The Handmaid's Tale Essay

As a dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale reflected a repressive society, through the first person point of view. Offred, the woman who brings the reader to her daily life in the Republic of Gilead, tells the story as it happens. She also leads the readers to her flashbacks, when Gilead did not exist, the times she still had a husband and daughter, when she was still free, not a property but a person. The title Offred, replaced her real name, demonstrate that she is a property of the Commander Fred. As a handmaid, her only duty is to produce children for the Commander and his wife. The Republic of Gilead created the system which handmaids are assigned to elite couples who have trouble bearing children, due to the low production rates. Her
The handmaid are given three chances to produce a child, which means they have three households to try to fulfill their duty. If the handmaid fail at all three households, they will be exile to colonies where death might even be a better choice. The handmaid are as good as their fertility, once they are “barren” they are no use to Gilead and can be discarded casually.
Under such circumstances, handmaids has no other choice but to find any way they can to be pregnant. Those who become true believers see the pregnancy as a proud badge. Jeanie, a women Offred knew from the Red Center, came to shopping trip so that she can show off her big belly to other handmaids. She became the center of jealousy instantly.
But those who refuse to do as they are told and be a birth machine, as Moira, best friend of Offred, who is independent and rebellious, did not give trying until she successfully escaped the Red Center. Moira and Offred are the ones that remembers the past and have a clear mind about what they have lost since Gilead took control. They do not forget their real name, for they believe one day they will become free again and be themselves