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Essay / There is no doubt that government plays an important role in our daily lives. Public transportation, emergency services and public schools are an integral part of our society. Fortunately, our government is not overly authoritarian; the government does not dictate that we live our lives a certain way. We should be very grateful for this luxury; some regimes, past and present, have abused their authority. Historically, some governments have imposed strict and inhumane guidelines on their citizens. This is the case in Margaret Atwood’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale”. The book presents a dystopian world in which the extreme policies of the new Christian government restrict women's rights and freedoms and control the lives of citizens. This new society is known as the "Republic of Gilead" and its ideologies and actions are seen through the perspective of a woman known as Offred. Offred is what is known as a Handmaid, a class of women used by the state solely for repopulation purposes. Offred's unique perspective and opinion regarding the diet is what makes The Handmaid's Tale a fascinating book to read. Margaret Atwood uses various writing and literary techniques to inform the reader about the dangers of a totalitarian regime. Characterization is constantly used throughout the Handmaid's Tale in order to show the reader the horrors of Gilead. There are very few characters in the novel willing to stand up to the government. Offred often complains about the regime, but actually does very little to resist it. Moira is one of the only Handmaids who effectively resists the establishment. She made two escape attempts from the red center, one of which was successful. Although we know little about ...... middle of paper ...... ader. Additionally, Offred's social status as a Handmaid and her literary status as the main narrator help the reader better understand what the Handmaids experience. The reader witnesses the handmaids' experience of breeding with the commander. Additionally, since Offred is a woman, we witness what it means to be a woman in this strongly patriarchal society. Since “The Handmaid’s Tale” is written from the perspective of a handmaid, we feel empathy towards oppressed women. The characters and events in “The Handmaid’s Tale” demonstrate and educate the reader about life in a totalitarian society. Symbolism, character development, and narrative point of view help the reader recognize people's past and present life experiences. This novel encourages us to better appreciate and value our life in a modern, democratic and open-minded society...
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