The Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood

The domination and governing of women by men remains to be a perpetually timeless topic in literature and discussion. The history of women, as a group, is a dark one and the only one that continues to persist in every civilization. Similarly, Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, exhibits how the oppression of women exists in a society when women are valued only for their functionality, when there is a difference in rights for men and women, and when a society holds very strong conservative principles. The author’s ability to display the complex relationship between Gilead’s society and the variety of female characters that inhabit it, demonstrates that Atwood’s novel is a feminist one by nature. Most importantly, Atwood uses various …show more content…
In Gilead, objectification is prevalent as women are only viewed with significance when they possess certain reproductive qualities and rank. For Handmaids such as Offred, society perceives them as reproductive vessels rather than people. This is evident when Offred states, "We are for breeding purposes: we aren't concubines, geisha girls, courtesans... we are two - legged wombs, that's all: sacred vessels, ambulatory chalices" (Atwood 171). This represents a critical concept that, universally, social status for women is defined by their reproductive role. More often than not, social perception of child care and childbearing have created severe implications for women’s participation in society. The novel shows the interaction of two contradictory forces which determine a woman’s place in society: is procreation a fundamental part of a woman’s natural role, social role or both? Gilead determines that women’s biological abilities are more significant than their social ones. Particularly, this idea is presented in the novel where Handmaids learn to view pregnancy as their ultimate salvation, in fear of punishment or reversal of social status. For example, Offred and the other Handmaids see Janine's pregnancy as a symbol of hope, since "She's a magic presence to us, an object of envy and desire, we covet her. She's a flag on a hilltop, showing us …show more content…
The primary goal of the Gilead regime is to regulate sexuality and sex. Gilead settles to place responsibility on women for any sexual deviancy or problems in their society. For instance, this is seen in Janine’s story during the Testifying where she explains how she was gang-raped when she was fourteen and had to receive an abortion. Offred recalls, “But whose fault was it? Aunt Helena says, holding up one plump finger. Her fault, her fault, her fault, we chant in unison. Who led them on? Aunt Helena beams, pleased with us. She did. She did. She did” (Atwood 89). Clearly, the attitudes of the other Handmaids and Aunts portray Gilead’s misogynistically, conservative culture which blames women for events that could not be their fault. Likewise, rape culture and victim blaming continue to be serious issues even in modern-day western countries, such as the United States (Southern Connecticut State University). Moreover, Gilead’s orthodox system holds a dominant perception that women should be modest in order to suppress any sexuality. This idea is illustrated as Offred reflects on her past life and the way that she sees her own appearance. She states, “Did I really wear bathing suits, at the beach? I did, without thought, among men, without caring that my legs, my arms, my thighs and back were on display, could be