The Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood illustrates the Republic of Gilead's as a new society where there are sexually oppressed women and is founded by religious extremist. In this society, women are used as a child bearers and have no rights in the cruel and harsh society. In between the dystopian society, Offred is a slave to this freedomless civilization; she is known as a Handmaid. Offred presents her story of pure oppression and how she survives to hold her past life. “ I used to think of my body as an instrument,...or an implement for the accomplishment of my will…There were limits,...Now the flesh is arranges itself differently”(Atwood 73). She has been taken away rights from her own body, no self identity, no value, and no place

Attuning to the law is a key to surviving the Gilead’s but to be able to hold onto her personality it leads her to subtle rebellion. She feels as if she is free and in control when she breaches subtle codes “There’s something delightful about it, something naughty, secretive, forbidden, thrilling” ( Atwood 222). The rush of all sort of emotions she feels gives her a glimpse of past freedom and happiness, the glimpse of her past life helps her to maintain her indualitly and allows her to stay intact to her identity. Some of the mischief she has done is “Offred also risks physical harm when she steals a few minutes during bathroom breaks to speak to Moira” (Perkins). The few minutes in the bathroom allows her a moment of remembering her relationship with Moira and reconnecting to her past life. In addition, to Offred subtle rebellious actions is the act of stealing butter for her skin shows the importance of Offred still takes care of her skin and body even if it is against the rules. Simply treating yourself is forbidden in the government but Offred only motive is to keep her skin soft in the hopes when she escapes she will be touched again, in love or desire. These kinds of thoughts are forbidden because it creates an hope for the Gilead’s to end and go back to their normal lives. Another example of her subtle rebellion is when she had a match in her possession she would

Moria and Janine have heavily impacted Offred “ Moira had power now... she was now a loose woman. Moira was like an elevator with open sides. She made us dizzy… Already we are finding these walls secure” (Atwood 133). Offred freedom and Moria’s freedom are completely different.Offred looks up to Moria’s bravery and is influenced by her access to freedom. Knowing that Offred can not be any thing like Moria because of her fear Offred tries to obtaining freedom by performing subtle rebellious acts.Moira and Offred’s reason of not fully conforming is the same but the purpose of each other rebellion is different. Offred reason of not fully conforming is because she wants to hold on to her past life memories and identity, but if Offred fully conform she is going to lose all of that. Unlike Offred Janine did the opposite of what Offred did, Janine fully conformed to the laws and ended up stuck in her past “ Janine ...and as a result often slips into a trance-like state and loses all sense of reality and her own identity.” (Perkins). The only reason why Offred is surviving because she somewhat outwardly conformed but at the same time inwardly questioned her conformity and breaking rules, nevertheless if Offered fully conformed with no obligation she would be a pure example of Janine. Offred and Janine