I sit at the little table, eating creamed corn with a fork. I have a fork and a spoon, but never a knife. When there's meat they cut it up for me ahead of time, as if I'm lacking manual skills or teeth. I have both, however. That's why I'm not allowed a knife.
The narrator reflects on a restrictive and patronizing environment, symbolized by the utensils provided to her. She has access to a fork and spoon but is denied a knife, suggesting that others perceive her as incompetent or incapable of handling certain tasks. This oversight reveals an underlying judgement about her abilities, despite her protestations of having both skills and physical capacity.
Her experience highlights themes of control and infantilization, emphasizing how societal rules limit her freedom and autonomy. The act of having her food prepared for her underscores a lack of personal agency, representing a broader commentary on how women are often treated in a patriarchal society. Through this, Atwood critiques the oppressive systems that define and restrict individual identities.
