The author of widely recognized works such as 'The Handmaid's Tale' and 'The Testaments', both successfully adapted into television series, received this honor in an event held in the city of Granada. Atwood, born in Ottawa on November 18, 1939, is a multifaceted figure encompassing poetry, novels, literary criticism, teaching, and political activism.
Throughout her career, Atwood has received numerous awards, including two Booker Prizes, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Franz Kafka Award, and the Princess of Asturias Award. She is also a co-founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize and has been actively involved with human rights organizations like Amnesty International and bird conservation through BirdLife International.
The honorary doctorate from the University of Granada (UGR) was proposed by the rector, Pedro Mercado, and the Department of English and German Philologies, with support from various faculties and the Institute for Women's and Gender Studies. The academic institution highlighted that this recognition celebrates 'a life dedicated and committed to literature' that has profoundly influenced studies in the field.
In her press statements, the author expressed her delight with the distinction and appreciated the opportunity to visit Granada for the first time, describing her experience as 'magnificent' and commending the kindness of the people she met.
The author defended the centrality of the humanities in a world dominated by technological acceleration, stating they are essential for teaching people to think, create, and understand others, and to question our own certainties.
During the ceremony, Professor Mercedes Díaz Dueñas praised Atwood as a figure embodying university values such as the integration of knowledge, critical thinking, and social commitment. Dr. Atwood, in turn, emphasized the importance of humanities for developing thought and mutual understanding, warning that a society unable to think clearly is heading 'towards the precipice'.
The rector of the UGR underscored that the writer's words 'resonate with particular strength' within the university, reaffirming the institution's commitment to comprehensive education that goes beyond technical skills, fostering critical capacity and ethical responsibility to develop citizens capable of dialogue and understanding the complexities of today's world.
