Misogyny In The Handmaid's Tale

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In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, there are many different themes that help establish the meaning behind the whole story. In this book, a handmaid, named Offred, tells of her life and the events surrounding her in the Republic of Gilead. Gilead is under the rule of a totalitarian government, and it displays obvious characteristics of feminism and misogyny. Like Offred, the women in this society do not have any power of freedom. They are strictly limited to their function which includes housewives, breeders, and mistresses. The handmaid's, specifically, live the most restricted lives. They are only needed for their fertile bodies to produce children with Commanders, and any other time, they remain confined to their rooms. The only exceptions …show more content…

Another theme that relates to the restriction that is displayed throughout The Handmaid’s Tale is identity issues. The women have been stripped of their identities because their names and jobs change so frequently. The body of a woman is more important than emotion or feelings she has. The limits on a woman’s function in this society also brings up feminism. Feminism and misogyny play a major role in Atwood’s story. They are not allowed to do anything but work and bear children. There is much discrimination against how these women are treated. After pushing all emotions aside, women try to avoid love anyways. The expression and sensation of loving someone is dangerous. The “true” love in the book only exists as a memory from the past. There is nothing from the past that the people of Gilead want to remember, so they choose to let the feeling of love remain as a memory. Most of the people that have experienced love experienced complete devastation after the relationship ended in destruction. The titles designated to characters and different groups of people throughout the story show great power and discrimination as

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