Literature Analysis #2

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

1. The main character, Offred, is one of a whole class of women kept as concubines (or "handmaids") for reproductive purposes because humans now live in an era of declining births due to pollution and STDs. Offred tells the story living an oppressed life, offering snippets of her past about her husband and daughter who were taken away. Offred lives under the roof of the Commander along with his wife and tens of other handmaids, all of whom hope to become impregnated by the Commander. Although the Commander is only supposed to have sex with Offred during a designated time, he secretly begins to spend more time with her, developing an illegal and strange relationship. He reveals to her hidden/ illegal aspects of society, like cosmetics and cigarettes. The Commander's wife, Serena Joy, also secretly arranges for Offred to have sex with Nick, a car driver, in an effort to get Offred pregnant. When Serena Joy learns about and reveals Offred's secret relationship with the Commander, Offred is taken away in a black van by men from the secret police, part of a resistance organization called the "Mayday."
2. One main theme is women in subjugation and how they combat it. The book begins with a (believed to be) Islamic terrorist attack that kills most members of the government, and the terrorists quickly take rights away from women, even banning them from reading. This first generation still remembers freedom before the terrorist attack, and they are constantly reminded of that and how their children will be raised unknowing of the freedom their parents had. The women are taken away and held in what is basically a concentration camp, forced into a sexual relationship to birth a baby. Offred and a few other women secretly go around the rules, talk about what happens outside their residence, whisper about their old life, etc. And at the end, Offred is taken away in hopes that she can join the resistance against the terrorist organization.
3. The tone is solemn and gloomy. "I am not a concubine, or a geisha girl, but just a tool; a two-legged womb." -Offred. She knows that there is no hope of escaping from the new reality. She and the other women must accept what has happened and move on as best they can. Offred remains unfeeling and indifferent. "What he is fucking is the lower half of my body. I do not say making love, because this is not what he is doing. Copulating too would be inaccurate, because it would imply two people and only one is involved. Nor does rape cover it: nothing is going on here that I haven't signed up for." -Offred. She and the other handmaids cannot combat what is happening. They have no power against the Commanders, and they all know that. They live sad, oppressed lives now. "We're without emotion now, almost without feeling... What confronts us now... is our own failure." -Offred. There is so much pressure on the women to bear a child, to give birth to a healthy baby. They feel the immense weight that they bear because fertility is so low and population could increase. But there is no excitement of having a child like there was before the terrorist attack because he or she will be sent away to live a less than meaningful life in a deteriorating country.
4. Atwood uses bildungsroman in the growing and developing characterization of Offred. Deus ex machina when Offred was suddenly taken away by a group that was maybe the "Mayday" resistance. Flashbacks to memories of Offred and her husband and daughter. Foil of Offred and Aunt Lydia, one ready to free herself and the other following rules to a T. Euphemisms, calling the women "handmaids," sterile women "unwomen." 

Characterization:

1. "I am thirty-three years old. I have brown hair." page 143. "I stand five seven without shoes." page 147. "Her ring digs into my hand; this may or may not be revenge... she continues lying straight as a board." page 95. 
2. Atwood's diction and syntax don't change when describing characters or setting. She is constant in her descriptive language, dialogue, etc. She is plain-fully descriptive. Everything is matter-of- fact and succinct. 
3. Offred is a static character. Her personality and morals don't change. Rather an opportunity arises to escape and she takes it. She does what all the other handmaids do to survive, and that is to lay in bed and hope to become impregnated. Her intrinsic indulgences and desires never faded, but they were rather muted or forcefully turned off.
4. This book was very odd and unique. I had a hard time reading because the subject was a bit gruesome. I feel like I read a character that many people can relate to. Offred was forced into subjugation and she was doing whatever necessary to survive one day at a time. Then the Commander showed her special interest, and she did what any person would do: relish it and take it .