Narrative Essay

Jose Manuel Duran

September 2, 2015

4B

Narrative Essay 1

        The theocratic republic of Gilead has adopted a follow or die approach to every aspect of society, where intolerance and strict conservative morals have become the new normal. Published in 1985, The Handmaid’s Tale is a brilliantly well written novel by Margaret Atwood, in which she criticizes the current waves of repression, especially towards minority movements such as Feminism and homosexuality, that were going on in the world, particularly in the United States. Society was backlashing at the sexual revolutions of the previous decades, calling for the reintroduction of traditional christian values of morals into American life. Atwood creates a fictitious scenario, which takes place in the United states,  where a theocratic government has thrown out the previous government and installed rigorous moral and societal standards, drastically changing the manner in which people were accustomed to live. The novel revolves around the life of Offred, a Handmaid, whose sole purpose is to bear a high ranking general a child. Atwood chose the protagonist of the story, Offred,  to be the narrator throughout the novel. Hence, we are introduced to the novel through the eyes of Offred and her eyes alone, making the novel all the more compelling.

        Being both the protagonist and the narrator of the novel, it is imperative that one pay attention to Offred’s character and involvement throughout the novel, for it will determine the way in which the audience interprets the novel. Rather than having the novel revolve around a “hero”, Atwood chooses an ordinary woman, to drive the novel. However, the reader does not really know who Offred is. Her name is not presented, nor is her physical appearance described in the novel. What we know about Offred is that she has “fertile ovaries”, and that her only obligation is to be impregnated by the general. The only mention to her real name is one of complete disregard, where she compares her name to a “telephone number, it is only useful to others”. (p. 84) This demonstrates how Offred herself is not as important as the role she represents within society. Being treated as a second class citizen, who is only needed for her procreative nature, is what Atwood was trying to achieve with Offred. The purpose of having Offred’s character conceal certain aspects of her identity, was to highlight the situation in which she finds herself, so that other women may feel represented through her character.

        Even though many aspects of Offred are not relevant throughout the novel, we do get to know her individuality by the manner in which the narration takes place. Asides and flashbacks are pivotal to Offred’s development as a character. Through her memories, we are able to glimpse at what her life used to be before the new ruling body took power. We know that she had a daughter, a husband, and a rather normal life where she could live free of all the restrictions and duties that are appointed to handmaidens. Through Offred’s memory we are able to contrast the joyful and happy memories she had with her family, with the oppression and lack of freedom she is forced to live with in the present. Through this juxtaposition we are able to understand who Offred was before the “catastrophe” happened and why she has become the person she is. Even though her memory is very significant to her individuality, the asides throughout the novel are more representative of who she is, rather than who she was. Through these we know that despite her being a reserved person, she continues to conserve some of her identity. Offred does not lash out at the system like moira, but she also does not obey every rule and command given to her. Reading is outlawed in Gilead (only for women), yet she reads and rereads the word “faith”, which is carved out in her room. This shows how even though she has been robbed of most of her individuality, she still fights to conserve some aspects of the person she used to be.

...