The Handmaids Tale Essays

But there are some, such as Moira, who never accept the loss of freedom and continue fighting for independence.Oppression and lack of freedom is a common theme in dystopian novels.

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Every other chapter in the book is entitled “Night”. How is Night significant for Offred, and what is it placed in contrast to?

The title of the book, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is deceptively simple. Why might Gilead have chosen the word “Handmaid” to describe the role of these women, rather than something else?

People become so accustomed to their lives that they don’t always see the true dangers of living in a society in which they’re under complete control of the government.

Many people today worry about freedoms being stripped away.

It’s a dystopian society where freedom is virtually non-existent. The narrator, Offred, for instance, often thinks back to her lost freedom, her separation from her family, and her inability to continue any form of education.

In Gilead, both men and women are repressed sexually.

Offred seems to be trapped throughout the book, though other characters have different paths. How do these compare to the choices that men had in determining their fates?

Offred leaves the novel on a deliberately ambiguous note.

Women are no longer known by their own names, but as titles that reflect their roles in society (Handmaids, Wives, or Marthas).

Yet even though freedom has all but vanished, many simply do as they’re told.