Power In The Handmaid's Tale
As the architects of Gilead knew, to institute an effective tolitarian sytem or indeed any system at all you must offer some benefits and freedoms, at least to a privileged few, in return for those you remove.
In a tolitarian state, Atwood suggests, that people would endure oppression willingly as long as they could receive some slight amount of power or freedom. If any substantial power is taken from people, they will find a way to maintain control over themselves and other individuals. One of the most important themes in 'The Handmaid's Tale' is the presence and manipulation of power.
Offred remembers her mother saying that it is “truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.” Offred's complacency …show more content…
For example, Serena Joy envies Offred for being able to give birth to a child, and Rita envies Offred for being able to go out and do the shopping. The handmaids don't have any freedom, they aren't even allowed to talk and Offred says “such freedom now seems almost weightless” but the regime tries to make people think that they have some freedom. For example, when Offred flirts with the guardians because she wants have some control over something; “I enjoy the power; power of a dog bone, passive but there. She also wants to provoke them which makes her feel more in control and that why she “dropped my pass and let him pick it up for me.” When Offred is alone in the sitting room she “would like to steal something from this room” to at least have control over the object being …show more content…
In Gilead there were many women that were willing to be Aunts; either for traditional values or for the benefits they would require. They would be given a position of command over other woman. Even Serena Joy, who has no power in the world of men, wants to feel that she is in control over something, her household and her tyranny over Offred, to make her feel important, even though her power doesn't really exist; “She likes to keep him waiting”. Serena Joy also wants to have control over the handmaid; “if I get trouble, I'll give troube back.” She jealously guards what little power she has and wields it
In a tolitarian state, Atwood suggests, that people would endure oppression willingly as long as they could receive some slight amount of power or freedom. If any substantial power is taken from people, they will find a way to maintain control over themselves and other individuals. One of the most important themes in 'The Handmaid's Tale' is the presence and manipulation of power.
Offred remembers her mother saying that it is “truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.” Offred's complacency …show more content…
For example, Serena Joy envies Offred for being able to give birth to a child, and Rita envies Offred for being able to go out and do the shopping. The handmaids don't have any freedom, they aren't even allowed to talk and Offred says “such freedom now seems almost weightless” but the regime tries to make people think that they have some freedom. For example, when Offred flirts with the guardians because she wants have some control over something; “I enjoy the power; power of a dog bone, passive but there. She also wants to provoke them which makes her feel more in control and that why she “dropped my pass and let him pick it up for me.” When Offred is alone in the sitting room she “would like to steal something from this room” to at least have control over the object being …show more content…
In Gilead there were many women that were willing to be Aunts; either for traditional values or for the benefits they would require. They would be given a position of command over other woman. Even Serena Joy, who has no power in the world of men, wants to feel that she is in control over something, her household and her tyranny over Offred, to make her feel important, even though her power doesn't really exist; “She likes to keep him waiting”. Serena Joy also wants to have control over the handmaid; “if I get trouble, I'll give troube back.” She jealously guards what little power she has and wields it