h between the present and the past, and the narrator's decisions to withhold certain details, they understand the possibility, though unlikely, that this could actually happen. Contrasts are important aspects in the narration of this novel. The obvious contrasts are between other characters, such as between Offred and Moira. There also are the images of past life that Offred creates. These contrast to the new institution of Gilead. Examples of the contrast are the women's rights rallies. Offred would attend with her mother and also Offred's smoking habit. Offred's memories are characterized with a sense of longing and contrast with Offred's calm tone throughout the story. Atwood chose Offred also because of the slight transformation of Offred. Her perception of self and her sexuality has changed considerably. Offred had once had an affair with Luke before their marriage. This can be compared to the meetings that the Commander and Offred have, yet there is obvious discrepancy. When Offred used to meet Luke, there was one sole reason - love. Offred meets with the Commander for the things that represent freedom to her; fashion magazines, silk stockings and lotion. The Commander is simply emphasizing his sense of power. Offred achieves Margaret Atwood's purpose in The Handmaid's Tale. She shows the possibility of a society, due to radical feminism and conservative positions, where women are repressed. This is both a combination of past times and past movements, with a blending of suppression and the dangers of a patriarchal society. The negativity of such a society is clearly evident, and through the scholarly dictation in the "Historical Notes", the reader can comprehend the possibility of a society. Offred narrates in the expected manner with passiveness and deliberate indifference. It is clear that the narrator of the story, the eyes through which the reader looks into the future-and the past, the voice which explains the st...
