Artistic Depiction In Gilead's Handmaids

In conclusion, the poem is a confession from the writer for eating plums, which belonged to someone else, and then asking them to forgive the writer but never actually, after asking to be forgiven the writer then describes how delicious the plums were to the reader either in a “just wanting to let you know they were good” kind of way or “this is what you missed out

Women in Gilead are just seen as reproductive machines, like as they were commonly used in the Bible. Aunt Lydia brainwashes the handmaid's by stating: “This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary” (31). However, Offred knows that her life will never be ordinary. She admits to the reader that her once free life is lost.

Throughout the book, the author uses figurative language, specifically similes, to explain the maltreatment and abuse of women in the Republic of Gilead. In describing the conditions at the red center, the narrator explains that Aunt Lydia said to “think of it as being in the army” (7). By this she meant that every woman in the center would wear the same clothes, use the same blankets and pillows, adhere to strict regulations, and have no personal items. The center was tough to get through but even harder to get out of. The women were not allowed to be exposed to anything that could potentially harm them because the “Aunts” and the “Eyes” know that they would take the chance. If the women are being sent to a place where they would rather kill themselves than continue on or try to escape, then it leads one to believe that they are being horribly

Imagine if you can, living in a world that tells you what you are to wear, where to live, as well as your position and value to society. In Margaret Atwood's novel, The Handmaid's Tale, she shows us the Republic of Gilead does just that. Offred, the main character, is a Handmaid, whose usefulness is her ovaries. Handmaids are ordered to live in a house with a Commander, his wife, and once a month attempt to become pregnant by the Commander. Throughout Atwood's novel, you will notice she uses different colors for her characters clothing that correspond to their position and place in the Republic of Gilead. They become aware of people's statuses by the color of their

Living in this world today, The Handmaid’s Tale is considered unorthodox to countless people in America. For the people in the book, they do not know a world like the one today. They only dream of a past time that was similar to today. Readers of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale believe this dystopia is unorthodox and has many parts or characters that are unorthodox as well.

Offred continuously recounts the advice that Aunt Lydia tells the Handmaids throughout her story. This indoctrination makes the Handmaids become so accustomed to this new way of life that it becomes normal to them: "Ordinary, said Aunt Lydia, is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary" (Atwood 33). This proves that Gilead can transform the natural human response of fear into blankness. Oppression and torture become accepted because the Handmaids eventually become used to these ideas. The Aunts brainwash the Handmaids into gradually accepting this new way of life. Once the Handmaids accept this way of life, it truly shows the persuasive nature of the Aunts and the power both they and the government hold over the Handmaids. An example of the Aunts brainwashing the Handmaids is when the Aunts make them believe and accept that Janine was responsible her gang-rape. Offred describes the persuasive nature of the Aunts to the reader: "But whose fault was it? Aunt Helena says, holding up one plump finger. Her fault, her fault, her fault, we chant in unison. Who led them on? Aunt Helena beams, pleased with us. She did. She did. She did. Why did God allow such a terrible thing to happen? Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson. Teach her a lesson" (Atwood 72). This instruction and repetition the Aunts use demonstrates the inequality and imbalance between them and the Handmaids, who they are teaching to submit and behave. The Aunts also help to establish power and control with fear and intimidation. For instance, when Moira was caught from attempting to escape the Red Center, the Aunts tortured her by beating her feet with steel cables. Moira's punishment is a reminder that the Aunts have the power to torture the Handmaids, which creates the fear and establishes the

Certainly, there is no shortage of disagreement in believing that being in superior control of another’s functioning abilities is disturbing, as well as upsetting. Nonetheless, it is still common amidst us, specifically between people in relationships recognized as intimate. They may come in the slightest, and unrecognizable forms, for instance, letting the victim believe that ultimately, the consequences suffered happened after being presented with choice, when contrarily, they were unknowingly forced into it.

