Personal Commentary

Altogether, I see Atwood’s version of the struggle for independence and freedom without persecution or amidst oppression a lovely example of a novel embracing feminist principles when male dominance has become overwhelming.  It focuses on the struggles of a woman in a completely totalitarian government situation, performing small acts of rebellion against what she believes to be corruption—even an act as small as stealing a stick of butter to hide in her shoe.  I loved the symbolic connections, good pace within the novel, constant Biblical allusions, point of view, and Offred’s character.  The title itself, The Handmaid’s Tale is interesting in itself.  A tale customarily represents a fable or story, commonly like a fairytale.  If one were to make a connection between Handmaids and a fairytale, a classic would be in reference to the story of “Little Red Riding Hood.”  The girl of this classic wears a long red cape to her grandmother’s house in the woods, and ends up being eaten by the wolf, who pretends to be her grandmother.  This connection is the embodiment of deception, false pretences, secrets, control, and innocence/vulnerability.  Just as Little Red remained vulnerable at the wolf’s hands, Handmaids remain at the mercy of their Commanders and their government. 

The Feminisms opinions made unmistakably obvious throughout the storyline is only the focus of one woman’s point of view during a near-futuristic time of male domination over the female sex: 

The pen between my fingers in sensuous, alive almost, I can feel its power, the power of the words it contains.  Pen Is Envy, Aunt Lydia would say . . . warning us away from such objects.  And they were right, it is envy.  Just holding it is envy.  I envy the Commander his pen.  It’s one more thing I would like to steal.  (186)

Offred admires the Commander, and all men for that matter, their sexual orientations!  The idea pondered here is asking how differently life may have been for her had she been born a man.  Offred’s womanhood is the thing that condemns her to this life of misery, and holding the sexuality of a man is equivalent to the same amount of power sing a pen or writing utensil may possess.  In essence, this novel was spectacular.  The writing was appealing and context fascinating to decipher.  Atwood’s thoughts were clear, decisive, and organized.  The novel presents highly advanced diction and questioning allusions, but all symbols and themes are clear.  The novel, once again, is the representation of feminist individualism and the effects of oppression by gender and societal status.