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How Does Atwood Embody Corruption In The Handmaid's Tale

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How does Atwood embody corruption through the portrayal of the Commander?’ in The Handmaid’s Tale Atwood's ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ illustrates the newly founded oppressive dictatorship of Gilead through the perspective of Offred, a handmaid who is exploited for breeding purposes to ensure the survival of the regime. Offred narrates her thoughts and observations surrounding Gilead and those around her as her relationship with her Commander develops and she uncovers his extensive corruption. Atwood embodies corruption through the characterisation of the Commander, a founder of the regimer, through his dialogue as he outlines justifications for corruption in Gilead, his actions as he visits the brothel Jezebels and attempts to seduce Offred, …show more content…

Offred’s tone is nonplussed and Atwood’s use of semblance makes her seem confident in her description as if she has made a similar one before indicating she recognizes this corruption from her life pre-Gilead. Atwood is suggesting that such corruption was pertinent before the regime took over but has transferred into the dictatorship of Gilead. The juxtaposition between “sitting room" and “subdued” suggest that like with his office, the Commander can leave evidence of his corruption in plain sight through the furnishing of his house but that he does not feel authorised to show it off. Atwood’s implication that people above the Commander or other forces demand some degree of discretion adds to the reader's understanding of the Commander as she is hinting he is a puppet of the state with limited influence. This is enforced by Atwood's use of the verb “trickled” and repetition of “years” in this metaphor as it implies the Commander’s corruption has been continuous and that it is a deeply embedded part of his character, a cycle that he has been unable or unwilling to escape which is synonymous with many political figures familiar to modern readers a which is why he can be interpreted as an embodiment of …show more content…

The Commander’s ease of speech suggests this is common knowledge amongst Gilead men, that their power allows them to dictate what is natural and what is not. Conversely, Atwood is subtly commenting on the weakness of these men, they give in to every urge and desire which leads to a society founded on corruption as their selfishness drives them to go to great lengths to have their needs met whether it be through the accumulation of material items such as magazines or unauthorised sex. Atwood enforces this through the chilling phrase spoken by Moira, a handmaid now forced to be a prostitute as punishment for her failed rebellion, as she says her outfit is “government issue”. This is the first and only time such widespread corruption is explicitly mentioned and demonstrates that Gilead was founded, and runs on corruption as the government breaks its own rules in order to fulfil the desires of men on the pretence of abiding to nature. With this quote, Atwood is highlighting the point that only men like Commanders can be corrupt, women are supposed to follow the rules and in truth they are not part of the regime for the purposes of procreation but to be used as a variable for male

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