"The Handmaid's Tale" short paper

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a novel that really made me realize how lucky we are to live in the United States today. We are entitled to so many freedoms that we take for granted. Walking down the street is a right we are allowed that other societies do not permit, especially the one depicted in this book. The Handmaid’s Tale is set in the Republic of Gilead, formerly the United States. While 1984 by George Orwell is set back thirty years from now, this novel is set a lot closer to our time. Atwood makes many references to styles and trends that are similar to those we agree with today, such as the use of cellphones, cars, and televisions.  It is hard to believe that a society so similar to ours could be so quickly transformed into a metropolis ruled by threats and isolation, as is depicted in The Handmaid’s Tale.

As I read The Handmaid’s Tale, I was especially interested in the differences between Orwell’s novel and Atwood’s. While both novels made it clear that certain people were supposed to be isolated and only have business relationships, the handmaids were forced to travel in pairs for their own protection. Although they were only supposed to say things like, “Blessed be the fruit,” minor communication turned into much more as the handmaids became closer with their partners (19). Offred and Ofglen quickly formed a relationship that, had Ofglen not been relocated, could have made both handmaids rebel from their positions and have put them both in a dangerous position in society. Although it seems that partnerships of women could not have gathered together and rebelled, I think their potential power cannot be underestimated, especially if other women were feeling the same about their positions as handmaids.

Throughout the text, Offred constantly refers to the fact that she is not using her real name, yet never shares it with the audience. I understand that the handmaids must have their names changed because then it is much more difficult for them to find anyone from their past life, but I think this is cruel. They separated from their friends, families, and now, the only thing left is their identity. The women are taken from their homes and are forced to have sex with strangers. Even the back cover of The Handmaid’s Tale makes note of this by describing the sole task of the handmaids as, “[lying] on her back once and month and pray[ing] that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable.” They are seen as less than human, as incubators, in fact. This dehumanization is just a part of society that no one else seems to have a problem with. I find it shocking how everyone else thinks that this is an okay situation, when just a few years earlier, all of these females were entitled to hold jobs, raise families, and live the life they were intended to.

The Handmaid’s Tale is an example of what would happen if women lost power in society. This novel was very similar to Orwell’s, 1984, but shows a clear discrimination towards women, rather than a society that was unfair to all. Atwood uses Offred as the books narrator and keeps the reader aware of her flashbacks and thoughts on her situation. This novel makes the reader feel sorry for Offred and the other handmaids, and makes me take a step back and enjoy the various freedoms that I am entitled to that many of the characters of this book had taken away from them.