Abstract

“The Man from Mars,” a short story by Margaret Atwood, is a potent critique of Westerners’ common misconceptions and stereotypes about Asians that prompt the exclusion of the Asian hero from Canadian society. Atwood intentionally challenges the deeply ingrained prejudices against individuals from Eastern cultures in Western epistemes by enveloping the unnamed hero in mystery. Drawing on Edward Said’s Orientalism, the study debunks recurrent stereotypes concerning the hero’s “peculiarities” by analyzing their external triggers and highlighting their universal nature. It promotes a deeper comprehension of the intricate interplays between personal experiences, cultural adaptations, and psychological variables.

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