Illustrate the Significance of the 'Night' sections in the 'Handmaid's Tale'

The Night sections not only show the reader the type of society Gilead is, it also gives us a lot of information on Offreds personality. We know from reading the night chapters that Offred was and is quite a determined character deep down. We know that she is sensitive because when remembering her memories, she frequently has to stop telling the reader what happens next because she finds them too painful to remember. This also conveys to the reader that Offred may be slightly nostalgic about her past, but stops herself remembering too much.

It is only at night that we learn of Offreds affair with a married man named Luke and their daughter who is only and always referred to as 'Her'. Offred explains that she does this because she prefers to think that her child is dead and that it is less painful for her to remember her this way. The 'Night' sections tell Offreds tale up until she becomes a handmaid, so as well as the continuing story, whenever a 'Night' section appears in the novel, 'Offreds' tale is told.

We also learn about Offreds beginnings in the Red Centre and her best and much loved fearless friend Moira. We learn about Offreds peers and how Moira tries to escape and undermine the society they are stuck in. she succeeds. By Offred remembering Moira's tale at night, it comforts Offred with a message of hope that she may yet find her 'escape' and find Luke again. The 'Night' chapters are significant for bringing hope to Offred by remembering stories of escape and her husband and that it may be possible to escape.

In chapter eighteen Offred is thinking about Luke and thinking of the outside world. She questions herself whether Luke is still alive and if he is, does he know where she is and is he plotting their escape. Throughout this chapter, Offred continually repeats the word 'Believe'. She says- 'This is what I believe... I believe...Does Luke believe?' .By repeating the word 'believe', it almost begins to sound prayer like to the reader after a few paragraphs. Margaret Atwood may have wanted to make chapter eighteens 'night' section to sound prayer like so convey to the reader that whilst Offred is in such deep thought about Luke and escaping, she is unaware that she sounds as though she is praying. Gilead does not allow reading and religion is a bit of a taboo as to who is allowed to read and believe what. This night section once again signifies how society has changed, how cut off Offred is from news of the outside world and how she can no longer pray out loud unless commanded to.

The 'Night' chapters occur regularly throughout the chapter. This is suggestive of the regularity of Offreds daily regime and gives the reader a strong sense of routine that the handmaids endure each day. The night chapters also symbolize the routine of Gilead's whole society and ruling- the ceremonies, the salvagings, the daily walks and prayvaganzas. Their routine is strict and the same.

The 'Night' sections are significant throughout the 'Handmaids tale'. They bring hope and sadness to Offred, sometimes at the same time. Her memories help her to stay strong and deal with her current situation whilst informing the reader of important characters that were dearly loved by Offred in her past. The 'Night' chapters tell Offreds tale and not the collective and generalized 'Handmaids tale'. This helps to make the story more personal and real to the reader by almost hearing straight from Offreds mind what she is feeling and how she has felt in her past. This is significant also to the reader because expression of personal feelings and even speaking is now so restricted in Offreds current society. Not only do the 'night' sections help us understand Offreds ordeals but they are essential to make the story flow smoothly because speech is not frequently used.