The Handmaid's Tale Analysis

Another technique that was used is when she parodies the way traditional families’ wives take on the names of their husband. In the story, handmaids are named “Of” plus the name of their commander, criticizing how changing the surnames makes it seem like the men are the owners of the women. The way these issues were satirized in the story are effective because of the role of the main character. It would be difficult to not sympathize with a victim of a totalitarian society that oppresses women to a much greater extent than to that of men. It is important to remember that the purpose of creating dystopian literature is not to prophesize but to warn us of what could

This new environment forces women into certain mentalities. They have become so damaged that they break the rules in order to regain their sanity a bit. Handmaids are not given lotion as part of the law and resorted buttering “[the] skin to keep it soft”(Atwood 96). They are breaking rules only for vanity. It’s their only way to keep going and have beauty.

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Mrs. Dubose’s suffering helps Jem and Scout learn about perseverance, virtuous characteristics and how much she really desires to do the right thing. Without realizing it, Mrs. Dubose shows Jem and Scout how to do what they know will be hard, combat fear with courage, and standing up for the right thing. She teaches them by her actions not by words without ever leaving her own bed. TRANSITIONAL SENTENCE Even though Mrs. Dubose knows how much pain coming off morphine will include, she continues to fight through the agony and suffering.

She uses the words ‘died’, ‘terror’, ‘fear’, ‘dark’, ‘risk’, ‘strain’, and ‘hellish’; which are all words associated with danger or negativity. In contrast, Irene enjoys being a mother and always thinks about her children when making decisions. She feels motherhood is a strong life-long responsibility that can definitely be stressful, but is worth it in the long run. She feels such an obligation to her children that she puts their needs before hers. “Nor did she admit that all other plans, all other ways, she regarded as menaces, more or less

Madame Ratignole is always giving Edna counsel and warning her. When Edna moves into her new home alone and becomes close to Arobin, Ratignole “advise[s] [her] to be a little careful while she [is] living there alone” and tells her that Arobin’s “ attentions alone are enough to ruin a woman’s reputation” [96]. Ultimately, Edna ignores her about almost everything. Ratignole has little influence on Edna’s decision making and Edna makes choices that she would never make, both of these facts show their dissimilarity. Edna’s relationship with Mademoiselle Reisz is different.

Gilead’s True Commanders: The Handmaids Despite the many ways to interpret Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, there’s no denying that the chain of command in Gilead can seem quite fluid when it comes to who is in control (and who has the more at stake). Though the handmaids seem like they should be most afraid, it is actually the Commanders who have more reasons to be fearful, and the handmaids who have genuine power. If all handmaids realized their capabilities, mutinies like that of Mayday would be even more successful.

It wasn’t fair!” (Jackson, 224) It is apparent that she is not necessarily distressed over the practice of the ritual, but specifically that she is the victim, as she states they should start over, so that a new victim will be chosen. “I think we ought to start over,” Mrs. Hutchinson said, as quietly as she could.” (Jackson, 223)

After her step sisters volunteered her for the testing she learnt not to trust anyone and with not trusting anyone she became a very independent person. Cinder is being lied to constantly by the doctors that she has just gotten so used to saying “Another lie” (Marissa Meyer, 126). This shows that she has learnt to not trust many and to be very independent and do things on her

Some of Edna’s most obvious decisions immediately question her weakness to handle pressure. Edna’s inability to show compassion and care for her children challenge this normalcy for a mother of the time period; Edna considered her children “like antagonists who had overcome her; who had overpowered and sought to drag her into the soul's slavery for the rest of her days” (Chopin 115). The children almost seemed like a burden, or a detriment to her. Edna’s doctor visit nearly foreshadows this mindset, where the doctor notes that

In “Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry, we watch Annemarie slowly start to mature and realize the importance of information in the hostile world she is now living in. The most pivotal scene surrounding Annemarie’s maturity is in the beginning of Chapter 9 on pages 75-77. This scene is a reflection of Annemarie’s own perception of her bravery, before the climax of the book. While she thinks that she isn’t brave, her Uncle disagrees and after the conclusion of the book I am certain that all readers would agree with him.

Moira is the embodiment of defiance towards ‘The Republic of Gilead’ and its oppressive nature, Offred constantly reflects on memories of her for use as a symbol of hope and defiance. In Gileadean society the only purpose of handmaids is to be a vessel for children, so it was only natural for Moira, as a lesbian, to resist the changes that Gilead and The Red Center tried to enforce upon her. Margaret Atwood uses Moiras frustration to change the tone of The Handmaids Tale to a story that focuses on trying to resist the power of an oppressive regime rather than just revealing what life in such a society is like. Offred constantly looks to Moira as a guiding figure because she is strong and independent. This is why when the protagonist finds

Thesis: Atwood uses the concept of time through flashbacks to compare and contrast between past and present freedoms. Before the fall of Gilead, the women in society were free to do as they pleased; however, currently, they are forced to obey strict rules, and must give in to the commanders demands. Through constant flashbacks, the main character Offred remembers the freedoms granted to her under a democratic government, compared to protection granted under a totalitarian society. Atwood compares these differences to warn how life for common people would exist under a totalitarian government if freedom is given up for safety.

“No woman can call herself free who does not control her own body”. When Margaret Sanger spoke these words, she was expressing her belief on a woman’s right to have an abortion. This quote, however, speaks to the fact that women are oppressed on more than just abortions. In the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Atwood portrays the dehumanization of sexuality through both the characters and events within the novel, therefore proving that women will always be considered less than men will. Margaret Atwood was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1939.

In face of severe situation, people often feel relief when they think of happier, simpler times in order to alleviate the severity. In the fiction novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, a theocracy government controls every aspect of life in order to produce the best result of its plans. At the beginning of chapter 12, Offred takes a required, but luxurious bath because she can take off the burdensome wings and veils. While she bathes, Offred remembers her daughter from the past and a time with her family. Atwood compares Offred’s past and present through imagery, tone, similes, and symbolism combined with parallel structure to highlight the vulnerability of women to their surroundings.

What difference can an individual make against society? According to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the answer is not that much. Set in the Republic of Gilead, the characters all suffer under the totalitarian regime, and the few who actively try to change the system fail in the end. Even though Offred, the protagonist, periodically contemplates the inalienable types of an individual’s power, the actions throughout the novel indicate that such powers are negligible; because of this, The Handmaid’s Tale ultimately suggests that an individual is powerless to their environment. The most significant and potent form of power and thereby control in the strictly regulated state of Gilead is knowledge.