Ministers Mackenzie King and Trudeau in the text. Atwood proceeds with Joan's story and gives it not one but three comic resolutions. Joan's awareness and desire to get beyond the gothic romance is reflected in her desire to write a nationalistic gothic, which would do important political work, and her desire to turn to science fiction at the novels end.