Gender Roles In The Handmaid's Tale

Topic Question: What understandings of the issue of gender and power are gained from characterization of men and women constructed in the text studied?The notion of power is a fundamental building block of any ancient, modern or futuristic society. The Handmaid 's Tale by Margaret Atwood is an example of the distribution of power across a futuristic society, specifically a patriarchal dystopia. The power which women hold in this society is minimal compared to that held by men, but this is not an unquestionable reality. The issue of gender and power and highly subjective by nature and throughout this novel this fact is emphasized and the topics interrelated. Women demonstrate this power with their possession and use of language, sexuality, choice
In Gileadean society this gives them a huge power advantage due to declining birth rates and increased infertility, sterility and genetically mutated babies. "…a graph, showing the birth rate per thousand, for years and years: a slippery slope, down past the zero line of replacement." [p123] Ironically, it is due to this power advantage that they are suppressed. Suicide is also another intrinsic power which all characters in this novel possess, although, its characterization in the Handmaids is the most prominent. The concept that suicide is an ultimate bid for freedom and exertion of power is an understood perception of characters within The Handmaid 's Tale. The removal of all objects which could be used to hurt oneself from the Handmaid 's rooms portrays this. "I know why there is no glass, in front of the water-coloured picture of blue irises, and why the window only opens partly and why the glass is shatterproof. It isn 't running away they 're afraid of." [p17] as well as Offred 's musings when she believes she will be captured. The notion of suicide becomes very real to her as a means of escape and power. "I could noose the bed sheet round my neck, hook myself up in the closet and throw my weight forward," [p304] These intrinsic powers exist within the characters of The Handmaid 's Tale, the help form
It is a patriarchy which suppresses all women and most men, though men have inherently more rights. This is exemplified through the character of Nick. The characterization of him is paradoxical by nature. In hierarchal terms, Nick has little power. He is a low level guardian without even an Econowife. "He lives here, in the household, over the garage. Low stats: he hasn 't been issued a woman, not one." [p27] He is perceived by those in power to have little of it. "He doesn 't rate." [p27] In reality, he has power. "He has chasms of intangible power. He has knowledge of Mayday either due to his involvement in it or the eyes "It 's all right. It 's Mayday. Go with them" [p305] "Nick, the private Eye." [p305] and has access to the black market. "He has a cigarette stuck in the corner of his mouth, which shows that he too has something he can trade on the black market." [p27] He manages to engage in a physical and emotional relationship with Offred whilst still maintaining the guise of faithful Gileadean citizen though even then, the only reason he able to start this relationship was due to the Commander 's Wife ordering him to bed with Offred. " 'I was thinking of Nick ', she says and her voice is almost soft." [p216] The idea the he influenced this engagement is always a possibility however, as he has initiated contact with her prior to that. "Then he winks." [p28] The power which Nick holds in this