Handmaid’s Tale Essay Example

connection such as kissing is strictly prohibited.

Offred perceives sex as a detestable act that she is compelled to perform so as not to be exiled to the colonies. Sex in this society serves no other purpose than reproduction. Offred values all her relationships, but the ones with her ex-spouse Luke, the Commander, and his chauffeur Nick are particularly significant. Her relationship with the Commander is complex and leads to many complications. As a Handmaid of both him and his wife Serena Joy, they have complete control over her, as evidenced by her patronymic name which symbolizes ownership.

Offred and the Commander have a heavily regulated relationship, limited to their encounters during the grotesque threesome known as "the Ceremony." This act involves the Commander attempting to impregnate Offred, who lies between Serena Joy's thighs. Offred questions who has it worse: herself or Serena Joy. The Commander is legally considered Offred's "husband" in Gilead, but their dynamic is complicated by the fact that she is also like a mistress to him, serving as the third person in his relationship with his wife. Despite this official arrangement, the Commander is dissatisfied.

Despite being a follower of the regime that established the system, the Commander breaks its rules and calls for Offred to come to his study each evening. Offred views the Commander as a fatherly figure and compares herself to a child called to the principal's office, thus demonstrating paternalism symbolism. The Commander shares a passion for language with Offred, leading to a close relationship between them, and she willingly plays scrabble with him whenever he summons her. In exchange for her companionship, the Commander gives Offred items

that she cannot normally access, including lotion, magazines, social interaction, and knowledge.

Offred finds Scrabble to be erotically pleasing since language has been prohibited in her society, much like sex was in the past. The forbidden nature of Scrabble and other emotions once considered normal have now become an object of desire and indecency. The mechanical acts of physical intimacy have replaced the genuine emotions previously associated with them. Offred describes Scrabble as if it were a drug offered to her, encapsulating the allure of what is taboo in her society.

The current society has redefined the value of things. What previously held no significance is now considered inappropriate, sexual and confidential. Conversely, items that were once deemed erotic are now deemed insignificant. Offred employs phrases like "voluptuous," "glossy," "luxury," "candies" and "peppermint" when describing the scrabble pieces. She engages all her senses to convey her fascination with them.

By using them to create the words she craves, she demonstrates her ability. The Commander's conduct conveys two pivotal concepts that the novel investigates. Firstly, by prioritising his own desires above the rules he should adhere to, he showcases the corruption often present in totalitarian regimes. Furthermore, he highlights that even people in positions of power require human connection and interaction, and yearn for basic pleasures such as playing Scrabble and forming genuine relationships.

According to the Commander, humans also have a need for affection and he wants a genuine kiss from Offred. She appreciates the particular bond she shares with him as it fills a void in her life and gives her a sense of purpose. Despite deluding herself, this sentiment makes her feel valued beyond just being

a reproductive vessel. The Commander sees her as more than just a vessel to be used and not merely a hollow entity.

"I am a survivor," remarks Offred, while also acknowledging her conflicted feelings towards her relationship. Though she is hesitant to do anything that might endanger her life or break the law, she feels compelled to comply with the Commander's demands and act as an obedient pet. Despite her awareness of the danger she faces as a mere whim of his, she is tasked with donning a costume and accompanying him to Jezebel's, a brothel, where she is exhibited as his possession and expected to display genuine affection. Offred grasps the intricacies of the situation, pondering, "Maybe none of this is about control."

Offred suggests that the crucial factor in relationships is not necessarily about domination or impunity, but rather the ability to perform actions and receive forgiveness. She differentiates this from other perspectives and claims it is not equivalent. Offred’s connection with Nick is akin to a romantic fantasy, marked by instant chemistry when she first observes him polishing a car.

Nick's presence is immediately noticeable as his boot touches my foot. I experience a softening sensation in my shoe, accompanied by warmth and the feeling of my foot becoming a part of my skin.

Offred comments that her first encounter with Nick was set up by Serena Joy in the hopes that he would be more successful than the Commander at impregnating her. Serena Joy treats Offred like a child and promises to treat her and give her a photo of her daughter if she sleeps with Nick and becomes pregnant. Despite the danger,

Offred continues to engage in a sexual relationship with Nick.

Offred's desire for human interaction outweighs her survival instinct, as shown by her statement: "I did not do it for him, but for myself entirely…I did not feel munificent, but thankful, each time he would let me in" and her admission that she took risks to see Nick: "After being with the commander I would go upstairs in the usual way, but then I would go along the hall…Then I would knock softly, a beggar’s knock." Despite this recklessness, Nick and Offred share a genuine relationship with mutual emotions.

"Trust me," Nick assures Offred before kissing her. Offred feels a sense of guilt and believes something is amiss every time they kiss. She recalls her two-year affair with Luke, which took place before he divorced his wife.

Offred's best friend Moira disapproves of her affair. Offred and Luke were happily married until after the revolution when women lost their jobs and bank accounts were transferred to their husbands. Offred realizes that their relationship has changed. She thinks that Luke enjoys the power he has over her due to the government's economic policies. Offred feels they are no longer each other's; she belongs to Luke.

In the text below, we observe Offred's relationships with three men which demonstrate the interaction between genders and the treatment of men and women in society. Offred is fearful of revealing her financial dependence and this ultimately leads to negative consequences. The novel portrays a society where women are defined and controlled by their fertility, creating a feminist nightmare. However, we see that men are also repressed in this society as Nick's relationship with

Offred displays his lack of control and the absence of his own female partner. Despite the Commander and Luke's lack of action, Nick selflessly rescues Offred from arrest, possibly risking his own life. Thus, the relationships in the novel reveal the repression and control present in this dystopian society for both genders.

According to the text, "He doesn't rate", but Nick is actually a hero for helping Offred in a society where human contact is repressed and she often feels lonely. Offred depends on Nick's presence for support.

Offred wants the Commander to assign her tasks, provide companionship, and indulge in forbidden scrabble games. Prior to Gilead, her former husband, Luke, fulfilled both roles just as the Commander and Offred share a power dynamic. These relationships underscore the theme of the importance of human interaction as they illustrate how the absence of intimacy in Gilead causes individuals to yearn for affection and support to keep living.