Handmaid's Tale Quotes

Humans are easily impressionable. They are susceptible to the physical and psychological pressures of society. One of the most common elements of encumbrance in today’s world is peer pressure. Whether it is within children, teens, or adults, oppression is everywhere. In the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, oppression of groups in society is more prevalent than any other element of a dystopian government. In the Republic of Gilead, the protagonist Offred is a Handmaid who serves her Commander and his wife by bearing children for the family. Her freedoms are completely restricted, as well as the Commander who presides over the family. There are specific sets of rules for everyone and every move is watched by the ever present

“Eyes” that are scattered throughout society. The recurring motif of maltreatment and persecution is universal in how women and men are treated in Gilead. This subjection of people is omnipresent in the rules and regulations set by the theocratic government. By looking at the motif of oppression, this reveals that males are equally oppressed in a dystopian society and demonstrates Atwood’s theme that strict government results in universal subjugation.
The subjugation of women in Gilead is a product of restrictions placed upon the reading rights of the gender. Old books and magazines are confiscated, banned and burned and the Bible is kept locked up so leaders of Gilead can interpret it in any way they desire. For example, Offred explains how valuable the Bible could be to women if they were allowed to read it in the following quote. “[The Bible] is an incendiary device: who knows what we’d make of it, if we ever got our hands on it?” (Atwood 87). In this selection, Offred realizes the power kept within the hands holding the Bible. It is filled with information that has been interpreted in unconventional ways. The word “incendiary” is defined as relating to a bomb, or being combustible. Its subversive properties would combust like an explosive or set fire which is relevant to what would occur if the Bible was given to a woman in Gilead. The Bible is revered and contains information of utmost significance. If it had been printed and widely read, many would question the ideals of Gilead and see through the utopian muse that has been created through a totalitarian-like administration. The oppressive nature of a dystopian government is demonstrated through the oppressive reading restrictions placed on women in Gilead.
In addition, keeping women uneducated and uninformed from the real truths in the world is another way that they are oppressed. Disallowing them to read, write, and carry out many common actions that are performed today demonstrates how strictly they are subjugated. In Gilead, having knowledge is power. In the following quote, Offred describes just how much capability is presented through having knowledge. “Knowing was temptation. What you don’t know won’t tempt you, Aunt Lydia used to say” (Atwood 195). Knowing what goes on and being educated about the ominous regime that rules over men and women is the most powerful piece of intelligence anyone could hold. Keeping women generally uninformed from the horrors occurring behind the scenes allows them to carry out a somewhat pleasant lifestyle, mindless to the realm outside of their door. Having knowledge would tempt the women to rebel and question authority. The “temptation” that would occur would fuel the fires of the female mind and encourage them to want to know more, which would provoke an uprising against the dystopian government. Due to this fact, the motif of oppression is demonstrated through a strict government that subjugates women.
Men’s sex lives are dictated by the oppressive government in Gilead. In a society centered around women, men are at the helm of everything. Men control what women do, but have to live under a set of rules themselves. Although men are exposed to much more information than women and are seen as more authoritative, their freedoms are limited as well. Men are not allowed to have unprotected sex and their main purpose is to fertilize women. Since men are prevented from liberating their sexual desires, the controlling nature that the government has on the act of sex and sexual intercourse forbids them from viewing porn, having protected sex, and masturbating as well. As quoted in the next statement, the effects of a sexually oppressed gender is represented. “I know they’re watching, these two men who aren’t yet permitted to touch women. They touch with their eyes instead and I move my hips a little...It’s like...teasing a dog with a bone held out of reach...I enjoy the power; power of a dog bone, passive but there. I hope they get hard at the sight of us and have to rub themselves against the painted barriers” (Atwood 22). In this short passage, the power of women over men is shown as Offred “moves her hips” when she walks away. The fact that the young sex-starved men are being teased just from the sight of Offred as she walks away represents the subjugation that men undergo in Gilead. Further down in the passage, Offred also states: “They will suffer, later, at night, in their regimented beds. They have no outlets now except themselves, and that’s a sacrilege” (22). Through this quote as well, the strict regulation of men’s sex lives is exhibited through the oppressive government. They do not have any other outlet other than the thought of Offred as she walked by them. Therefore, the motif of oppression is relevant in this selection because of the oppressive nature of a government that prevents men from divulging and acting upon their sexual desires.
The oppressive government in Gilead is also represented through the marriage rules that men are required to follow.

All marriages in Gilead are arranged by the wives and men do not have any say in who they may date, love, or marry. Many men who were married before the formation of Gilead had their families and wives broken up by the state. In the following quote, Offred makes reference to the arranged marriages that men are obliged to participate in. “The fact is that I’m his mistress. Men at the top have always had mistresses, why should things be any different now? The arrangements aren’t quite the same, granted” (Atwood 163). This quote demonstrates the “arrangements” made for the men and how they must be followed although some may bend the rules. For example, Offred and her Commander’s secret love affair. Offred makes reference to this through stating that some men have “mistresses” and how she takes pride in the fact that she is “his mistress.” Additionally, the oppressiveness of Gilead’s government is also represented through the prevention of marriage expressed through the character Nick. As quoted by Offred, “He lives here, in the household, over the garage. Low status: he hasn’t been issued a woman, not even one. He doesn’t rate: some defect, lack of connections. But he acts as if he doesn’t know this, or care...he’s not servile enough” (Atwood 18). This quote sheds light on the marriage rules that men are required to follow. Nick is not allowed to have a woman because he has “some defect” or “lack of connections” and essentially is not good enough to have a wife. The subjection that Nick undergoes is represented through his inability to acquire a wife. This is how the strict rules of government and marriage oppresses men in a dystopian

society.
The oppression of men and women in The Handmaid’s Tale is manifested in the striking hand of Gilead’s theocracy. In a government ran predominantly by men, the sovereignty of all individuals is in jeopardy. Not only are women are oppressed in many ways, but men are equally oppressed because they are required to submit to the rules that they created. In marriage, clothing, and even social status, the subjugation of an entire population is constituted in the totalitarian rule of a dystopian society. The motif of oppression reveals that all are oppressed in Gilead, which also demonstrates that strict government results in universal subjugation. The tight yoke of Gilead’s dictatorial government frequently represses the individual through rigid rules and guidelines. Even in current times, widespread oppression and maltreatment of groups of people are relevant to the overbearing nature of Gilead’s jurisdiction. For example, struggles with the Civil Rights movement in 1964 and segregation of blacks and immigrants have shown a universal struggle against the oppressive nature of a higher power. Consequently, society as a whole has strived to overcome the burden that the government imposes. Specifically, change in society and especially government is slow and tedious. Instead of being impressionable as men and women and abiding by rules handed down by generations, everyone should lead by diversity and try to make a change to make society more suitable for all.