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Women In The Handmaid's Tale

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Women In The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood takes place in the Republic of Gilead, in which women are placed in certain groups and stripped of their identity. Gilead focuses on bringing back old religious aspects into life by dividing individuals into biblical groups. The women especially the main character Offred is completely stripped of her name and possessions as well as being forced to not be able to talk, read, or write. In Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood, the government of Gilead uses religious fear tactics in order to turn women against each other and strengthen their power. The Republic of Gilead maintains its power through use of religion and fear. The society is forced to follow strict laws in order to not get punished and to follow Gods word. The women therefore are obligated to follow the laws and one states that women must bear children. This law causes the women to turn against each other because they feel like failures to their husbands. One example of this is Serena, who was an accomplished and outspoken women is now …show more content…
The women must believe that they are created in order to bear children, to be silent, and to stay home. This can be seen when the text states “I am alive, I live, I breathe, I put my hand out, unfolded, into the sunlight. Where I am is not a prison but a privilege” (6 Atwood), the women believe they are not being oppressed but God has intended them to live this way, they do not feel as if they are trapped or used as sexual objects. By using “I’ after each verb the character is trying to communicate that she has freedom and she is able to do such things freely, she believes that it is a ‘privilege’ given to her rather than a confinement. The government deceiving the women in this way causes them to gain more power as they agree to conform to the new changes. Even Offred’s escape from this system is by sheer luck rather than her will to
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