The Handmaid's Tale
Margaret Atwood
Chapter 11
As the story continues, in Chapter 11 Offred is taken to the doctors for her monthly visits to check for diseases or illnesses. A reminder that Offred is a handmaid, that her purpose is to help married couples bare children. During visits doctors are not supposed to be looking at the handmaid’s face directly, however this visit “the doctor is talkative” and calls her “honey”. The doctor mentions that he has helped other handmaids to bare children because he says “most of those old guys can’t make it anymore”, “Or they’re sterile”. Offred is taken by the use of the world, sterile. She explains that “there is no such thing as a sterile man anymore, not officially. There are only women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that’s the law.” Offred thinks that the doctor is sympathetic of her state, however, he must also be enjoying toying with his authority and power. In the end, Offred refuses, saying that “it’s too dangerous. The penalty is death.” The doctor again tempts her by giving her “a way out, a salvation.”
Purpose:
This chapter demonstrates the limit of the totalitarianism; that no matter the consequences, there are ways to break the laws and get away with it. This whole event with the doctor suggests that there is an abuse in power. Atwood may also use this chapter to exaggerate the need for children in in Gilead. The doctor may be a minor character which brings forth the inner feelings which Offred has yet to face herself. She becomes filled with fear by the doctor’s words because he had offered her salvation, yet she doesn’t take it. Suggesting that Offred notices herself that she has become minorly comfortable with the state she is in, making her realize that she must have faith in the path she has chosen. To bear with the rules and regulations until she is able to be free once again.
Chapter 12
It is one of the days which Offred is require to take a bath. There are no mirrors, no lock and no razors. While undressing herself, Offred comments that “[her] nakedness is strange to [her] already.” She cannot fathom that she once wore bathing suits, with her arms, legs, thighs and back exposed without a care. As Offred steps into the bath, she begins to think about her daughter and remembers a time where some woman tried to kidnap her in the supermarket. Offred thinks about her daughter as a ghost. Offred remembers Aunt Lydia telling them to not get “too attached to this material world”. Food is brought by Cora to Offred’s room. The food is bland, healthy food, but contains enough to be full. The Commander and his wife eat downstairs. Though the Handmaids are not allowed to keep uneaten food, Offred wraps a pat of butter and hides it in her shoe.
Purpose:
One thing that is profound in this chapter is that Offred herself finds we body strange. Unable to accept the fact that her body is “something that determines [her] so completely.” It is ironic during the flashback that Offred remembers a crazy woman trying to steal her daughter from her. The woman “crying and saying it was her baby, the Lord had given it to her, he’d sent her a sign.” Children are precious in Gilead. Offred deals with this pain by thinking that her own daughter is a ghost, she cannot remember her face, she fades. Atwood always transfers between present time, the past and the Centre shows the power of indoctrination. Being able to indoctrinate people, to dehumanize people, to “be a worthy vessel.” As Offred takes the unused butter, it may foreshadow a period where Offred retaliates and resist the rules and regulations.
Chapter 10
In chapter 10, Offred sings to herself. In Gilead, music is forbidden, but Offred sometimes gets the opportunity to hear Rita or Serena hum songs. The season changes, becoming summer. Offred describes the summer air as “stagnant”. Women are given the opportunity to change into their summer dresses. Offred remembers Aunt Lydia telling her stories about things that used to happen; about women who were murdered and raped, however it might remain irrelevant to her. Offred sits at the window, beside a cushion that has the word ‘FAITH’ embroidered on it. It is the only word in that was there for her to read and she spends several minutes looking at it. From her window, Offred watches the Commander get into his car and drive away.
Purpose:
It is purposeful to note that as time passes, Offred begins to forget about the past. The songs she tries to sing are broken. She does not “know if the words are right,” she “can’t remember.” The chapter also serves to give a little more background on the Aunts, especially Aunt Lydia, who is indoctrinating the women to the new regime. Aunt Lydia “began to cry” in front of them, saying she’s “trying to give [them] the best chance [they] can have.” Should we pity the Aunts or should we not? There must be a significance to the word ‘FAITH’. Atwood would probably suggesting that this is a point where Offred begins to change her views on the Commander, how she “ought to feel hatred for this man. [She] ought to feel it, but it isn’t what [she feels]. What [she] feel[s] is more complicated than that. [She doesn’t] know what to call it. It isn’t love.” Would ‘FAITH’ suggest Offred should believe in the past and hope for a better future, or have ‘FAITH’ that things are going to be better from here on out.
Chapter 10-12
"So I will go on. So I will myself to go on. I am coming to a part you will not like at all, because in it I did not behave well, but I will try nonetheless to leave nothing out. After all you've been through, you deserve whatever I have left, which is not much but includes the truth.