The Handmaid's Tale

In the novel, The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, the roles of women have been narrowed down severely. In the city of Gilead where the main character, Offred, lives, women were once allowed to have jobs and work in legitimate positions. Now, the rights and freedom have been taken away. Offred is a handmaid, and her only role in the society is for reproduction. The restricted lives of the handmaids is juxtaposed with the lives of the women who work at Jezebel's. Although the women at Jezebel's are still used for sex, they lead better lives than the handmaids because they have more physical and intellectual freedom. Offred's old friend, Moira, works at Jezebel's and tells Offred about her life. Moira only works during the night and has the entire day to herself. Offred is confined to the house, unless she is walking to the market. But even then Offred must refrain from looking up or talking to anyone. Moira has friends that she can talk to and have relationships with. Offred cannot have a real relationship with anyone. She is not even allowed to read. Offred is also forced to wear a large red dress with a white headpiece that covers most of her face. Moira has the freedom to decide what she wears. She can wear makeup and feel desired. The sexual acts Moira is involved in is for pleasure. Offred is used strictly for reproduction, and the Commander's wife is also in the room. Offred has food and drink brought to her room, while Moira has the choice to drink alcohol and eat whatever she likes. While Offred is not even allowed to have an intellectual thought, the women at Jezebel's have the power of choice and decision.

My favorite passage is on pages 194 and 195. Offred is praying. The lines I like especially are, " I feel very unreal, talking to You like this. I feel as if I'm talking to a wall. I wish You'd answer. I feel so alone. All alone by the telephone. Except I can't use the telephone. And if I could, who could I call? Oh God. It's no joke. Oh God oh God. How can I keep on living?" (Atwood 195). These lines clearly display the entirety of Offred's emotions. She is desperate, lonely, and giving up on her fight to live. She is looking to God for answers, but cannot find the answers He is giving or is even struggling to believe that God is giving her answers. Offred has surpassed the anger and confusion about this society and is willing to die to escape it.

I enjoyed reading The Handmaid's Tale because Margaret Atwood created Offred in such a way that made it easy to connect with her. Although it was frustrating that Offred would never get to return to the life she once lived, I did not stop hoping that Offred would be reunited with her daughter and boyfriend, Luke.