The imprint left on her mind by the long famished body that had seemed in the darkness to consist of nothing by sharp crags and angles, the memory of its painfully-defined almost skeletal ribcage, a pattern of ridges like a washboard, was fading as rapidly as any other transient impression on a soft surface.
The protagonist in "The Edible Woman" by Margaret Atwood grapples with her memories of a malnourished body, which has created a lasting, albeit fading impression in her mind. This body, seen in darkness, was perceived as a collection of sharp edges and skeletal features that left a significant mark on her consciousness. The description highlights the struggle between vivid memories and their transitory nature, showcasing how intense experiences can blur over time.
Atwood’s use of visceral imagery underscores the themes of identity and the physical form, as the memory of the body transforms into something less defined and tangible. The ribcage's representation as a pattern of ridges evokes a sense of discomfort and awareness of the fragility of human existence. This passage encapsulates the struggle embedded in the narrative, where bodily experiences inform personal identity and the impermanence of those impressions in memory.
