Cat's Eye and The Stone Carvers

     The lead characters of Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye and Jane Urquhart's The Stone Carvers devote their lives to the pursuit of a most unattainable matter: the truth. Both women experience a life of isolation as they avoid the pain of living in the "real" world. Their lives are greatly affected by those of close friends and lovers, and their desire to realize themselves ultimately results in dependence on a male figure. The heroines - Elaine Risley and Klara Becker - search for truth and self-actualization, and their pursuit is greatly affected by how they deal with emotions, their relationships and the use of art to overcome adversity and find closure.

    Each of the female protagonists desperately attempts to avoid any threats to their emotional stability. In Atwood's Cat's Eye, Elaine Risley grows...