In "The Handsmaids Tale" explore how Atwood creates a sense of isolation and threat in the opening chapters

Our first solely experience of isolation is through Olfactory, our first experience of this is in the descriptive narrative of chapter two, ‘I thought I could smell...’, this is also our first endeavour of rebellion because it is something that the Aunts cannot stop, they have managed so far to stop communication and the language that they may use; everything is scripted mainly because of the time period which is set within the times of uncertainty because the communities where infiltrated with spies and informants. With the Handmaids having no possibility of being punished for their sense of smell, this is one small but significant moment for them to act rebellious. I feel that because Offred is acting rebellious at such an early stage this could be foreshadowing that there is some form of rebellion is to take place later on in the book. Atwood may have done this to show that even early on in the book that the fear is never ending, something of which Atwood has decided to show fear in a multitude of way.

We are introduced to the formidable ‘Angels’ in the first Chapter, not all of the Angles are Guards; they have been specifically picked out. We are informed that the Angles never venture ‘inside to the building’ (which was Harvard University in a previous life) which creates a sense of threat, because this suggests the idea to the fact why are the Handmaids under constant surveillance, which conveys the concept that for whatever they a participating in unknowingly they are vital for whatever is going on there. For the Handmaids they are in a position of uncertainty because they are in an environment that is surrounded by distrust throughout society. Atwood may felt that naming a form of Guard as an ‘Angel’ would be ironic for the reader, given the fact the reader would associate the word Angels, to something innocent, but also that of purity which ironic given to the fact of what they actually do; walking around the outside of the building with weapons. It could also make the reader presume that it is a threat because it is often linked to the concept that the ‘Angels’ will lead you to which ever path you may desire with their blinding light.

The description of the narrators room does arouse suspicions, I would personally think this because; ‘a chair, a table, a lamp... white ceiling, a relief ornament in the shape of a wreath’, Atwood has created it with such a simplistic room description that she has described, this may be to suggest that the Handmaids should think in a simplistic way which is mirrored in how she describes her room.  Atwood may have felt that if the room was full of interesting objects it would make their mind think and create curiosity and object to the harsh conditions that they live in and to whatever they are vital in. It is very ordered with what is being said so it initiates the idea that the contents of each rooms, it gives a feel the feel that the contents of the rooms are standardized throughout the Republic of Gilead. Atwood has used the word ‘wreath’ which is commonly associated with people for remembering the deceased in a way of paying tribute to them. Though a ‘wreath’ is also used at Christmas and is placed on doors, which gives the term that it is partially an oxymoron. In the context that it is used in this book I would personally think that the ‘wreath’ refers to an event that had happened with the previous Handmaid. This does create a sense of threat because why would Atwood feel the need to describe something that has such bad connotations associated with it. There is isolation with the Handmaid due to the fact she cannot ask questions to people as they may wonder why she has such an interest into the subject.

It seems that this book is very ambiguous for interpretation, already. I feel this because it already has such a large amount of threat and isolation already playing quite a large role. I think Atwood is making this narrative novel show what can happen when threat and isolation plays such a key in society, and how it must not happen. Overall, you can tell that the ending is unlikely to be one where everything is resolved without death or betrayal.