comment on style

Margaret Atwood tells her short story collection “Stone Mattress: Nine Wicked Tales” in language that is simple and straightforward. This is done for at least three reasons. First, the stories were all written between 2004 and 2014, a time in history when language used was casual and uncomplicated. Second, the majority of the stories (except “Lusus Naturae”) take place in the 2000s, so it is only natural and fitting that the language employed be reflective of the times in which the stories take place. Thirdly, as this is a collection of short stories, an economy of simple and straightforward language is necessary for the author to tell her stories and make her points in relatively short format.