Essay On The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” depicts a dystopian society in the Republic of Gilead in which the government considers women as property and valuable if their ovaries are viable. The new society now stresses the conformity of women in the household and reinstated domestic roles which they must accept. The “Colonies”, an area that supports limited life, and group hangings exist as scare tactics to suppress any rebellion amongst the handmaids and in the household. This society is believed to be perfect by those who created it; however, human nature compels individuals to rebel against an authoritarian government. The operation of a secret nightclub showcases the rebellion within. The club operates as an escape from the household for the Commanders and an escape from the Colonies for the women. Jezebel’s symbolizes nonconformity in the Handmaid’s Tale, not only for the women that work there, but for the Commanders that attend as well. The role of the female body at Jezebel’s differs from its purpose in the rest of society. Moira explains, “The Aunts figure we’re all damned anyway, they've given up on us, so it doesn't matter what sort of vice we get …show more content…
The Commander says, “Nature demands variety, for men. It stands to reason, it’s part of the procreational strategy. It’s Nature’s plan” (237). The Commander says this in an attempt to justify the interactions between men and women at Jezebel’s; however, the society they live in was created to destroy this way of living. Sex no longer serves as a means of pleasure, but rather the way of reproduction. There should be no enjoyment in sex, as the Aunts teach the handmaids. Sex is only promoted as a Commander’s Wife, Commander, and handmaid attempt to create life. This shows that the men do not promote the new values their society was created to instill and still see sex how it had been seen in the