ipl-logo

Leadership In The Handmaid

823 Words4 Pages

Offred is a rebellious individual who makes a habit of breaking the rules just for her own pleasure. Furthermore, the novel takes place in the Republic of Gilead, which is located in the United States and is a totalitarian society. Has multiple rules that restrict the lives of many people in the Republic. The Commander or the highest one in control, is the leader of the Republic. Within the Republic there are Handmaids, Aunts, and many more. Due to the strict leadership of the Commander, many people of Gilead are going to turn rebellious. Atwood’s Novel proves that strict leadership can lead to rebellious acts as shown through the symbolism of the word “Mayday”, the Commander breaking his own rules, and the narrator’s only way of having fun …show more content…

People who were rebels such as the Narrator and Ofglen used this code. One example was when Ofglen tells the narrator, “It’s a beautiful May day”. (Atwood 43). The Narrator at the time did not know what the phrase meant. She was thinking of what it could mean and and went into depth about the usage of the word. She remembered that the word would be used as a distress call.This symbolizes the word Mayday as a distress call or code in order to talk to a former rebel. Mayday is such an important word for the the rebels. If anyone found out the sole purpose of the word many rebels may get exposed or executed. When the narrator and Ofglen meet, the narrator questions Ofglen, “A password?” I ask. “What for?” “So you can tell,” she says. “Who is and who isn’t.” “Mayday,” she says. “I tried it on you once.” “Mayday,” I repeat” “ Don’t use it unless you have to”(Atwood 202). The word “Mayday” can only be used wisely and not for granted as Ofglen previously stated. If the narrator or any other rebel get caught saying the word repeatedly, the purpose of the word is going to be solved. This word is a symbol to the rebels due to the discretion and purpose it

Show More
Related
639 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More
1044 Words | 5 Pages

On March 23, 1775, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” was heard all throughout St. John 's Church. These famous words were not only from a great speaker looking to have his voice heard, but the words truly had an everlasting impact on freedom’s history. In the speech, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” by Patrick Henry, he used figurative languages such as allusions, parallelism, and biblical references to bring his speech to life. These examples are just a few ways that Henry used literary devices, to create emotion and realism. In this specific piece of literature, qualities like patriotism and individualism are exceedingly prominent, this all being due to Henry’s use of literary devices.

Read More
1854 Words | 8 Pages

As Fredrik Pettersson stated in his criticism, “[Offred] might not have any real belief in the theocratic values, but they affect her life and actions nonetheless. ”(8) Even though Offred may disagree with the values of Gilead, she is too fearful to actively oppose the society, and has internalized some of Gilead’s views. When Offred sees the black van coming towards her, Nick tells her that “it’s Mayday” and to “trust” him. Offred is suspicious, “but snatch[es] at it, this offer.

Read More
691 Words | 3 Pages

In the document he uses these charged words to help engage with the colonists’ emotions and their minds in order to convince them to become soldiers and go fight. He uses the words like hope, virtue, peaceful, bless and faithful. “The summer soldier and the

Read More
405 Words | 2 Pages

The U.S. has become the republic of Gilead and with this shift has brought not only political change in the form of a new "religious" government but enormous social change as women are denied their rights. As Offred is going through this change she loses her job, her money, her property, and eventually her family. These flashbacks give the reader

Read More
884 Words | 4 Pages

Second, there is irony in her name because her name is May. May symbolizes something pure that has youthful nature although she is the complete opposite of this as she betrays her husband. For example lines 1748-1749 defines her as (That she was lyk the brighte morwe of May, Fulfiled of alle beautee and plesaunce). Third, there is also foreshadowing of her character because she does cross the lines of unity and love. For example lines 1782 state (Til fresshe May wol rewen on his peyne).

Read More
1436 Words | 6 Pages

Offred struggles between her attraction to Nick and remaining faithful to Luke. In the end of the novel, Offred ends up giving in to her attraction to Nick, however she does not feel that she has betrayed Luke in any way. Both gentlemen fulfill needs of Offed at different times of her life. Luke only exists in her past life, and most of Offred’s memories with him are fading away as she struggles to remember certain details of her past. Offred thinks, “The fact is that I no longer want to leave, escape, cross the border to freedom.

Read More
836 Words | 4 Pages

In face of severe situation, people often feel relief when they think of happier, simpler times in order to alleviate the severity. In the fiction novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, a theocracy government controls every aspect of life in order to produce the best result of its plans. At the beginning of chapter 12, Offred takes a required, but luxurious bath because she can take off the burdensome wings and veils. While she bathes, Offred remembers her daughter from the past and a time with her family. Atwood compares Offred’s past and present through imagery, tone, similes, and symbolism combined with parallel structure to highlight the vulnerability of women to their surroundings.

Read More
741 Words | 3 Pages

So, generally speaking, the people of Gilead are so passive about the way that they are treated because this is the only way for them to continue to survive. Offreds passivity is something that is touched on several times throughout the novel, but she does not just learn this skill on her own, but is taught by a woman named Aunt Lydia. “Aunt Lydia said it was best not to speak unless they asked you a direct question. Try to think of it from their point of view she said, her hands clasped and wrung together, her nervous pleading smile.

Read More
2035 Words | 9 Pages

Offred initially feels a sense of loss due to her position as a fertile woman since the independence and individuality she once enjoyed has since been stripped from her by the Republic of Gilead. It is only through rebellion that Offred is able to slowly regain her sense of self and reject the role that Gilead forces her into. By rebellion, however, it is often more dangerous for the perpetrators than to the government’s grip on the people. Offred’s societal role as a handmaid in Gilead forces her to first obey, then causes her to question, which finally allows her to realize her

Read More
571 Words | 3 Pages

In the novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Offred has a continuous search for justice for her daughter, in a society in which her idea of justice is starts as one concept and changes to one that she never expected. Margaret Atwood writes Offred as a character who was at once strong-willed, and who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. Her strength is dimmed at first, when her daughter and husband are first taken from her. Her strength, however comes back in full force when she finds the opportunity to get justice for her daughter. Offred uses the motivation of her daughter to spur a rebellious side of her that disappeared when the new leaders came into power.

Read More
460 Words | 2 Pages

Patrick Henry utilized one -word sentences to put emphases on his ideas about going to war. For instance, when he said “Nothing” ( 264). This demonstrates the idea that they have done so much and nothing has changed. This helps him gain more trust and respect because all the information he is giving is true. They have tried everything and the British keep omitting them because in the British eyes they are nothing.

Read More
238 Words | 1 Pages

This leaves the reader to wonder why would this particular character be acting defiantly as she did. The author chose this specific word to convey that something bad is going to happen in the future.

Read More
1587 Words | 7 Pages

One’s power can be abused due to indolence; it ruins the lowest social class. In the handmaid 's tale, the Handmaids are treated poorly, making the person no longer themselves. The reader learns that Offred is being told what to do and has no say for her opinion, since it is against the law to go against the government. According to the handmaid’s tale, "You go out through the door and turn right. There 's another door, it 's open.

Read More
711 Words | 3 Pages

Rebellion in The Handmaid’s Tale Imagine not being able to do what you used to do because some actions are forbidden in this new society. In the Handmaid's Tale, Gilead is a dystopian society where people are limited to certain actions. Throughout the story, Offred’s actions are rebellious because she has broken so many rules. Atwood demonstrates that restricted expression leads to rebellion by showing the Commanders and Offred’s affair developing throughout time and the actions of both characters.

Read More

More about Leadership In The Handmaid

Related Topics

Open Document