Bread by Margaret Atwood features 5 short stories, which place the reader in different scenarios. The stories all revolve around bread. The 1st story tells of the enjoyment of eating bread, yet it is also being wasting. In the 2nd story, a sibling is starving and so is the reader. Do you help your sibling or not? The 3rd story is in a prison setting. Should you tell an important secret? Or put hundreds at risk by keeping the secret? Bread is offered for cooperation, but this time many lives are at stake instead of one. The 4th story is about two sisters. One is rich and one is poor. The poor sister has children on the verge of starvation. The children's only chance for survival depends on a piece of bread. The bread is instead eaten by the husband of the rich sister. In the final story, you are put in the position of being granted bread. There is doubt whether or not this bread is too good to be true. .
All the stories were simple to understand because of their detail. The stories were manipulative as well. The wonder of a decision is complemented by the aid of visuals to create vulnerability. Four of the stories ask to imagine one's self in each scenario. In the 2nd story, the sibling's hunger is the least of worries. A description of her condition is given, "she is starving, belly bloated, flies on her eyes", the story says. To picture a sibling in such a horrid condition would make anyone feel terrible. With the aid of the visua I would have a tougher time deciding on whom to save. Another good example is in the 3rd story. Once again, a decision is put on the reader. A visual is painted again, "the piece of bread was brown and fresh and reminded you of sunlight falling across a wooden floor" and "it reminded you of a bowl, a yellow bowl that was once in your home" the story reads. A comforting home setting and tasty bread description is presented, which creates conflict in your mind.
