Margaret Atwood's "The Blind Assassin" highlights how living alone can lead to a neglect of dining etiquette, a phenomenon she refers to as "vertical eating." When individuals are without companionship, the motivation to prepare and enjoy meals properly diminishes, as the lack of social interactions often removes the pressure to maintain culinary standards.

This decline in care for meal presentation and enjoyment can have broader implications. Atwood suggests that when one aspect of life, such as eating habits, falls into disarray, it can lead to disorder in other parts of life as well, indicating a deep connection between habits and overall well-being.