The Dystopian Novel: The Handmaid's Tale

Andrew Tubbin
Senior Inquiry
6/7/17
Handmaid’s Tale Essay Is it fair to say that we still live in a world where everyone isn’t equal? Or some are treated with more respect than others? Do you think society will ever have the urge to change? These are questions that wander through my head everyday while I scroll through tv channels or swipe through Facebook on my phone. Our world has changed in the past but not enough to solve the problems we face today. Margaret Atwood writes to us through her dystopian novel about the problems we should focus on and incidents that need immediate change or else all could crumble. Atwood’s novel called The Handmaid’s Tale is written about basis of truth. The facts about what we need to change in the ideas

Gilead is a dictatorship so power is automatically formed from the top. There is no method of legally protecting yourself from the higher classes or government and no hope that and outside source of power will intervene. This kind of power is extremely visible. Unlike a democratic society where they agree to be governed over Gilead is strictly watched by guards and eyes with guns. The possibility of surveillance must be an agreement. The only place that people are free in this society is in their head. Creating an area of isolation between themselves and other individuals. Even though Gilead imposes order to their people, Atwood’s characters still demonstrate that they will find a way to maintain control over themselves and other individuals as well. One of the characters in the book we see to manipulate her own power is Offred. Even though she never follows through with her suggestions in her head, being a woman is an advantage itself. She knows that she is awakening ideas in the men she encounters. Later in the novel Offred learns that other handmaids end up killing themselves to maintain some final sense of power over their bodies. After all that has been taken from them suicide is sort of the last result. Offred also has the idea of suicide in the back of her mind constantly through the book. With her relationship with the Commander we see that she gains real power. But she is afraid to

The control of sex and sexuality are what make Gilead such a miserable place for the woman and lower class. Much like in the modern United States where these individuals are not treated fairly or paid equally. They execute gays and lesbians; they destroy magazines and sexual clothing like lingerie, they kill abortion doctors, they outlaw divorce and second marriages, and they ritualize sexual relations that they think and supported by the bible. While attempting to separate sex from sexuality the regime demonstrates the fear of sexuality. While the lower classes are terrified by what their punishment would be if they got caught having sex or had possession of magazines their commanders are hiding these objects right below their noses. Offred’s commander not only reveals about the series of affairs with his other handmaids but that there is a “secret” club where high-class individuals deal with women for their sexual needs. The government seems to encourage those in power to act out against these strict regulations. When Offred take a serious of risks to continue her relationship with Nick, she demonstrates the power of sexual acts. The regime can impose as many punishments as it wants. One of them being a forceful act for women to watch other woman being hung, it can torture and abuse. No matter what happens brave and strong women like Offred will do whatever it takes for acts of sexuality inspired by the possibility of love at one