Examine relationships between women in the novel "The handmaids tale".

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Alex Hayes

English Essay 2

01/01/2005

Examine relationships between women in the novel

Gilead is a dystopian society constructed by men such as the Commander who lay down rules by which women's lives are defined by their roles.

Offred’s role is that of procuring children for couples, Commander and wife, who are unable to have their own. A Handmaid “A two legged womb”

 Offred is now forbidden any kind of communication and made to lead a life bound by slavery in this totalarian state stripped of all personal possessions, families, memories and finally identities, the women of Gilead are categorized objects, made to wear uniforms named after their Commander. The powerlessness of all women in Gilead prevents them from recognizing their common enemy, the males and the power and control they have over Gilead.

 When Offred and Serena first meet there is a scene of tension to see how Serena, a fertile old woman with a chin “like a clenched fist” is going to accept a younger better looking fertile woman into her house to sleep with her husband. “I want to see as little of you as possible” Serena coldly spurts out to Offred, “I was disappointed, I wanted, then to turn her into an older sister, a motherly figure, someone who would understand and protect me”. Offred clearly has been welcomed not as she was expecting, however Offred and Serena are both alike in this state, they both want a child, and the attention of the both focuses on commander of whom Serena is very possessive over “As for my husband, she said, he’s just that. My husband” In the same chapter, the third, we also find out that Offred has already heard information about a past handmaid off the Martha’s, is this a sign she relates better with the Martha’s?

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 Rita and Cora are the names of the Martha’s who are responsible for cooking and cleaning, household duties. Rita shows no sympathy for Offred's situation but identifies with another Martha who has been accidentally shot, Cora however is more understanding as she frowns at Offred to disagree with how she has to dress, the Martha’s and Handmaids are not allowed to fraternize according to Luke, Offred’s boyfriend from the time before. Offred previously chose not to speak in demonstrations in the time before, like her Mother and Moira, the rebels. Moira, who never became a Handmaid but a full time ...

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