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Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood

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Narratives have the ability to shape our understanding of the world around us by forcing us to confront uncomfortable realities about ourselves and the world around us. Narratives are a powerful tool as it helps us to define who we are and why we are that way. Margaret Atwood’s, dystopian novel, ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ uses a non- chronological structure to explore these themes. Atwood warns us about the loss of individual freedom that is taken away from the women at a place called Gilead, set in the United States. The protagonist, Offred, narrates her life in this dystopian society of Gilead and compares it with her old life. Atwood warns us about the danger of losing freedom and the misuse of power, incorporating elements from contemporary society …show more content…

Gilead is a patriarchal society where only men have access to education, can hold property, jobs or any political positions. Whereas women are treated as subhumans, they are forbidden from taking care of themselves, read or write and they must submit to the authority of men. Moreover, there are skilled soldiers referred to as “angels”, symbolizing ‘helpers’ and a messenger of God. They are seen as ‘goodness’ who are supposed to comfort and help the ones in trouble. In contrast, this is seen as rather ironic as the women in Gilead are unable to make choices for themselves and live their lives which is considered wrong. As they had no control of their identity, they “exchanged names from bed to bed,” Alma said. Janine. Dolores. Moira. I am a sassy girl. June” The group of women repeating their identities symbolises that they don't have a name in this society, are dehumanized and remain nameless just because of the men wanting authority. Offred additionally states when Aunt Lydia stated that “this may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary” uses repetition of the word ordinary to suggest how conformity can be normalized due to the misuse of power, changing the way individuals think and act. Further, Atwood explores a powerful warning of how harmful untamed authority can be and the struggle for freedom and making decisions for

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In the novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the protagonist, Offred, expresses her wish that her “story [is] different,” that it is “happier,” or at least “more active, less hesitant, less distracted” than it is ultimately portrayed (267). However, as her story is told, these characteristics are evident in the way she talks and acts, especially around those with authority. Hesitant to express her true thoughts and feelings, and distracted by memories from her previous life, Offred attempts to piece together her role in the society that has taken her freedom. The result is a compilation of moments, of memories, both from her present, her past, and even speculation about her future.

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Margaret Atwood’s novel, "The Handmaid’s Tale," illuminates the transformative power of storytelling in navigating oppression and preserving personal identity amid societal disruption. Through Offred's narrative, Atwood explores language as a means of reclaiming autonomy and resisting authoritarianism, the enduring influence of memory in preserving individuality, and the pervasive dangers of religious fundamentalism in shaping societal norms. Offred’s private reflections, recollections of a lost past, and covert communications with fellow handmaids also serve as poignant examples of how storytelling ignites resilience and collective resistance in the face of oppressive regimes. Indeed, Atwood’s critique serves as both a cautionary tale against

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