Control Of Women In The Handmaids Tale

In the Handmaid 's Tale power is used to control the women and sort them into certain gender roles. Each women in the society of Gilead is assigned a certain job that is stereotypical of a woman 's job such as cooking, sex, and reproduction. These women are the lowest class in Gilead and have no control. The men have superior power of the women but the women such as Ofgeln and Offred gain control in power in their lives.

Men have an upper hand in the control of these women. For instance these Upper class men, commanders, use handmaids to reproduce because their “wives” can no longer reproduce. In Gilead, women are only faulty and so if they cannot become fertile or produce a viable child then they get shipped off even though the men could

Handmaids are subjected to specific gender roles in the women community. Each women in the community has a certain job that most men assume is the woman 's job. Handmaids are for the use of reproduction and there is suppose to be no emotion or spiritual connection with these ladies. Martha’s who are used for cooking and cleaning among the house and lastly, jezebels who are used for erotic sex. Each of these women who fall among the categories have no choice of their field. “You wanted a women 's culture. Well, now there is one. It isn’t what you meant, but it exists. Be thankful for small mercies.” (Atwood 124) Offred is looking back on her past life to a story her mother once told her. This phrase resonates with Offred because in her past life women were free and now the culture is no longer the way it was but has reformed to be under the power of men and it’s kinda hopeful for offred because her mother is right there is a culture not at all what any women would want but their gender has some power. Offred and her good friend Ofglen both are part of the underground system to free themselves. When Ofglen saw the truck coming for her she made the decision to commit suicide. “ She is a flag on a hilltop, showing what can still be done: we too can be saved.” (Atwood 287) This was a powerful statement because it showed that Gilead cannot control all the women. That Of Glens suicide was not sad or self-wallowing but rather a form of rebellion. Offred found hope in this event by seeing If Glen 's death as a salvation for herself or other girls under the power