In Margaret Atwood's "Surfacing," the narrator reflects on the struggle she endures, which she describes as a hidden and unacknowledged battle. Over time, the repeated confrontations take a toll on her spirit, leading her to abandon her attempts to resist. This sense of defeat transforms her understanding of survival, prompting her to seek escape and concealment as her primary means of coping.

This passage emphasizes the theme of internal conflict and the complexity of human emotions, portraying how persistent struggles can lead to a sense of powerlessness. The narrator's choice of retreat into invisibility conveys the idea that sometimes, the only way to cope with ongoing challenges is to withdraw from them entirely, highlighting the deeply personal nature of her experience.