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The story, “The Tent”, written by Margaret Atwood, a Canadian Poet, is a short dark story, eloquently composed by the author. It depicts the simple, typical human response during a time of challenge. The text highlights how, in times of turmoil, people will do what they know best. In this case, the protagonist can only write to survive in the harsh climate that they are in. The story describes a whirlwind of emotions. Atwood effectively conveys the desperateness, hopes, and thoughts of a person going through a very difficult event. It also uses metaphors, allegory, and pathos to deliver a great story. This might interest anyone who is looking for short stories or might be fans of dark horror stories as well.

The story is about a writer who is stuck in a paper tent, writing in a desperate attempt to keep the invading monsters outside of the tent at bay. Atwood cleverly uses second-person narration in this text. It is a smart rhetorical choice in this case as it immediately transforms the readers inside of that situation. It essentially makes them understand the gravity of the situation better and therefore provokes more emotion out of them. The story begins with how the protagonist (the reader) was inside of a tent and uses very vivid descriptions to make them aware of their surroundings. In the beginning of the text, she even repeats some of the words such as, “It’s vast and cold outside, very vast, very cold;” (Atwood, 2006. Pg 143), this emphasis on these words creates a more sense of doom. In the second half, she mentions how there was a candle in the tent and how it was the only source of warmth. Therefore, methodically establishing the tent as a safe place and harboring a sense of hope and relief.

Atwood then goes on to describe the dangers that lie outside of the tent, cleverly lifting the veil and shifting the focus as to why the protagonist was in this predicament in the first place. She writes, “Some howl in grief because those they love to have died or been killed, others howl in triumph because they have caused the loved ones of their enemies to die or be killed (Atwood, 2006. Pg 144)”, with this she demonstrates how terrifying the open was. The author then infuses pathos to describe the emotional turmoil the protagonist was feeling during the time they were in the tent. “You’re frightened for yourself, but especially for those you love. You want to protect them. (Atwood, 2006. Pg 144)”, this creates a more emotional and sympathetic plot in the story and therefore invokes emotions. This also adds more depth to the narration. It also says a lot about the thought process of a human. It tells a story about selflessness and empathy. She goes on to mention how the protagonist was desperate to gather their loved ones inside the tent for protection. Atwood then reveals in the very next paragraph that the tent was made of paper, and it would not keep anyone out. This is strategic on her part. The manner in which she reveals this detail is clever as it is a big revelation and would shock the readers.

A huge chunk of the text depicts the emotional and yet desperate struggles of the protagonist and how they keep scribbling on the paper tent wall. It intricately incorporates a sense of nostalgia into the text as well, “you don’t want to attract the wrong sort of attention to those loved ones of yours, some of whom are not people at all, but cities and landscapes, towns and lakes and clothing and neighborhood cafes and long-lost dogs.” (Atwood, 2006. Pg 145), showing how the protagonist is writing about all sorts of things that he misses and remembers, some of which are places and even things such as clothing. Again, coming back to the point that, in danger, people think back at their previous memories as a way to self-soothe and comfort themselves. It also shows that in desperate times people would do anything they know just to survive. The story then takes a more dark and eerie tone when she begins describing how the people were nearing closer to the tent. She uses detailed description on purpose, “They’re coming closer, gathering together; they’re taking the time off from their howling to peer, to sniff around. (Atwood, 2006. Pg 146), this emphasizes the horror of the situation.

Towards the end of the text, Atwood shifts from narrating to the story to asking questions. This is an important part of the story. It might also be the conscience of the protagonist talking, voicing their concern as to why they were mindlessly writing on the tent when it was futile and not going to help with anything. Atwood cleverly writes the reasoning as to why a person might do that noting that the “doodling is a kind of armor”. This informs the readers of the motive of the frantic writings, and how the act of scribbling dissociated the writer from the outside. It is also interesting to note how Atwood cleverly started the story depicting how the tent was a source of protection but then shifts and shows that it felt like a prison to the protagonist later. She does this again by using the candle. The exact candle that was providing warmth was the reason why the tent caught fire and thus destroyed the protagonist’s only residence. Atwood purposefully did that to create the irony of the situation. “But you keep on writing anyway because what else can you do?” (Atwood, 2006. Pg 146), This reinstates the purpose of the text. It also points out that human beings are persistent and cannot just sit back and accept defeat. They would fight even if its futile, even if there is no point in doing so.

“The Tent” is a brilliant piece of writing. Atwood employed a lot of pathos throughout the text as well as very lucid descriptions. She plays on allegory as well. The people outside howling and inching toward the protagonist, while the protagonist keeps doodling on the wall could be interpreted as how people in desperate times would do anything to survive. She also uses rich imagery and descriptive language to effectively inform the readers of the situation the protagonist was in. Atwood incorporates a lot of emotional tones in the text, therefore engaging the audience. Her tone of writing is suspenseful, and it goes very well with the story.