The Handmaids Tale Essay

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In any society, laws and restrictions are placed upon the individuals living in it. These regulations can not only be a determinant of how one acts, but also how one perceives themselves. One issue that is undoubtedly going to happen to an individual is unfairness concerning one of society’s laws. Even if one is innocent of actions, regulations can cause an individual to feel as if that law is creating injustice. Does an individual have a right to oppose and rebel against perceived unfairness? Or shall one simply accept the unfairness thrust upon them? In The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, we meet a woman named Offred, who is a handmaid. She describes how her society is not always a positive influence towards the people living it. In connection to Offred’s opinion, in Plato’s Critio, Socrates argues that an individual needs to accept these regulations placed upon oneself. Both Socrates and Offred gives great reasoning behind their argument, but the connection found between both stories is that an individual needs to accept the terms given to them. To right against unfair regulations creates a huge controversy and can even cause injuries to a group or an individual. Society’s laws are not always positive influence however one needs to adapt life to make it more bearable. Laws are not always going to be fair and even if these laws interfere with individual needs, a person needs to corporate and find different alterations in order to survive. In The Handmaid’s Tale, a woman named Offred is introduced. Offred lives in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state that replaced the United States. (Atwood 21). In this state there is low reproduction rates so Handmaids are assigned to these exclusive couples in order... ... middle of paper ... ...tion is wrong, however Socrates reasons to Crito why he must comply with injustice given to him. “But, my dear Crito, why should we care so much about public opinion? Reasonable men, of whose opinion it is worth our while to think, will believe that we acted as we really did” (Plato 53). Socrates understands that what he did to receive execution was unjustly represented. However Socrates tries to explain to Crito the need to comply with his sentence for he does not care what society’s opinions are, as long as those who actually know what occurred understand that Socrates did nothing wrong. Those few people that know Socrates is not guilty of his crime is the compensation that Socrates lives with. As Crito goes into a more detailed argument about how Socrates needs to rebel against the higher power, Socrates patiently disputes back the reasons behind his compliance.

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