The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is a story that takes place in the society of Gilead. In this society ways of life are strict and there is a strong restriction upon women. The way the society has been constructed reflects its sole concentration: reproduction. This purpose for life restricts virtually every woman to certain roles along with activities, duties, etc. In every household, there is a Commander (the man who controls it), a Wife (the commander's wife), a Handmaid (a woman to have the Commander's child), and Marthas (women to take care of the Handmaid). The "Ceremony" in which the Commander tries to impregnate the Handmaid is a duty for both of them, rather than a connection between the two. No trace of love has been found in sex anymore. Throughout the novel, the idea of sex has been changed to just reproduction rather than a sign of love. This has devalued life for many others, and made women devices for the government. The sexual obsession and treatment of women as objects is a reoccurring theme throughout the novel.

"There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don't underrate it" (24).

I chose this passage because it reflects the restriction upon women and even men in the society of Gilead. In the world we know today and the citizens of Gilead knew, we have freedom to do things we please such as freedom of speech, worship, and basically the freedom of living our own lives. These freedoms we have and sometimes take for granted were instantly taken away from them. Now they are given "freedom from", no longer having any freedom to. Aunt Lydia speaks of this as a good freedom to have and advises the girls not to underrate it. I see this freedom as negative; it is freedom from choices, individuality, and living your life however you may choose.

Margaret Atwood did a wonderful job in writing The Handmaid's Tale. She portrayed the perfect tone and point of view through Offred and how she had to live her life. However, it was not a read I enjoyed. I found it boring and hard to follow at times. Offred's life was very dull so it was necessary for Atwood to write it in the way that she did. This writing style added to the message of the book, and it was very well written considering how truly uneventful a Handmaid's life was.

Although I did not like reading the book, I liked the message it sent to its readers. There is a constant religious aspect in the story. The soldiers, or "Angels", "Guardians of the Faith", and "Eyes" ran much of this society. Such religious terms used in powerful positions has a deeper meaning that added to the novel. I believe that it makes readers wonder about how much religion should influence our lives, and the extent to which too much religion is used for power.