Exploring Relational Dynamics of Grace Marks in Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace Through Relational-Cultural Theory

Abstract

Considered one of the most esteemed contemporary authors in Canada and the twentieth century, Margaret Atwood’s ninth novel Alias Grace is a historical fiction based on a real murder case that occurred in nineteenth-century Canada. This study explores the relational dynamics of the protagonist, Grace Marks, with her fellow servants Mary Whitney and Nancy Montgomery through the lens of Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT). Founded by psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Jean Baker Miller, RCT posits that humans are inherently relational and grow only through mutual connections across the lifespan. RCT considers the Western ideal of an independent, self-sufficient individual harmful, as it fosters isolation and disrupts mutuality. Additionally, patriarchal and classist structures are criticized as they reinforce hierarchy, control, inequality, and power-over dynamics, hindering the potential growth-fostering relationships. Through close textual analysis, this article indicates that Grace’s connection with Mary embodies five outcomes of a growth-fostering relationship. In contrast, Grace’s connection with Nancy is marked by chronic disconnections, resulting in the reversal of five good things: decreased energy, an inability to take action, a low sense of worth, confusion, and isolation. By portraying Grace’s relational experiences, the study also elucidates how the male-dominated and hierarchical society of the nineteenth century obstructs the potential growth-fostering relationships for her because within this society, mutuality and empathy are often replaced by fear and control. Therefore, Grace adopts strategies of disconnection to protect herself, but they also deepen her isolation. Viewed through the lens of RCT, Alias Grace becomes more than a narrative of crime and mystery, given its focus on the transformative potential of growth-fostering relationships and the detrimental effects of disconnections on psychological growth, particularly for women living within restrictive social systems.