Margaret Atwood is a poet as well as a novelist. Comment on some of the recurring images used by Atwood in the novel.

University Degree Linguistics, Classics and related subjects

The Handmaid’s Tale – Assignment Three

Margaret Atwood does indeed use a variety of different and recurrent images throughout the novel. Her use of imagery makes the story challenging, whilst at the same time painting a more visual understanding for the reader. Two important themes run through the story, biblical images relating to the ideology of Gilead and on the other hand more personal and feminine imagery portrayed by Offred. This makes the novel more human in my opinion.

The first quotation in the book draws our attention to Genesis, 30:1-3:

‘And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children…’

This refers to the story of Jacob and his two wives, Rachel and Leah, and their handmaids who are required to bare children for them. It is repeated many times in the text, and there is a reminder of it in the name of the Rachel and Leah Centre and also in Offred’s remark:

‘Give me children, or else I die’ (Chapter 11, page 71)

There is also a long passage from the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:9-15):

‘I will that women adorn themselves in modest apparel….’ and further on; Notwithstanding, she shall be saved by childbearing…’ (Chapter 34, page 233)

Biblical names are given to the characters in the novel; for example, the law enforcers are named ‘Guardian Angels’ or ‘Eyes of the Lord’. Women’s roles are also given a biblical significance, for example, the ‘Handmaids’ and the ‘Marthas’.

References to the Bible, are repeated throughout the story, ...

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‘Give me children, or else I die’ (Chapter 11, page 71)

There is also a long passage from the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:9-15):

‘I will that women adorn themselves in modest apparel….’ and further on; Notwithstanding, she shall be saved by childbearing…’ (Chapter 34, page 233)

References to the Bible, are repeated throughout the story, supporting the religion-based imagery created by the writer at the very beginning of the novel.

As mentioned above, the imagery created by Offred is of a very feminine and personal nature. Sometimes she uses the same object but sees it in a different way at different times e.g. in the case of the wreath on the ceiling in her bedroom.

On her arrival at the Commander’s house she sees it as:

‘…In the shape of a wreath and in the centre of it a blank space, plastered over, like a fact where the eye has been taken out.’ (Chapter 2, page 17)

Here it represents the shape her life is taking, the never-ending circle of repetition and emptiness.

However, when an exhausted Offred returns to her room after the birth of Ofwarren’s baby, the blank space in the wreath is filled with many colourful images. It is almost as though her thoughts are brought to life and projected onto the ceiling as in a video, as her mind drifts from one thing to another.

‘Today it makes me think of a hat…’

And then a little further on, a total change of topic:

‘In a minute the wreath will start to colour and I will begin seeing things.’ (Chapter 22, page 138)

At this time Offred’s view of the wreath is a comprehensive mix of colour and topics.

Further into the story, it returns again to the despair she feels at the futility of her life, running in circles. She describes the wreath as:

‘…Like a frozen halo, a zero. A hole in space where a star exploded…’ (Chapter 31, page 210)

Cleverly, the writer guides the reader through the circular journey undertaken by Offred.

Imagery relating to the moon is also to be found within the text:

‘I wish to be totally cleaned, germless, without bacteria, like the surface of the moon’ (Chapter 12, page 74)

This is a reference to the sterile lifeless environment in which Offred has to exist.

As time goes on Offred sees the moon from different views as she did with the wreath:

‘The moon is a stone and the sky is full of deadly hardware, but oh God, how beautiful anyway’ (Chapter 17, page 108)

Here, emotionally Offred allows her heart to rule her head, and longs to be reunited in love with Luke. She acknowledges that there is little hope of her dream being realised. Throughout the book there are further references to the moon.

During the novel, one can identify other recurrent images; flowers, gardens, changing seasons, colour and light, etc. As seen earlier, Margaret Atwood very effectively uses these recurring images to enhance her writing enabling the reader to more fully appreciate her work.