Each of the characters in Alias Grace plays such an important part that they have the ability to change the whole outcome of the novel. These male characters have shaped Grace into the character that she is and had a huge impact on her life and her personality. There are three milestones in Graces life that define her life and personality. The death of her mother which results in Grace having to grow up at a young age and being forced my Mr. Marks her father- to get a job. Another would be the moving to Mr.Kinnears household and having to meet James McDermott who then includes her in the death of Nancy and Mr.Kinnear. Lastly, the meetings Grace had with Dr.Simon Jordan, who encourages Grace to speak to him about her past to unravel the truth of the past, also Jamie Walsh who asks Graces hand in marriage after she has been institutionalized.
After migrating into Canada, Grace was faced big responsibilities as her father made her go into the workforce to help support the family. Mr.Marks had a big influence on Grace and her upbringing. He was an alcoholic and often beat up Mrs. Marks and Grace herself. He was very harsh with his words, such as calling Graces oldest sister an ungrateful slut.(Atwood, ) He continued to treat her harshly even after the death of her mother and depended on Grace too much. In result, Grace was forced to get into a work field and carry on responsibilities of an adult. Children with such upbringings often suffer from psychological problems and if Grace really did commit the murder of Nancy and Mr.Kinnear, her tragic childhood and abusive father would have been the cause.
After accepting a job at Mr.Kinners, Grace was introduced to James McDermott, who was also another servant to Mr.Kinnear. James McDermott was the cause of Graces long years in the penitentiary. Even if Grace was guilty and did help McDermott with the murders of Nancy and Mr.Kinnear, she would not have had the courage to do it alone, therefore would not have gone to jail for almost half her life. James McDermott was a very vulgar and discontented character and his attitude towards life was a proof of this. (Atwood, ) He had a lot of influence on Grace and always talked to her in a manner which was not appropriate. He might have also threatened and brainwashed her into helping him with the murders which then resulted in punishment for both. Though James McDermott had gotten the harsher punishment which was a death sentence, Grace was the one who had to live many years of her life being looked down by people and judged by everyone around her.
Dr. Simon Jordan, a man of culture and sophistication and possessing the greatest sympathy for Grace's plight, found a way to make Grace talk and he encouraged her into revealing her past. He tried different techniques to unravel the past of Grace Marks and figure out the murders. He would bring in a different vegetable every time they met, just to get her to speak a few words, and eventually they built a relationship where they Grace was able to tell him everything. With the help of Dr.Jordan, Graces story was out in the open and this was one of the reasons Graces release was a possible. Though there were others whom were trying to prove her innocence, Dr. Jordan was the one to get through Grace and get the details no else knew.
The male characters in Alias Grace have had a huge impact Grace Markss life and they all contribute to her life all in different ways. Grace goes through big changes in her life and these are caused mostly by the male characters in Atwoods novel. The three important parts of her life; starting her job as a servant, going to penitentiary for the murders of Nancy and Mr.Kinnear and her pardon define who she is as a person. All of these male characters have formed Graces life.
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