Offred describes her narrative as "A limping and mutilated story". How does this image relate to either the structure or content of "The Handmaids Tale"?

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Offred describes her narrative as “A limping and mutilated story”. How does this image relate to either the structure or content of “The Handmaids Tale”?

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel told by a handmaid called Offred. Deprived from her own name and legal rights her job along with other handmaids is to produce offspring for elite barren couples against her will. She continually lives in fear of being sent to the Colonies as an Unwoman if she does not produce a child. Offred is under constant surveillance from the commander’s wife and other female servants, so she cannot afford to disobey the rules. Throughout the novel we admire Offred for her courage in coping with the limping and mutilated situations.

Right from the start of the novel it prepares us for the events to come. When we read; “Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth patrolled; they had electric cattle prods slung on thongs from their leather belts” we are shocked because it makes the association between these women and breeding animals. There is an element of irony right from the start because normally we would associate “Aunts” to be close friends or family not with cattle prods. It is believed the dislocated opening emphasises the fear and confusion to come.

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It is believed Offred’s description of her narrative can be associated with her relationship with the commander’s wife (Serena Joy). There is strong contrast between the two characters, one young and dressed in red and the other elderly and dressed in pale blue. Serena Joy is a more powerful character and opposes Offred because of her position in the Gilead society. Offred’s job is to produce Offspring (because Serena Joy is infertile) and in order to do this she must have sex with Serena Joys husband. “The commander and I have an arrangement ……….The difficulty is the wife as always” ...

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