The Feministic Handmaid's Tale

The Feministic Handmaid’s Tale

Margret Atwood’s novel: The Handmaid’s Tale is thought to portray a feminist parable of a repressive pseudo-Christian regime of the near future. This feminist tale advocates Atwood’s alignment with Liberal Feminism, a separation from First and Second Wave of Feminism, from the early nineteenth-century roots through 1970s. Offred, the main character - primarily referred to as Jane, defends love as an important human emotion, which leads into the gender roles and romantic relations to be brilliantly problematized this novel. However, in contrast to the much belief of feminism in Atwood’s novels, the female characters are presented in a way which they directly conflict with the idea of women’s empowerment, therefor
Originating from the French and American revolutions in the late 18th century, titled as the First Wave of Feminism, however political views did not come into action until late nineteenth century. It wasn’t until mid-nineteenth century (1960s) that the ‘Second Wave’ of feminism arose with an emphasized support towards sisterhood and unity. Second Wave Feminism is also referenced as the Women’s Liberation Movement, began as what was later called Liberal Feminism. This type of feminism was believed to reform existing political structures to advance the interests of women along civil rights model. Around the world, we are able to see there are few societies, which are not patriarchal. Men have been rulers and are embodiments of power over woman for century’s, their dominancy have created much controversy and struggle around the world. Thus, the strong uprising movement of feministic power and the advocacy of equal dominancy between the
Offred describes her story indulged with sorrow and fear justified by the fact that her body no longer belongs to her; rather it belongs to the Republic of Gilead, becoming a “national resource” (65). Not only does Offred face the totalitarianism, rather all the women of Gilead are stripped of their independence and only remain as property of the state, forbidden from reading, owning property or working. Many women are removed from their families to attend a sort-of school, in which they are prepared to become handmaids of the rich and pampered. Offred composes herself as an object (82) depicting her worth in the world. Atwood delivers a sympathetic view of the bad-treated women of the world in her view. Through [Offred’s] words she displayed woman facing sorrow and only wanting freedom from this male dominant