Have you ever imagined a world where religion is manipulated into its twisted version? In The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the author portrays a dystopian world, where a woman are forced to follow the norms of the twisted version of the Bible. Atwood uses the creations of handmaids, a woman who is used as a vessel for babies, in order to portray how religion impacted the society she has created, Gilead. The readers are introduced to Offred, the narrator and the main character of the text, she is one of the many handmaids that are introduced in the text. Offred narrates her perspective of the situation she is forced in. As it can be seen in, The Handmaid's Tale, woman are restricted in the name of religion. This can be seen through

In this novel the relationship between characters is very silent and intense. They have rules they must follow in regards of one another specially women towards women. In page 11says that Marthas don’t suppose to fraternize with the handmaids. The distinction of men and women its obvious and non questionable. Men have the higher positions. They are commanders, guardians, angels and eyes. They are the ones with guns (pg.20), the leaders of the nation and the heads of the household (pg.81). Women in the other hand are divided into ranks (excluding the unwomen that is). In the novel there are wives, handmaids, aunts and Marthas. The most powerful female is the wife of the commander, and they wear blue. Then we have the Aunts who are in charge

The rarity of fertile women would suggest that they would be treated better by society due to the importance of their “work” but that is not the case. Handmaids, whose only job is to engage in a sexual ceremony with men and give birth to healthy babies, are the most shunned in society, despite their invaluableness. Sex in Gilead is understood to be something impersonal, emotionless. It is not done out of love or desire but for the purpose of reproduction only.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a story told in the voice of Offred, who is the character of the “handmaid”, which is described best by women who are being forced and used for reproduction because they can make babies. In the Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood uses symbolism, which is the use of symbols to represent ideas, to show the reader the handmaid’s role in society of Gilead. The handmaids were women who had broken the law of Gilead, and forced into having sex and reproducing for the higher class. They had no rights and were watched constantly so this created a very nervous atmosphere. This horrible way of living is most likely why Offred never fully made the reader aware of the horrible life she was forced to live because

This is exemplified when Offred hears Aunt Lydia say, “Ordinary is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary” (Atwood 33). The repetition of ordinary is used to reinforce how harsh realities (e.g. public execution) are perceived and justified as normal by the citizens of Gilead; however, in Offred’s previous life, she would have been repulsed to see a public hanging of an innocent person. With Aunt Lydia’s presence and words casting a shadow in Offred’s mind, she begins to have a sense of normalcy about life in Gilead. The Aunt Lydia’s words are so powerful and influential that Offred begins to transform her way of thinking, which mirrors the lack of individuality that she displays. Not only can Offred not think for herself, but her vision is also controlled by Gilead. For instance, Offred and other handmaids must wear white wings, which are a headdress to restrict their vision. This is shown when Atwood writes, “There remains a mirror, on the hall wall. If I turn my head so that the white wings framing my face direct my vision towards it…[I see] myself in it like a distorted shadow” (9). The white wings are symbolic of her not being able to see reality and only what Gilead wants her to see; therefore, her vision is restricted and so are her thoughts. Furthermore, her vision is not

Offred, who’s real name we may never know, is the most significant character in the story who is a Handmaid and is telling the story. She remembers sleeping in a gym at a place called, the red center with several woman. The woman that are being held in the gym are talking and reminiscing about the history/love of what used to take place there. Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth, “act” as their guards to shush the woman up from talking. This was one main reason why their are important characters. Offred existence is surrounded by room. A white room that is very girly and has not a thing that a person could use to harm themselves. Some describe the place as being in the army and that someone is Aunt Lydia, who is the voice of the Women's Center and also the voice of the

This is it, the most anticipated day for all Handmaids has arrived. A day, where Handmaids are taken into the red Birthmobile and are hopeful for the new healthy baby: hopeful being the keyword. The reason Handmaids are hopeful isn’t necessarily the same reason one should ideally be in a similar situation. Generally, one aspiring mother before Gilead, would be praying for their baby to be just as healthy as they saw through their sonogram. However, the unfortunate part is that within the Gilead society, it’s forbidden to use any portion of an ultrasound. Nonetheless, while Offred is waiting for the arrival of the newborn, her mind begins drifting into the possibility that no one knows if the baby will be born with any abnormalities or worse

Humans are the individual parts that make up a whole. Humans are crucial in order to make society function. The reason I stress the word ‘human’ is because in the novel The Handmaids Tail by Margaret Atwood each character has such a crucial role in the Republic of Gilead yet so many of the characters are de-humanized or are less significant than others. This is a problem because each character has feelings, and a personality. Each character also has a past, for the most part they all have a past in a world where they were free.