Short Story's Essay In the short story, The Salt Garden, written by Atwood, Alma has a realization that the balance of power in her relationship with Theo and Mort can not last forever. There are many instances of this loss of this power balance throughout the story. In about the middle of this story, the narrator revels to the readers that both Theo and Mort possessed their homes and claimed them as property, much the same as they do with their women. At this point the narrator is displaying to the audience the inconsequential amount of control or power that Alma really posses in these partnerships. Towards the completion of the