The Globe and Mail, 1947 – 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
In Chapter 7, titled “The Globe and Mail, 1947,” the narrative shifts to a newspaper article reporting the death of Richard E. Griffen. The article states that Griffen, a wealthy industrialist and prospective political candidate, was found dead in his sailboat, the Water Nixie, at his summer residence “Avilion” in Port Ticonderoga. The cause of death is given as a cerebral hemorrhage, and police suspect no foul play. The article highlights Griffen’s distinguished career and his contributions during the war, and includes a brief statement from the Prime Minister. It also mentions his family: his wife Iris, his daughter Aimee, his sister Winifred Prior, and his late sister-in-law Laura Chase, who has recently published a posthumous novel. The funeral is to be held in Toronto.
Key Events
- Discovery of Richard Griffen’s body: Richard is found in his sailboat at the private jetty on the Jogues River after an unexplained absence of several days.
- Cause of death reported: A cerebral hemorrhage is given as the official cause; police rule out foul play.
- Public recognition: The article notes Griffen’s career, his role in supplying Allied troops, and his political ambitions.
- Family connections highlighted: The article mentions his wife Iris, daughter Aimee, sister Winifred, and the late Laura Chase, linking Laura’s recent novel to the family.
- Funeral announcement: The funeral will take place at the Church of St. Simon the Apostle in Toronto.
Character Development
- Richard E. Griffen (deceased): Though dead, the article constructs a public persona of Richard as a successful industrialist, a war contributor, and a political aspirant. This contrasts sharply with the private man revealed in earlier chapters. His death marks a turning point for the other characters.
- Iris Griffen: Now a widow, Iris’s position becomes central. The article presents her as a surviving wife, but readers know the complex marriage history, including Richard’s possible involvement in Laura’s death.
- Laura Chase (deceased): Referred to as the late Laura Chase, posthumously published. This plants a link between her novel and the Griffen story, hinting at buried truths.
- Winifred Prior: Mentioned as a noted socialite and Richard’s sister. She will likely become more influential in the aftermath.
- Aimee Griffen: The ten-year-old daughter, now fatherless, whose future is uncertain.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Media vs. Reality: The newspaper article presents a sanitized, respectful version of Richard’s life and death, omitting the darker undercurrents of abuse, control, and possible murder that Iris’s narrative suggests. This motif of public narrative hiding private truth runs throughout the novel.
- The Sailboat Water Nixie: The name “Water Nixie” suggests mythological water spirits, often associated with seduction and danger. The sailboat as the scene of death underscores the hidden perils in seemingly tranquil settings.
- Posthumous Legacy: Laura Chase’s novel being published after her death mirrors Richard’s death being publicly memorialized. Both characters are reshaped by narratives they no longer control.
- Cerebral Hemorrhage: A medical cause that could be natural or induced; the ambiguity invites suspicion and echoes the novel’s exploration of how deaths are explained away.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a critical pivot. It uses the form of a newspaper clipping to deliver the news of Richard’s death in a factual, detached manner, contrasting with Iris’s emotional and unreliable narration. The article forces readers to compare the public version of Richard with the private monster hinted at earlier. It also sets up the legal and social consequences: Winifred likely gains power over the family, and Iris may find herself more vulnerable or more free. Additionally, the mention of Laura Chase’s novel connects the two sisters’ fates and suggests that Laura’s story—presumably the book within the book—will now become a weapon or a revelation. The chapter underscores Atwood’s interest in how official narratives are constructed to obscure the truth.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the newspaper article shape the reader’s perception of Richard Griffen, and why might Atwood have chosen this medium to announce his death? The article presents Richard as an esteemed industrialist, a war hero, and a respected community figure—a stark contrast to the possessive, abusive husband readers have glimpsed through Iris’s narration. By using the objective tone of a newspaper, Atwood highlights the gap between public image and private reality. This technique forces readers to question the credibility of official accounts and to recognize that history is often written by those in power. It also mirrors the way Laura Chase’s novel may be a corrective to such sanitized narratives.
2. What clues in the article hint at unresolved tensions or hidden stories? The most striking clue is the mention of Laura Chase as “the late Laura Chase, who made her posthumous début as a novelist this spring.” This detail seems irrelevant to the obituary of Richard, but it links Laura’s death and her novel to the Griffen family. Additionally, the phrase “after an unexplained absence of several days” suggests that Richard’s whereabouts before his death were mysterious. The police’s quick conclusion of no foul play may feel premature, especially given the strained marriage and Laura’s suspicious death. The article also emphasizes Richard’s political ambitions, which he may have used to control his public image.
3. How does this chapter connect to the larger themes of memory and storytelling in The Blind Assassin? The chapter is a perfect example of how storytelling is used to create an official version of events. The newspaper constructs a memory of Richard that serves the family’s public reputation, much like Iris later constructs her own narrative through memoir. The article is a fixed, external record, whereas Iris’s account is fluid and subjective. This contrast raises questions about which story is more “true” and whether the dead can ever be known fully. Laura Chase’s novel adds another layer, offering a third perspective that may contradict both the article and Iris’s narration.
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