Red hair Quote by Margaret Atwood
““My hair is coming out from under my cap. Red hair of an ogre. A wild beast, the newspaper said. A monster. When they come with my dinner I will put the slop bucket over my head and hide behind the door, and that will give them a fright. If they want a monster so badly they ought to be provided with one. I never do such things, however. I only consider them. If I did them, they would be sure I had gone mad again. Gone mad is what they say, and sometimes Run mad, as if mad is a direction, like west; as if mad is a different house you could step into, or a separate country entirely. But when you go mad you don't go any other place, you stay where you are. And somebody else comes in. I don't want to be left by myself in this room. The walls are too empty, there are no pictures on them nor curtains on the little high-up window, nothing to look at and so you look at the wall, and after you do that for a time, there are pictures on it after all, and red flowers growing. I think I sleep.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, 2000
The narrator describes a fragmented, paranoid mental state, using vivid metaphor to explore isolation, fear of madness, and the yearning for meaning in emptiness.
In simple terms: A mind feeling trapped and crazy seeks pictures and stories to fill emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Find ways to create meaning and connection when feeling isolated.
Themes
isolation
mental health
creativity
perception
identity
Mood
melancholic
introspective
hopeful
Type
literary
reflective
psychological
When to use this quote
- writing therapy
- artistic expression
- seeking companionship
- mental health coping
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
psychosis
metaphor
existential dread
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you fill emotional emptiness in daily life?
- What symbols help you feel grounded?
A Different Perspective
The vivid metaphor may romanticize mental illness rather than address practical support.
