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Theme Of Freedom In The Handmaid's Tale

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Margaret Atwood wrote about a fear that lives with many, not having any freedom. Offred is one of the thousands of people who have had their freedom taken from them. Her life revolves around keeping others content and doing what she is told, but she begins to get bored and curious. When this occurs, Offred begins to break the rules due to temptation which helps her realize everyone is doing so. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, demonstrates that a lack of freedom leads to a breaking of rules. After living in a world with no freedom with only memories of her life before, Offred begins to get frustrated. Once Offred begins to see that even high ranking people in this society break the rules, she begins to as well. Although, Offred knows breaking the rules is wrong and can have consequences she can not continue to live this way. It began with small rules such as women in the red center communicating and sharing names. This is the first sign of desperation when one is used to being free to express themselves it is hard to take it away. This is why Offred does not see the big deal in sharing her name at the beginning of the new world. Offred has been away from freedom for hardly any time and is beginning to break rules already. . With time Offred begins to see the harshness of the new world and the problems she can get into if she continues to break rules, even the simplest of them. Gomez 2 Ironically, as time goes on and Offred sees the seriousness of rule-breaking she

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