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Handmaid's Tale Conformity

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Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale explores the themes of resistance and conformity through Offred’s perspective, a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. The Republic of Gilead is a totalitarian regime that subjugates women to a life of servitude. Atwood depicts the themes of both resistance and conformity through different depictions of characters seen throughout the novel, such as Aunt Lydia’s conformity as opposed to Moira’s evident efforts to resist. These themes emphasize the importance of individual resistance and the dangers of blind conformity. As the novel progresses, Offred grapples with the tensions between conformity and rebellion and the decisions she must make to protect herself. Throughout the novel, Offred's experiences …show more content…

Indeed, Offred seems to recognize that, individually, she lacks the strength to oppose the powerful state of Gilead. However, through seemingly small acts of resistance, Offred demonstrates that she, and others in her position, can confront the state of Gilead. The protagonist’s defiance serves as a personal reminder that there can be dignity in the human condition and that there may be a path back to a more just society. In one instance, Offred confronts the indoctrination she is subjected to during her training to become a handmaid, stating, "I keep on going with this sad and hungry and sordid, this limping and mutilated story because after all I want you to hear it" (Atwood, 35). By sharing her story, Offred is resisting the regime's attempts to silence and dehumanize her. She feels that silence would legitimize Gilead’s policies. By telling the story, not only can Offred perhaps hope to spark a revolution; she can ensure future generations appreciate the importance of the fight for freedom. …show more content…

A key example in which the novel illustrates this link is through the character of Offred herself. Offred’s role as a handmaid in Gilead, subjects her to being both a victim of the regime as well as a tool for the oppressor. Her life is governed by the rigid orders of the new society, and she is constantly monitored and controlled by those in power. Despite this, Offred is not a passive victim, when opportunities for resistance or non-conformist behaviour present themselves, she takes advantage. Her personal acts of rebellion include her secret meetings with Nick and even something as small as the admiration of her memories of life before Gilead, memories which Gilead is continuously trying to erase. This strain between resistance and conformity is reflected in the larger society as well. The regime is characterized by its extreme conformity, with all aspects of life controlled and regulated by those in power, where those who resist are punished severely. However, despite the dangers, there are still those who challenge the regime. Atwood’s portrayal of Moira is a key example of this. Initially, Moira is seen as a symbol of resistance against the regime's attempts to control her. This is demonstrated by her attempted escape from the Red Center, where she and Offred were trained to become handmaids. Although she

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Outward conformity along with inward questioning, that is what the main character, presented in Margaret Artwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, has to undertake in order to survive in a theocratic society. Stepping out of line in any way risks your life, so in a place where freedom of speech and basic human right’s no longer apply, Offered must comply with whatever rules they have in place and pretend to agree with the system, but in the inside, she cannot help but think about her past life, her husband, her daughter, before everything began. Flashbacks are integrated in the novel to not only compare the old society with the new one, but to also demonstrate this fake conformity Offred has to display to others and her internal struggle with giving up on escaping the Republic or just accepting her fate and playing by

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For example, when the Commander requests to see her, the narrator says, “My presence here is illegal. It’s forbidden for us to be alone with the Commanders... So why does he want to see me, at night, alone” (At wood 136). This quote exemplifies that the commander was going against the rules to see Offred.

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The society itself is called Gilead, which is a name derived from the Bible and is known for being a mountainous land valued for its fertility. In light of fertility rates dropping, this world reverts to traditional forms of thought to coerce women like Offred into submission and childbirth. With this focus on the male desire for children and fertility, Atwood portrays the subsequent objectification of Offred to the extent that her worth diminished to only her womb. An adjacent consequence is its harmful effect on Offred's identity as in the wake of this new society Offred was forced to abandon her name from before Gilead. The name Offred represented that she was Fred's handmaid, and she was only to be referred to as such.

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Atwood clearly emphasizes this point through the inclusion of Offred 's inner thoughts; which in turn, help to illuminate to the reader the process of this deterioration. Atwood also shows how the Republic of Gilead uses totalitarianism tactics, which parallel those used in North Korea, in order to remain in control. In The Handmaid’s tale, a dystopian novel, Margaret Atwood uses imagery and allusion throughout the novel to illustrate how the republic of Gilead uses techniques to deteriorate one 's mind in order to maintain their power. Throughout the dystopian country

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There are two ways people will react to when their freedom is taken away. They will either accept it or rebel against it, which is what a lot of the female characters in Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale accomplished. Shown through Offred’s repetition of certain events, Moira’s tone of being a fighter, and Serena Joy’s desperation, the reader can see that lack of freedom leads to rebellion. Offred, the novel’s narrator, now lives in a world where women are powerless. She has had her freedom taken away, and at times follows the rules, but ends up rebelling in many powerful ways.

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Despite being stripped of her identity and forced into a subservient role as a Handmaid, Offred remains determined to survive and find her daughter. This is evident when Offred says, "I'll say anything they like, I'll incriminate anyone. Just don't send me to the colonies. I'll do anything," (Atwood 72). This willingness to do whatever it takes to survive demonstrates Offred's resilience in the face of Gilead's oppressive conditions.

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