Women in The Handmaids Tale all possess limited freedoms within the Republic of Gilead. The control fall upon most of the men. Women are reduced to child bearing vessels in the future of low birth rates. The balance of power may seem to fall into men, but in the end women have the ultimate power almost like a veto. They carry the hopes of bearing children in the unknown circumstances where children are scarce. There are points in this novel where the narrator has power over men.For example when she abuses that power and play with the young guardians. Women posses the power of seduction that can sway men into their desires. There is also a theme of secrecy portrayed by the women in how they pass rumors and how they try to “listen in on conversations behind closed doors”. Women are stereotyped in this book as they still gossip and talk about each other behind each others back. Secrets are another example of power women have over men. The theme Margaret Atwood tries to portray about women in this novel is about the power of women over men in society. This is portrayed through the women in this novel through their actions and interactions with the men and other women.

Theme

Women

Power

There is a clear theme of power, hierarchal power, in The Handmaid’s Tale. Margaret Atwood clearly portray the differences between genders in this post apocalyptic period. The men in the society (especially the commanders) clearly hold power over the women. Even within each gender, there are different levels of power. The males are dominated by the Commander, following the Commander are The Eyes, who are the society’s spies. After The Eyes are The Angels and finally the Guardians. The Republic of Gilead is a totalitarian state, where ruling elite(s) holds all the power and controls all aspects of society. This society strips all freedom from women to do the things they once were able to do. They lose the liberty to have their own freedom and are constrained by the state’s laws and regulations. The Wives, an example being Serena Joy, once strongly supported ideas on about how a woman should stay at home, and is now trapped in a world where she has no influence in state affairs. When given power, there will be people that become corrupt and abuse their power. For example, the doctor in chapter 11 abuses his role in society and wishes to “help [her]”, offer Offred “salvation”. Even Offred recognizes that the doctor has powers.

The Future

In the “future” or the present time, society is divided into ranks or classes. The Handmaids are owned by Commanders, and once a Handmaid gives birth, they are moved to a new Commander. The Handmaids had their freedom stripped from them, they were not allowed to do things they once were able to do. Women in general, had the freedom from, they are now limited to what they can do and indoctrinated into the current laws and regulations. Women were treated as objects, the Handmaids are “moving wombs”; for the sole purpose of providing offsprings. With all these problems in Offred’s current society, she looks for salvation in the future. Offred is shown to “believe” for a future that is better than things are now. Nighttime is the time where she is allowed to think for herself, to sort things out. Margaret Atwood constantly travels back in time, to a time where Offred remembers what the past life was, how it was a fleeting memory, a place which was better than now. In chapter 18, Night, Offred believes. “The things [she] believe can’t all be true, though one of them must be. But [she] believe[s] in all of them” (131). This effectively shows that there may be a glimmer of hope for Offred, it allowed her to “believe in anything. Whatever the truth is, [she] will be ready for it.” (131)

Sexuality

-Gender separation is emphasized throughout the book

-Gilead has created a society that sexuality between men and women are prohibited unless under certain circumstances-

”Sexuality is feared yet it is thriving in the underworld.”

-What is the meaning of life if one does not have control over their own sexuality? Women in the Handmaids Tale are ranked from wives to unwomen or Jezebels. What are the reasons behind the different rankings when it comes to rights of sexualities? It was previously established that the Handmaids purpose was to conceive. Even though the wives amongst the women hold the most power, they are still women. Married men desire an heir to continue their name. If the wives are unable to conceive babies, this job goes towards the handmaids. This shows the sexual desires that men have and also the power that women have when the men approach them. Restrictions! This novel creates a hierarchy for the women, based on their ability to have children wives cannot have babies, because of handmaids. Regulations says Commanders aren’t supposed to desire other women unless he meets them.

Environmental Hazards

Environmental Hazards that affect the setting of the Handmaid’s Tale is important. The setting of the Handmaid’s Tales is based in the Republic of Gilead. Previously known as Cambridge Massachusetts, ideas were rampant with free speech and stuff. However, a major disaster occurred and turned the place upside down. The dystopian future where the totalitarian state is not in the state of anarchy and people have the ‘freedom’ to do what they want. Through the restrictions, the women have “are being given freedom from” Having a strict structure of life and society, the women will not worry about other men since they have protection with the laws set. As said by Ms. Usher, totalitarian states are formed when the state is facing large problems, leaving the populus dissatisfied. Therefore, reforms will sweep across the state and radical ideas are the predominant view of the masses. However, after change has been administrated, the oppression against women is obvious. Environmental hazards in this novel shows the extent that Offred “yearns for the future” and the past. The hazards amplifies the depressing and oppressing tone of this novel. Though the rules seem to protect women from other men’s freedom, the hazards in this dystopian setting reiterate the fact that this is society indeed corrupted

"But remember that forgiveness too is a power."

"I believe in the resistance as I believe there can be no light without shadow; or rather, no shadow unless there is also light."

"Is that how we lived then? But we lived as usual. Everyone does, most of the time. Whatever is going on is as usual. Even this is as usual, now."

"I would like to be without shame. I would like to be shameless. I would like to be ingnorant. Then I would not know how ignorant I was."