The Struggle of Women in The Handmaid's TaleThe Handmaid's Tale This is a futuristic novel set in the northern United States in the early 21st century, in the oppressive and totalitarian Republic of Gilead. The regime demands high moral retaliation and a virtuous way of life. The Bible is the guiding principle. Due to sexual freedom, free abortion and the sharp increase in venereal diseases at the end of the 20th century, many women (and men too, but this is forbidden to say) are infertile. Women who are still fertile are recruited as Handmaids, and their only mission in life is to give birth to the offspring of their Commander, whose wife is infertile. The main character of the book is Offred, one of those unfortunate servants whose only right to exist depends on the productivity of her ovaries. She lives with the commander and his wife in a heavily guarded center. Unlike men, women have faced unique issues for centuries and are often victims of harassment and discrimination. In today's society, women try to fight their tribulations through lawsuits and protest rallies. Literature often talks about people being unable to express their problems. Often, unforeseen circumstances force people to hide their true emotions. In The Handmaid's Tale, the main female characters find ways to escape their situations rather than deal with them. Offerd from The Handmaid's Tale uses different tactics to deal with his situation. She is trapped in a dystopian society made up of a community riddled with despair. Although she is not physically tortured, the overwhelming and ridiculously powerful government enslaves her mentally. Offred lives in a horrible society, which prevents her from being freed. Essentially, the government is enslaving her because she is a woman and she is fertile. The memories offered of how life was with her husband, Luke, her daughter, and her best friend Moira bring her temporary relief from her restrictive situation. Additionally, Offred befriends the Commander's assistant, Nick. Offred longs to be with her husband and she feels she can find her love by being with Nick. She repeatedly risks her life just to be with Nick. Feeling loved by Nick gives her a window of hope in her otherwise miserable life. Instead of proclaiming her feelings out loud, she suppresses them. The result is a series of recordings that describe her life and the things she wishes she could change..