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Chapter 26: The Mail and Empire, 1934 — Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter consists entirely of a newspaper article from The Mail and Empire dated December 5, 1934. The article reports on a speech given by Mr. Richard E. Griffen, a Toronto financier and president of Royal Classic Knitwear, at an Empire Club meeting the previous evening. Griffen offers moderate praise for Prime Minister R.B. Bennett and strong criticism of his opponents.

Griffen expresses alarm over the government’s decision to parole Communist leader Tim Buck, who had been jailed for seditious conspiracy. He supports Bennett’s “iron heel” policy as necessary to handle subversion. Griffen also defends the deportation of immigrants under Section 98, claiming that those sent back to countries like Germany and Italy will now experience the tyranny they advocated. Regarding the Depression, he asserts that unemployment is partly due to idleness and that the economy will correct itself without government intervention. He warns against following the “soft socialism” of President Franklin Roosevelt and calls for forceful action against strikers and agitators. The speech receives loud applause.

Key Events

  • Richard E. Griffen delivers a speech to the Empire Club in Toronto.
  • He praises Prime Minister Bennett’s tough stance on communism.
  • He criticizes the government for paroling Tim Buck after a petition with 200,000 signatures.
  • He endorses the deportation of immigrants under Section 98.
  • He dismisses unemployment as partly voluntary and opposes socialism.
  • The audience applauds his remarks.

Character Development

The chapter introduces Richard E. Griffen, a wealthy Toronto financier and industrialist. His speech reveals him as a staunch conservative who supports state repression of political dissent, distrusts democratic reforms, and believes in laissez‑faire economics. Although he appears only through reported speech, his character embodies the era’s establishment voice, representing the interests of capital and the anti‑communist establishment. No other characters from the novel appear directly, but the article’s tone helps define the political landscape against which the main narrative unfolds.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Political Repression and the “Iron Heel”: The chapter dramatizes the use of state force to suppress communism and labour activism. Griffen’s approval of Bennett’s “ruthlessness” underscores a theme of authoritarian reaction during economic crisis.
  • Class Conflict and Economic Ideology: The speech contrasts the interests of the wealthy (Griffen) with the struggles of the unemployed and striking workers. The dismissal of unemployment as “idle from inclination” reflects a denial of systemic hardship.
  • Deportation and National Belonging: Support for deporting immigrants—especially to countries where they face internment—raises themes of exclusion and the harsh treatment of outsiders, foreshadowing later wartime anxieties.
  • The Role of the Press: The use of a newspaper article as the chapter’s sole content highlights how media shapes public opinion and serves as a historical document within the narrative.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter does not advance the novel’s personal plotlines but instead immerses the reader in the historical and political atmosphere of 1934 Canada. The article provides the ideological context for the era’s social conflicts: the Great Depression, the rise of left‑wing movements, and conservative backlash. Atwood’s decision to insert a seemingly authentic period document deepens the world‑building and invites readers to consider how political rhetoric influences real lives. For students, the chapter offers a prime example of how fiction can incorporate historical artifacts to enrich thematic depth.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What political positions does Richard E. Griffen advocate in his speech?
Griffen supports Prime Minister Bennett’s hardline anti‑communist policies, including the imprisonment of Tim Buck and the deportation of immigrants under Section 98. He opposes any form of socialism, including Roosevelt’s New Deal, and believes the Depression will end through natural market correction without government interference. He also endorses the use of force against strikers and outside agitators.

2. How does the newspaper article reflect the tense social climate of 1934?
The article captures a moment when conservative elites feared revolutionary upheaval. The reference to a 15,000‑person rally for a released communist leader, the petition signed by 200,000 people, and the ongoing deportations all indicate deep social divisions. Griffen’s speech—and the audience’s applause—show the willingness of powerful interests to push back against demands for change.

3. Why might Atwood choose to include a full newspaper article as a chapter?
Including the article lets the reader experience the era’s rhetoric firsthand without an authorial filter. It functions as a historical document that reveals the dominant ideologies of the time. It also contrasts with other characters’ experiences (such as those who might be affected by the policies Griffen supports), creating dramatic irony and highlighting the gap between elite opinion and lived reality.

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