Book Analysis: A Handmaid's Tale

A Handmaid's Tale
The book “A Handmaid’s Tale” takes place in the Republic of Gilead which is separated from the rest of the United States. The Republic of Gilead has its own governmental power. The book is narrated by Offred, a handmaid, who used to have a normal life before being forced to be taken from all her women rights. Handmaids are removed from their freedom and are being controlled by their commanders. They do not have access to education or any other resources. The freedom of speech is taken away from the Handmaids and any others without power. There are things that they are not allowed to ever say and also things they are expected to say. The Gilead’s government has control over everyone in this society. In the Gilead’s government,

Offed tells us that, “We learned to lip-read, our heads flat on the beds, turned sideways, watching each other's mouths. In this way we exchanged names from bed to bed: Alma. Janine. Dolores. Moira. June (4).” Although they were prohibited from using their real names they found ways to undermine the authority and use their real names. The Handmaids cannot use their real names and have to use the names of their commanders. Their identity is being controlled because every Handmaid has to identify them as the commander’s name. They were taken from their own identity and given new ones. Offred says “My name isn't Offred, I have another name, which nobody uses now because it's forbidden. I tell myself it doesn't matter, your name is like your telephone number, useful only to others; but what I tell myself is wrong, it does matter. I keep the knowledge of this name like something hidden, some treasure I’ll come back to dig up, one day (Atwood 84).” She has hope that it will end some day and she can then use her real name. She compares her name with a phone number to show that now her name does not hold or represent much anymore. With time people start to take their new names or identity. They do not allow communication between certain groups like the Marthas and the Handmaids because by doing so it would prevent any sort of resistance from both if there is any

The Handmaids have to wear red dress, red shoes, and everything else red. Offred states, “Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us (8).” They have to dress in a certain way enforced by the government to serve as their new identity. In other word she says that the color red becomes what they are known as. They are also being controlled with language that puts women into categories. They are categorized as Handmaids, Econowives, and Marthas. Their names are the purpose that they serve in the Republic of Gilead. Just like Offred was forced to embrace a new identity so is everyone else. For example the Econowives are the wives of the poor men and their job is to become a Handmaid, Martha, or a Wife. It is like they do not have a choice because based on their social status they have to do what they are