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' The Handmaid's Tale: A Dystopian Society?

807 Words4 Pages

How would you feel if you were controlled by a society? In the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, Gilead is a dystopian society where people are told what to do and what not to do. Margaret Atwood demonstrates that restricted expression leads to rebellious actions by showing the rules being broken by the Commanders and Offred’s relationship as it’s developing. Although, society tells them they are restricted to certain actions, they disregard these rules and do what they desire. The Commander and Offred’s relationship is non-existent at first, but then it develops over time. They start initiating a secret affair in his office, an action that is forbidden in Gilead. They are not allowed to have any communication, yet both of them break the rule by commencing a relationship. Offred 's demonstrates her feeling of guilt towards Serena Joy in this quote, “ I felt I was an intruder, in a territory that ought to have been hers. [...] I was taking something away from her, although she didn 't know it. I was filching” (Atwood 26). Offred perceives her actions are rebellious. She compares herself to an intruder, which she is because she’s invading Serena’s territory. Rebellious actions are revealed through the Commander and Offred’s affair. Despite the fact that having a relationship with the Commander is prohibited, Offred still sees him because she cherishes the feeling of touch and communication between them. Atwood emphasizes another violation throughout this quote, “I hold the glossy

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