prayers at Soul Scrolls and knitting the Guardians scarves.
Maybe it just something to keep the Wives busy, to give them a
sense of purpose..
But this concept of women being extensions and property of men is one
used in our own society. Though mostly out dated now Mrs Peter
Watson is similar to Ofglen. But practically all terms
for women are the extension of the term for men Mr/s, fe/male,
wo/man. This leads to the idea that Atwood is really just exaggerating
the current situation of the world. The second quote at the beginning of
the book from Swift A Modest Proposal indicates that
The Handmaids Tale is Atwood own satirical view of present
times. In an interview Atwood says theres nothing in the text that
hasn’t already happened some where in the world.. The third quote There is
no sign in the desert that says Thou shalt not eat
stones indicates that she believes Gilead could never come
into existence because of the common sense of people, no one could really
believe in its philosophy and beliefs, the society flaws are too
apparent.
Another interpretation of the novel is that it is a reaction against any
idea that the womans place is in the home, that her sole use is one
of reproduction. It demonstrates where these views could lead if
encouraged or entertained. It gives the idea that men would act that way
if given the power, that they would like to be in control and superior.
That although men outwardly accept and respect women, inwardly they do
not see them as equals I sense in him (the Commander) none of the
animosity I used to sense in men, even in Luke sometimes. He’s not
saying bitch in his head. This quote shows that the Commander
doesn’t feel resentment against her because he’s not expected
to treat her like an equal. He is not threatened by her as men perhaps
would be in our society. In fact it indicates that he is amused by her
will and spirit, he doesn’t take her seriously.
In the novel men control the society outwardly, but the women stay
together and support each other. There is empathy between women of all the
classes, though they have varying status they are all secondary citizens.
Perhaps this suggests that men would act that way, that they are
violent and commanding while women make the best of what they can and
stay supportive. There are few attractive male roles; Nick and Luke are
the only ones who are genuinely kind-hearted and brave. But though the
novel is primarily concerned with women and their positions, it
is not as supportive of feminism as one might expect. Offreds
mother is an extreme feminist and she is often ridiculed and shown as
over the top. A man is just a womans strategy to make
another woman. Gilead fulfils many of the extreme feminist
designs and makes a separate culture for men and women, women valued and
protected from rape and male abuse, the banning of pornography,
cosmetics, and the idea that magazines are degrading to women. You
wanted a womens culture. Well, now there is one. It is not what
you meant, but it exists. Be thankful for small mercies. Moira is
also a radical feminist, Offred has a more common sense and stand
point and she shows us the paradoxes and dilemmas within feminism. She
loves men; she strives for equality as far as possible between the sexes.
We see how extreme feminism can be as ridiculous as the notion of female
oppression and degradation.
Women suffer in Gilead but men too, though not to such an extreme. Their
plight is not concentrated on so much because the main character is a
woman, and their problems are not as diverse as women are. But men
are not ignored by Atwood as much as women are ignored through out the
book and at the end, nearly two hundred years later, by Professor James
Darcy Pieixoto.
The Handmaids tale highlights the dangers of all extreme views,
they are so extreme that they overlap. Offred represents a responsible
and sensible stand point, her only request that of equality and respect,
to be seen as a valid person. Feminism is hard to
define and her mothers hopes for the redundancy of men and
Offreds wishes to be equal can both be seen as feminist. I think
The handmaids Tale is one of common sense, irrespective of what the
view point may be called.