Margaret Atwood explores themes and beliefs such as oppression and the constant threat of an overbearing regime in order to present ‘The Republic of Gilead’ as the quintessential dystopian society. The theme of oppression runs rampant throughout the novel, the protagonist constantly lives in fear of saying the wrong thing and having it reported to the mysterious and terrifying eyes. These eyes are everywhere, throughout the novel ‘Offred’ lives with the weight of the eyes hanging over her, a prime example of this is during the sections of the book labeled “Night”, each of these sections is used to allow the reader to empathize with Offred and understand more about her character. When Offred goes to bed she has to lie “under the plaster eye in the ceiling”, this phrase is repeated multiple times throughout the novel. This repetition is used by Margaret Atwood to place emphasis on the idea of existing underneath the eyes, and that even in her room ‘Offred’ cannot escape from the confinement and oppression that the eyes are associated with. Another factor that proves ‘The Republic of Gilead’ as a dystopian society is the separation of classes and the rights that are restricted as a part of being in those classes.
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That Serena Joy is able to Acquire cigarettes from a black market while Offred and other handmaids aren’t even allowed to read shows the difference between their classes, and the entire book serves to reinforce and reflect on the unfairness of
That Serena Joy is able to Acquire cigarettes from a black market while Offred and other handmaids aren’t even allowed to read shows the difference between their classes, and the entire book serves to reinforce and reflect on the unfairness of