In Margaret Atwood's "Two-Headed Poems," the quote highlights the duality of a woman's existence as both a figure of fear and desire. The woman, likened to a witch, is perceived as a threat during the day when societal norms dictate judgment, yet she becomes an object of intrigue and manipulation at night. This reflects the complexities of love and the dark side of human relationships.
The quote also illustrates the idea of projection, where the protagonist's pain and turmoil are unfairly attributed to this woman. Instead of recognizing internal struggles, the speaker shifts blame onto her, embodying the broader themes of gender dynamics and the fraught relationships between men and women in Atwood's work.