Oppression In The Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood

Oppression always exists in some type of form, and often we see people fighting for their voice to be heard and have an equal chance on the playing field. Sometimes, however, we tolerate oppression, because we find benefits in doing so. In a world where women aren’t allowed to read and kept around for the purpose of having babies, the actions of the characters, women especially, in “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood shows that people who are affected by an oppressive environment will subject themselves to this oppression as long as a form of freedom is offered in exchange. Offred is a handmaid whose function is to give birth to her Commander’s child, and as a result, she is separated from everything in her past life. Although she is never physically present during the book, Offred’s mother is brought up often, and in one instance, she offers a bit of wisdom that makes the reader realize a main message in the book: “Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations” (Atwood 271). …show more content…
Although she has little to gain in a world that is so driven by the patriarchy, she is still a supporter of Gilead’s existence, and with the little power she has as an Aunt, she indoctrinates other women into believing in the ideology that Gilead presents; the system works against Lydia, yet the power she holds over other women is an acceptable compensation for her. Most of the women who have importance in “The Handmaid’s Tale” tolerate their oppression, and Offred is no exception, despite being the