Symbolism In The Handmaid's '

If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny” (Snyder, 115). Offred was forced to live in a new world despite remembering one where she was free; this new world was filled with the oppression of women to the point where they were cast off and separated based on fertility and were to dress very modestly, and as stated previously she was unhappy due to remembering what freedom was. She remembered, “all those women having jobs: hard to imagine, how, but thousands of them had jobs, millions. It was considered a normal thing.

She is kept alive for purely that reason in the first chapters, as the story progresses and she is invited into the Commander's office, where they play Scrabble and he reveals to her hidden or contraband aspects of the new society, such as fashion magazines and cosmetics, which he allows her to read, an activity otherwise prohibited for women. In these meetings Offred is treated more humanely than she has in years. She's treated more like a human should instead of a slave to her own body and “Commander”, which is suggested in her name in of its self, which means “of Fred”, conceding the point that the Commander's name is

Although Offred accepts the standards and criterions of her society, she keeps her individuality and refuses to forget the past. She remembers having had an identity of her own and strives to hold on to it as best as she can. She puts a claim on her temporary room in her Commander's house; it becomes a sanctuary for her true self. Her room becomes a place of

Throughout the novel, Offred demonstrates unorthodox behavior through her actions and her thoughts. One action that proves she is an unconventional character is when she meets the Commander in his office. Handmaids and Commanders are supposed to have strictly a business relationship. When Offred breaks that code of conduct, her life is left hanging in the balance. Not only did Offred commit this offense once, but multiple times: “The second evening began in the same way as the first. I went to the door, which was closed, knocked on it, was told to come in” (Atwood 155). Once Offred enters the room, the commander and she play games and start to get to know each other. Offred also has many unorthodox thoughts. During Offred’s walks accompanied by Ofglen, they exchange some information about the Underground Femaleroad: “’ It’s a beautiful May Day, ‘ Ofglen says. I feel rather than see her head turn towards me, waiting for a reply” (Atwood 43). Offred replies and she explains that as she sees Ofglen leave, Offred feels as though she is looking in a mirror. Offred and Ofglen are the same person. Offred shares many of her unorthodox activities with the

Handmaids are only required to bear children with the commanders but not to have a sexual relationship because it is strongly believed that this would affect handmaid’s purpose of reproducing. So when offred starts hanging out with the commander in his office she asks what happened to the old Offred the commander that she killed herself. “she hanged herself l,” he says; thoughtfully,not sadly. That’s why we had the light removed in your room”( Atwood 178).The commander says this as he explains how Serena found out about his relationship with her and the feeling of fear made her hand herself because it was better than what would have been done to her by gilead. Not allowing handmaids to say what is on their mind is also part of conditioning is gilead republic.

She was scared of the consequences of her rebellious actions and she realized she should have just accepted the new way of life. At the beginning of the book, Offred would just think about being rebellious and breaking the rules. She lived her life very by the book because she was scared of the potential consequences. Although Offred followed the rules, she still thought of breaking them.

Without having Moira there with her Offred begins to become slightly more rebellious. Knowing the Handmaids are not allowed to discuss each other, Offred pursues to ask Aunt Lydia if she knows where Moira is. Through this action does Offred also start to look into the rebellious attitudes of her mother.

No one really knew what happened in the colonies, so most women either chose to become a jezebel rather than a handmaid. Within the novel characters like Ofglen and Janine have temptations to do something they are not supposed to, to get sent to the colonies. Towards the ending of the novel, Offred is pushed to her limits when getting caught by Serena Joy. After walking upstairs, because she was ordered to, she starts considering possible ways out of the situation. “There are a number of things I could do.

Offred's purpose is to serve the Commander and his wife, Serena Joy. When Offred is at the crucial point in her menstrual cycle when she is most fertile, the Commander must have passionless sex with Offred in order to accomplish the objective of impregnating her. This is Offred's third attempt; she was not successful with the two Commanders before this one. If Offred fails again she will be declared an Unwoman and sent to the colonies for hard labor. Offred's freedom is completely restricted. She can not have the door to her room totally shut, and she can leave the house only on specific purposeful trips such as to visit the wall or for purchasing grocery items. All the while, Gilead's secret police forces, known only as ‘Eyes', are scrutinizing every move she makes.

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

Neologisms and Biblical Language help to give new meaning to words that were heard before and are scattered throughout the novel, from beginning to end. With language resulting in so much of the woman’s freedom, the story quite frankly could go two ways. After Offred has her child (assuming she has one), she may find a new perspective in all of this and find her place in society, something that she has been searching for since she became a Handmaid. This would result in no social change, but would end the story as her

However, it isn’t until a few chapters in that it becomes clear Offred is not at all happy with where she stands with herself and in her role in Gilead. Offred recounts something Aunt Lydia told her once as she is walking along the streets, “’In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don’t underrate it,’” (24).

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

During this time Offred embarks on many a Q.U.E.S.T, realizing a bit more on each one: just how broken the new government system is, who can be trusted, what people want from her. Near the beginning of the book readers are introduced to Ofglen, Offred’s traveling partner for the market that’s been assigned to her. Offred’s feelings towards Ofglen were very clear and overall neutral: “she is my spy and I am

Clearly, Offred has done nothing wrong and till this point, has lived up to everyone 's expectation so that everyone (being men) can live satisfactory lives. If she had made the decision to avoid the risk of essentially being a sex slave, she wouldn’t have to lose her