Gender Roles In The Handmaid's Tale

Stories portray groups of people and even societies differently. Stories also let you view things through different perspectives and they give you the opportunity to have an opinion. It may even change the way you view the certain role of people or society. In the novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, men are given the upper hand by the government of Gilead. Although men seem to be dominant over females, they all are controlled by an oppressive government of Gilead. In Gilead, men have different roles from women. Their roles are Angels, Eyes, Guardians, and Commanders. The roles make men higher than women in social status. The Commander's role in Gilead is to demand the Guardians, Eyes, and Angels to look out for the handmaid's who violate Gilead's rules. One of the Commander’s duty is to have sexual relations with the handmaids with his own wife present. For Instance, “This is not recreation, even for the Commander. This is serious business. The Commander, too, is doing his duty,”(95). The Guardians role is to follow up with what the Commander orders them to assist with, over time they upgrade to a higher rank as an Angel. The Angels are the second highest ranking role after the Commander. They are allowed to get married and they protect the surroundings in Gilead. The Eyes are the second eyes for the Commander they are who

The government is oppressive and very demanding. Thus, creating a passive society in which everyone has an order to follow by the government without contradicting them. There are consequences to actions for example, “ This man, ”says Aunt Lydia,” has been convicted of rape.” Her voice trembles with rage, and a kind of triumph. “He was once a Guardian. He has disgraced his uniform. He has abused his position of trust” (278). Two Guardians broke the rules of Gilead, so they were both executed. The government is harsh and strictly goes by their