ISP Essay - The Handmaid's Tale Many fictitious novels written today mirror real life; this tactic can provide readers with a sense of formality. Yet in some cases, fictitious novels provide readers withthe shocking realization of a society's self destruction. I believe The Handmaid's Tale, written byMargaret Atwood, falls in the second category. Issues raised in this novel such as manipulation,public punishment, ignorance, and pollution are problems we face in the world today. Atwood'sconception of the future encompasses many of these problems, and her use of these extremeconditions force readers to recognize her book as a warning; against creating the realities of Gilead inour world today. In the novel, men abuse their power in order to satisfy their personal needs. Onemastermind of the Gileadean Era perfects his control over Offred with each secret visit. As ahandmaid, with the added responsibility of being a companion, she learns of her inevitable servitudetowards her Commander from an old friend. "He's my Commander", I say. She nods. "Some of themdo that, they get a kick out of it. It's like screwing on the altar or something: your gang are supposedto be such chaste vessels. They like to see you all painted up. Just another crummy power trip." -page 228 The Commander's Wife also takes advantage of the power she has over Offred's life. Inreturn for performing the illegal act of having sex with a man other than the Commander, the Wife willproduce a picture of Offred's long-lost child. This form of blackmail cruelly introduces hope toOffred, a notion which has been foreign to her for many years. She suddenly envisions hope ofregaining her previous life, along with all of the rights she once took for granted. The day which beganthis horrible nightmare, is one she will never forget. In this one day, Offred lost her job, access to herlife savings, and any say regarding her future. This is a frighteningly similar situation to an article...
