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Offred In The Handmaid's Tale

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The Handmaid’s Tale thoroughly projects fertile women as vital social agent. Without these women life would cease to exist. Thus, Handmaids are forced into training centers or feared into moving to the colonies. Scholar Hogsette claims, “The Republic of Gilead defines the Handmaids solely in terms of the condition of their ovaries, commodifying them as objectified livestock with the sole purpose of repopulating North America” (Hogsette). Hogsette further reveals the purpose of these women who are in condition to conceive a child, they are viewed solely for the reproduction capabilities. Handmaids are denied the basic right of birthing, they are forced into believing conceiving a child is their only purpose, as Hogsette states, “ Women become …show more content…

Women are oppressed into sex with no feelings. Atwood reveals the feelings of Handmaids, specifically Offred, towards their Commanders, “ I ought to feel hatred for this man. I know I ought to feel it, but it isn’t what I do feel. What I feel is more complicated than that. I don’t know what to call it. It isn’t love” (58). Offred reveals that she does not feel any love for her Commander, although she is supposed to hate the man she is forced to have sexual interccourse with, she knows its not not hate or love. The wives of the Commanders are present during the time of the sexual intercrouse, the humiliation the Handmaids are put through further reveal how women are oppressed in Gilead; however, the Handmaids are not the only women who suffer through this awkward moment, the wives must deal with other women having sex with their husbands. The narrator awaits for a letter that seems to be crucial to her as that message is what essentially keeps her …show more content…

She claims that he will be understanding, he will understand why she has sex with other men. Offred maintains her sanity through this hope, revealing the government's strategy to keep control; tear families apart. Offred recalls the times with her daughter and any object that reminds her of her beloved daughter is enough to make her emotional, “... her stuffed rabbit, mangy with age and love. I know all the details. They are sentimental details but I can’t help that. I can’t think about the rabbit too much though, I can’t start to cry, here on the Chinese rug” (84). Not only is Offred stripped away from her lover and husband, she is separated from her daughter. The regime is able to control families, by removing the daughter from her side, she is now able to focus on her role in society; reproduction. Tearing families apart is yet another mechanism of the regime to oppress

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