1. The different settings within the Republic of Gilead (Formerly Cambridge, Massachusetts) are: The Colonies where Handmaids are sent if committed a crime, the Commander’s House, the Commander’s wife’s garden which she took care of on her free time, the Gymnasium (Red Center) where the handmaids were re-educated, the Wall where criminals were executed, Jezebel’s (A brothel), and the stores located throughout Gilead (i.e.. Soul Scrolls) which the handmaids shopped at. “I go out by the back door, into the garden, which is large and tidy: a lawn in the middle, a willow, weeping catkins; around the edges, the flower borders, in which the daffodils are now fading and the tulips are opening their cups, spilling out color. The tulips are red, a darker crimson towards the stem, as if they have been cut and are beginning to heal there” (Atwood, 45) Atwood purposely chooses a “domestic” setting over a political or religious because by doing so, the reader can relate to the plot, in particular the character of Offred. …show more content…
Through the perspective of Offred, the reader can be able to relate to the novel more, as Offred acts as a regular individual in society. I think The Handmaid’s tale couldn’t have been set in any other country besides the US because of the subjects of feminism and women’s rights, along with abortion and homosexuality, are all impactful topics that have brought about much change in America currently. The upbringing of Gilead doesn’t seem too unrealistic as one such thing could occur in the US. 2. I think some of Atwood’s character’s surprise me with their insight or behaviour, such as Ofglen and of her role in the Mayday Resistance, which contrasts her seemingly discreet personality, and Serena Joy, and her sympathy she shows towards Offred near the end of the novel. However, the Commander strikes me as the most surprising because of his seemingly forbidden desires to play Scrabble and read magazines, which were part of society before Gilead. This shows that despite his prominent role in Gilead, and how he such little remorse, he still succumbs to the simple desires of what is now prohibited. “He doesn’t say why he wants to play Scrabble with me. I don’t ask him. He merely takes a box out from one of the drawers in his desk and opens it up.” (Atwood, 165) 3. I believe that the relationship that Offred had with Luke was influential to the Handmaid and to the development of her character. Because Offred has numerous flashbacks of her and Luke, it shows that Offred has an outlook regarding a “life after Gilead” where she can be reunited with Luke and her child, even though she has no information regarding the whereabouts of both characters. Offred even uses the butter for her appearance, in hopes that she may one day reunite with her husband. This shows the faith that Offred has, as even with as cruel and brutal a situation she is experiencing in Gilead, she has hope in returning to her previous life. “What I feel towards them is blankness. What I feel is that I must not feel. What I feel is partly relief, because none of these men is Luke. Luke wasn't a doctor. Isn't.” (Atwood, 70) 4. I think that Serena Joy is a sympathetic character. Serena seems to be a fairly sympathetic character as the reader learns about the destruction of her marriage and the fact that, “This idea hangs between us, almost visible, almost palpable: heavy, formless, dark; collusion of a sort, betrayal of a sort. She does want that baby.” (Atwood 257). She also offers to help Offred get pregnant by arranging a meeting with Nick because she knows her husband is sterile. Although she does this selfishly-she wants a child badly-she does help Offred by doing this as Offred has only a limited amount of time to provide the Commander with a child. 5.
This quote relates to the novel because a dystopian society full of power, such as Gilead, can bring about a revolution from its inhabitants due to corruption. Not only can this be seen in the novel, but it can be seen in the film “V for Vendetta”, where an authoritative government strives to bring about justice, but in fact brings a terroristic upbringing, which ultimately leads to the demise of this government. Likewise, in “Handmaid’s Tale” the totalitarian government brings about a revolution of sorts, regarding the Mayday Resistance. “Moira had power now, she'd been set loose, she'd set herself loose. She was now a loose woman. I think we found this frightening. Moira was like an elevator with open sides. She made us dizzy. Already we were losing the taste for freedom, already we were finding these walls secure. In the upper reaches of the atmosphere you'd come apart, you'd vaporize, there would be no pressure holding you together.” (Atwood,
133) 6. Sensuous: “The stains on the mattress. Like dried flower petals. Not recent. Old love; there's no other kind of love in this room now. When I saw that, the evidence left by two people, of love or something like it, desire at least, at least touch, between two people now perhaps old or dead, I covered the bed again and lay down on it.” (Atwood, 57). This sign of love (or at least sex) depresses the narrator and she must lie down. She does so on the bed where other people's love was expressed but where she will never experience it. Indeed, at this point, she questions whether she'll ever know love again. This quote is essential to the novel because it drives home the idea that because of Gilead, Offred has no purpose in the concept of love and expressing that very same love with sexual intercourse. Violence: “A sigh goes up from us; despite myself I feel my hands clench. It is too much, this violation. The baby too, after what we go through. It’s true, there is a bloodlust; I want to tear, gouge, rend.” (Atwood, 281). In this quote, Offred and all the Handmaids participate in the Salvaging, where a man is to be punished for committing rape. In the anger of all the Handmaids, they collectively seek revenge on this man by assaulting him. This quote shows the anger bundled up inside the Handmaids, and how they no longer what to seek passivity, and would rather take action upon the totalitarian government.
Gender inequality has existed all around the world for many centuries. Women were seen as property of men and their purpose of existence was to provide for the men in their lives. Men would play the role of being the breadwinners, whereas women played the role of being the caregiver of the family and household and must obey the men around her. The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood portrays how women in society are controlled and demeaned by men, and how men feel they are more superior over women.
