William O’ Douglas, former Associate Justic of the Supreme Court of the United States once said, “The great and invigorating influences in American life have been the unorthodox: the people who challenge an existing institution or way of life, or say and do things that make people think.” The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood presents unorthodox characters in Offred, The Commander, and Moira through freedom, relationships, and individuality.
Offred, the protagonist of the novel, is an unorthodox character because of her small defiance of rules, want of little freedoms, and knowledge of Mayday. Firstly, Offred takes pleasure in the ability to manipulate her world, Gilead, in the little ways that she can. For instance, one day Offred makes eye …show more content…
The Commander’s relationship with Offred starts off with him inviting her to spend time with him playing Scrabble and reading magazines. Although this is not supposed to happen, it is pretty harmless compared to what happens at Jezebel’s. For Offred and The Commander’s night out on the town, he has Offred dress up in a suggestive outfit and takes her to Jezebel’s where he shows her off. This is not only breaking the law, but it is also an example of the unorthodoxy of The Commander. Even Moira states, “It’s like screwing on the altar or something: Handmaids are supposed to be such chaste vessels. They like to see you all painted up. Just another crummy power trip” (Atwood 246). Later that night, Offred has a sexual encounter with only The Commander and in private—yet another example of his unorthodoxy due, this time due to infidelity as he is married. Offred describes The Commander’s feelings towards his wife, “So there it was, out in the open: his wife didn’t understand him. That’s what I was there for, then. The same old thing. It was too banal to be true” (Atwood 158). Less obvious than the previously stated reasons behind the labeling of The Commander as “unorthodox”, his collection of books might get him in trouble. Professor Pieixoto suspects that Frederick Waterford is The Commander—and that he will be executed partly …show more content…
First of all, Moira is a lesbian—automatically making her unorthodox. Apart from her lifestyle characteristics, Moira is extremely rebellious and stands up for what she believes in. Offred even says, “Moira was always more logical than I am” (Atwood 171). Moira is also unorthodox because of her planned escape attempts from the Center. She tries to escape multiple times, and even ends up with broken feet before she is successful. Her courage and perseverance led her to a successful escape, but sadly Offred finds her working at Jezebel’s years later. Offred wishes Moira could have had a better ending, “I’d like her to end with something daring and spectacular, some outrage, something that would befit her” (Atwood 250). When Offred discovers Moira at Jezebel’s she realizes that Moira is a protistute—yet another example of unorthodoxy in the dystopian Gilead society. Obviously, Moira is undoubtedly an unorthodox character because of her sexual orientation, escape attempts, and life at Jezebel’s.
Offred, The Commander, and Moira are all unorthodox characters in the novel The Handmaid’s Tale. The theme of unorthodoxy in dystopian novels such as this one provides an insight into the characters’ needs for personal freedoms, relationships, and individuality. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale aids to the profoundness of dystopian works and the magnitude of importance they
Offred, the protagonist of the novel, is an unorthodox character because of her small defiance of rules, want of little freedoms, and knowledge of Mayday. Firstly, Offred takes pleasure in the ability to manipulate her world, Gilead, in the little ways that she can. For instance, one day Offred makes eye …show more content…
The Commander’s relationship with Offred starts off with him inviting her to spend time with him playing Scrabble and reading magazines. Although this is not supposed to happen, it is pretty harmless compared to what happens at Jezebel’s. For Offred and The Commander’s night out on the town, he has Offred dress up in a suggestive outfit and takes her to Jezebel’s where he shows her off. This is not only breaking the law, but it is also an example of the unorthodoxy of The Commander. Even Moira states, “It’s like screwing on the altar or something: Handmaids are supposed to be such chaste vessels. They like to see you all painted up. Just another crummy power trip” (Atwood 246). Later that night, Offred has a sexual encounter with only The Commander and in private—yet another example of his unorthodoxy due, this time due to infidelity as he is married. Offred describes The Commander’s feelings towards his wife, “So there it was, out in the open: his wife didn’t understand him. That’s what I was there for, then. The same old thing. It was too banal to be true” (Atwood 158). Less obvious than the previously stated reasons behind the labeling of The Commander as “unorthodox”, his collection of books might get him in trouble. Professor Pieixoto suspects that Frederick Waterford is The Commander—and that he will be executed partly …show more content…
First of all, Moira is a lesbian—automatically making her unorthodox. Apart from her lifestyle characteristics, Moira is extremely rebellious and stands up for what she believes in. Offred even says, “Moira was always more logical than I am” (Atwood 171). Moira is also unorthodox because of her planned escape attempts from the Center. She tries to escape multiple times, and even ends up with broken feet before she is successful. Her courage and perseverance led her to a successful escape, but sadly Offred finds her working at Jezebel’s years later. Offred wishes Moira could have had a better ending, “I’d like her to end with something daring and spectacular, some outrage, something that would befit her” (Atwood 250). When Offred discovers Moira at Jezebel’s she realizes that Moira is a protistute—yet another example of unorthodoxy in the dystopian Gilead society. Obviously, Moira is undoubtedly an unorthodox character because of her sexual orientation, escape attempts, and life at Jezebel’s.
Offred, The Commander, and Moira are all unorthodox characters in the novel The Handmaid’s Tale. The theme of unorthodoxy in dystopian novels such as this one provides an insight into the characters’ needs for personal freedoms, relationships, and individuality. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale aids to the profoundness of dystopian works and the magnitude of importance they