Offred’s constant contemplation over her words and actions when she is with other Handmaids relays her paralyzing fear of betrayal. The reader wonders whether Ofglen is really as pious as Offred judges her to be, or if her statements, like Offred’s, are just carefully constructed ways of protecting herself. Even those who do manage to find friendship in Gilead understand the dangers their friendships pose. When Offred first joins the mayday resistance, former Ofglen explains, “It isn’t good for us to know about too many of the others, in the network. In case you get caught” (Atwood 202). This reveals that there are people who want to rebel, but rebellion is inefficient because nobody knows who they can trust. Additionally, rebellions are
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In her initial description of Serena, Offred observes, “[The Commander’s Wife] doesn’t speak to me, unless she can’t avoid it. I am a reproach to her; and a necessity,”, revealing Serena’s innate hatred of Offred (Atwood 13). On the one hand, Serena could resent Offred because she is jealous and possessive of her husband, as any woman would be if they had to watch as their husband has sex with another woman. However, this reasoning is superficial because Serena is likely aware that Offred has little choice in the matter, which leads to the real reasons for Serena’s hatred of Offred: the fact that Offred is a constant reminder of Serena’s own failure to reproduce, and that classism in Gilead has lead Serena to see Offred as another. Human nature often leads people to feel prejudice against those they perceive as different. Accordingly, racism, sexism, and in Gilead’s case, classism become present in almost every human society. For these reasons, collaboration across class lines among Handmaids, Wives, Econowives, and Marthas is difficult, regardless of the fact that they each face tyranny in some shape or form. Gilead manages to keep women passive by relegating them to simple classes with simple purposes, removing their identities from the time …show more content…
Rather than die at the hands of the Eyes, Ofglen hangs herself because “it [is] better” (Atwood 285). Suicide is Ofglen’s way of making her own decision to die, allowing her an escape from the oppression forced upon her. Moreover, because death is final, Ofglen becomes untouchable; the Eyes can no longer punish her for her rebellion. However, killing oneself is not a reasonable solution to oppression for most people, and Handmaids therefore must take what few freedoms Gilead’s government gives them. One of the few places where the Handmaids have apparently complete freedom is at Salvagings, where they become brutal and dangerous. At the Salvagings, “the air is bright with adrenaline, [the Handmaids] are permitted anything and this is freedom” (Atwood 279). Throughout the novel, the Handmaids are treated like animals. Offred even describes herself as “a prized pig” when discussing the Household’s treatment of her (Atwood 69). As a result of this abuse, the Handmaids themselves become animal-like as they savagely kill their victim in the Salvaging. Nevertheless, this representation of freedom depicted is not true freedom, as it is still under the jurisdiction of Gilead’s government, enforcing that women have to choose between surviving in silence or freely dying with their identities intact.
In her initial description of Serena, Offred observes, “[The Commander’s Wife] doesn’t speak to me, unless she can’t avoid it. I am a reproach to her; and a necessity,”, revealing Serena’s innate hatred of Offred (Atwood 13). On the one hand, Serena could resent Offred because she is jealous and possessive of her husband, as any woman would be if they had to watch as their husband has sex with another woman. However, this reasoning is superficial because Serena is likely aware that Offred has little choice in the matter, which leads to the real reasons for Serena’s hatred of Offred: the fact that Offred is a constant reminder of Serena’s own failure to reproduce, and that classism in Gilead has lead Serena to see Offred as another. Human nature often leads people to feel prejudice against those they perceive as different. Accordingly, racism, sexism, and in Gilead’s case, classism become present in almost every human society. For these reasons, collaboration across class lines among Handmaids, Wives, Econowives, and Marthas is difficult, regardless of the fact that they each face tyranny in some shape or form. Gilead manages to keep women passive by relegating them to simple classes with simple purposes, removing their identities from the time …show more content…
Rather than die at the hands of the Eyes, Ofglen hangs herself because “it [is] better” (Atwood 285). Suicide is Ofglen’s way of making her own decision to die, allowing her an escape from the oppression forced upon her. Moreover, because death is final, Ofglen becomes untouchable; the Eyes can no longer punish her for her rebellion. However, killing oneself is not a reasonable solution to oppression for most people, and Handmaids therefore must take what few freedoms Gilead’s government gives them. One of the few places where the Handmaids have apparently complete freedom is at Salvagings, where they become brutal and dangerous. At the Salvagings, “the air is bright with adrenaline, [the Handmaids] are permitted anything and this is freedom” (Atwood 279). Throughout the novel, the Handmaids are treated like animals. Offred even describes herself as “a prized pig” when discussing the Household’s treatment of her (Atwood 69). As a result of this abuse, the Handmaids themselves become animal-like as they savagely kill their victim in the Salvaging. Nevertheless, this representation of freedom depicted is not true freedom, as it is still under the jurisdiction of Gilead’s government, enforcing that women have to choose between surviving in silence or freely dying with their identities intact.