In "The Robber Bride," Margaret Atwood reflects on the nature of history as a constructed narrative shaped by selective choices and perspectives. She emphasizes that there are numerous ways to interpret historical events, and the pathways we choose to follow can seem arbitrary. This notion suggests that our understanding of history is subjective and influenced by various factors.

Atwood also acknowledges the significance of certain pivotal moments in history that profoundly alter the course of events. These definitive incidents mark transitions where the world shifts in a way that is irreparable, changing the context of human experience and memory. Such moments remind us that while history can be seen as fluid and constructed, it can also contain events with lasting impacts that redefine societies.