Theme Of Patriarchy In The Handmaid's Tale

The United States of America; the former powerhouse of the world, became a country that is taken over by religion and no longer controlled by a democratic society. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood follows the perspective of Offred who showcases the struggle of living and the oppression the Handmaids go through in their daily lives. While it is arguable that freedom is given if they comply to rules, that is not directly true, the Handmaids live in harsh conditions that restrict the women of their rights; where they are objectified as means for reproduction, are being oppressed by being unable to voice out their opinion freely without punishment, and are under patriarchy.
In the novel, the reproductive rates have been dropped suddenly.

Because of this, a common lesson taught by the society of America pursues the biblical perspective where sexual intercourse is strictly only used for reproduction. This is a lesson that is taught by Aunt Lydia to the Handmaids, saying it is their duty. An example of this occurs when the commander is trying to reproduce with the protagonist of the novel, Offred.
“My red skirt is hitched up to my waist, though no higher. Below it the commander is fucking...I do not say making love, because this is not what he’s doing. Copulating too would be inaccurate, because it would imply two people and only one is involved...There wasn’t a lot of choice but there are some, and this is what I chose...This is not recreation, even for the Commander. This is serious business. The Commander, too, is doing his duty” (Atwood 107-108).
Offred is used as an object for reproduction only. There is no “love” involved; the commander is merely using her because the state says so, as offred states. Both parties are forced to procreate; except the man performs this because it is his job, but Offred performs this because if she does not, she will be killed. This shows the objectification of Handmaids, because they are seen as a job that men have to deal with to fulfill their quota, with no other option for the Handmaids.

Oppression is a very serious act indeed, it is a type of injustice that prevents the oppressed from voicing out their opinion and limits ideas to the majority. In The Handmaid’s Tale this is demonstrated through the oppression of the Handmaids. To continue the dominance of men, the males oppress women to prevent the minorities from overthrowing the capitol. This is established through many different acts in the novel such as the silencing of women. “The Republic of Gilead, said Aunt Lydia, knows no bounds. Gilead is within you. Doctors lived here once, lawyers, university professors. There are no lawyers any more, and the university is closed” (Atwood 26). Offred states that in the past, that doctors, lawyers and university professors use to live in the area but lawyers do not live here anymore. This hints at the fact that there is no debate on unjust issues. If lawyers still existed; then the oppressed women would try to have justice on the unfair conditions of the totalitarian country. Gilead removed the law; to prevent any action that argues the right to be free or equal.

The structure of Gilead is a force controlled by males which falls under patriarchy.

In the household, the Commander is the most powerful, with a servant assigned to him. A strong argument of patriarchy is the name given to the main character itself. “My name isn’t Offred, I have another name, which nobody uses now because it’s forbidden.” (Atwood 99). The names that the women are given are the names of the Commander. Offred means of Fred, the commander. This shows the discrimination of Handmaids through the stripping of rights, and also shows the reader which gender is the authoritative figure. It is clearly shown that there is a clear line that shows the power of men and the submissiveness of women.

Indeed, The Handmaid’s Tale is all about the struggle of living and the oppression the Handmaids go through in their daily lives. The Handmaid’s tale demonstrates feminist theory because the novel showcases Oppression, Objectification and Patriarchy towards females which are all evident themes. Margaret Atwood presents this ideology through many situations which include but, not limited to the following; The inability to voice out the opinion, the dominance of men in the household, and the objectification of women where they are seen only as means for

reproduction.