Here, imagery is used to create an image of red tulips in the garden, and shows the reader their connection to fertility and the handmaids in Gilead
Offred from The Handmaid's Tale uses different tactics to cope with her situation. She is trapped within a distopian society comprised of a community riddled by despair. Though she is not physically tortured, the overwhelming and ridiculously powerful government mentally enslaves her. Offred lives in a horrific society, which prevents her from being freed. Essentially, the government enslaves her because she is a female and she is fertile. Offred memories about the way life used to be with her husband, Luke, her daughter, and her best friend Moira provides her with temporary relief from her binding situation. Also, Offred befriends the Commander's aide, Nick. Offred longs to be with her husband and she feels that she can find his love by being with Nick. She risks her life several times just to be with Nick. Feeling loved by Nick gives her a window of hope in her otherwise miserable life.
Offred learns to accept reality and maintain her sanity, but Atwood comments on the perils of doing so. In some ways, this story tells not of a far-off future, but a tale already heard before, the tale of the modern world.
To convey her argument, Atwood uses the point of view of a women named Offred to demonstrate the morals and struggles of women in this male-dominated society known as Gilead. Men have always been given the most important positions in the world whether it be at home or in politics. Just like a match, all we need is something to spark it to bring about the evil of Atwood’s dystopian fantasy into reality.
The Handmaids Tale is a poetic tale of a woman's survival as a Handmaid in the male dominated Republic of Gilead. Offred portrayed the struggle living as a Handmaid, essentially becoming a walking womb and a slave to mankind. Women throughout Gilead are oppressed because they are seen as "potentially threatening and subversive and therefore require strict control" (Callaway 48). The fear of women rebelling and taking control of society is stopped through acts such as the caste system, the ceremony and the creation of the Handmaids. The Republic of Gilead is surrounded with people being oppressed. In order for the Republic to continue running the way it is, a sense of control needs to be felt by the government. Without control Gilead will collapse.
Within freedom should come security. Within security should come freedom. But in Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood, it seems as though there is no in between. Atwood searches throughout the novel for a medium between the two, but in my eyes fails to give justice to a woman’s body image. Today's society has created a fear of beauty and sexuality in this image. It is as though a beautiful woman can be just that, but if at the same time, if she is intelligent and motivated within acting as a sexual being, she is thought of as exploiting herself and her body. Atwood looks for a solution to this problem, but in my eyes fails to do so.
The ending of the novel is intentionally lacking direction because the author wants the reader to ponder its ending. Were it not for the fact that we, the readers, know that Offred lives to tell her story, we would be left like the people of Gilead, without hope. However, Margaret Atwood's point is that just as naturally as a caterpillar weaves its cocoon to grow wings and fly free, so to must the wings of women be.
...t create a feeling of disorientation towards the reader. Atwood does this to enable us to understand just how disjointed life is in Gilead. Offred continuously involves the reader, she directly addresses us and anticipates our response and even feels she has to justify some of her actions, she is a self-conscious narrator. Atwood is also preparing us for the revelation in the Historical notes that Offred is recounting her story into a tape recorder. The story is open ended; we are not told what exactly happened to Offred, Atwood does this in order to have more of an impact on the reader.
"The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is a dystopia about a world where unrealistic things take place. The events in the novel could never actually take place in our reality." This is what most people think and assume, but they're wrong. Look at the world today and in the recent past, and there are not only many situations that have ALMOST become a Gilead, but places that have been and ARE Gileadean societies. We're not in Kansas any more, Dorothy!
While The Handmaid's Tale conveys the oppression of women, it also reveals the significant role women have in society. Atwood gets the point across that just as they can be oppressed by men, women can equally oppress themselves. Through Offred's eyes, comparisons between today's society and the possible consequences of one's attitudes are examined. The Handmaid's Tale slowly uncovers the many facets of women and the vital role they have as members of society.
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel in which Atwood creates a world which seems absurd and near impossible. Women being kept in slavery only to create babies, cult like religious control over the population, and the deportation of an entire race, these things all seem like fiction. However Atwood's novel is closer to fact than fiction; all the events which take place in the story have a base in the real world as well as a historical precedent. Atwood establishes the world of Gilead on historical events as well as the social and political trends which were taking place during her life time in the 1980's. Atwood shows her audience through political and historical reference that Gilead was and is closer than most people realize.
Within Gilead there is an authority that is much higher than is necessary or healthy for any nation. With such power comes corruption, which then spreads throughout the whole of society, slowly obliterating the nation’s people. This corruption of a powerful government can only be controlled by the force of the people which, in the Handmaid’s tale, is nearly non-existent, thus giving the militant Eyes – as well as the rest of the Gilead government – a stronger hold on the people by their indifference. The Eyes especially have an intimidating vigor which holds down the people by means of threat of punishment, in addition to the allusion of freedom to keep the people pacified. As stated in the novel, “A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze.” (Atwood 165). This shows how the government keeps ultimate control over the nation by way of intimidation, allusion, and roles in society. Status and class is vital in Gilead, showing the world who one is by their uniform, speaking louder than any voice. Of course, Gilead has given these roles in the society as another way to control the people, but due to their passivity, everyone decides to go along with it, never questioning the power of this supposed republic. This goes to illustrate just how corrupt a government can be if not frequently checked by its
In Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood creates a society of oppression in which she redefines oppression in common culture. Gilead is a society characterized by highly regulated systems of social control and extreme regulation of the female body. The instinctive need to “protect and preserve” the female body is driven by the innate biological desires of the men. The manipulation of language, commodification, and attire, enhances the theme of oppression and highlights the imbalance of power in the Gilead society.
... is only alive in her dreams, she aches for her and fears that her child will not remember or even she is dead. Atwood writes about motherhood, and the irony lies in the fact that Offred did not have an ideal relationship with her mother even though Gilead’s system was not established, yet Offred who is separated for her daughter shows affection towards her child by constantly thinking and dreaming about her. Even though Offred felt pressured from her mother, she still misses her, ‘I want her back’ and she even reminisces about when she used to visit her and Luke.