result in no ambition. This consequence is alsodesigned to hinder the nurturing need most women experience throughout their lives. The governmenthas determined that without this need, the handmaids should become less attached to the childrenthey bear. The government also dejects any acts of heroism, which can come from the same need tohelp others. The unfair and cruel methods of control used by the Gileadean government is taken toofar when the handmaids are not only forced to ignore the needs of the less fortunate, they arecompelled to kick 'em while they're down. The two Guardians let go of the third man's arm and stepback. He staggers - is he drugged? - and falls to his knees. His eyes are shrivelled up inside the puffyflesh of his face, as if the light is too bright for him. They've kept him in darkness ... I know thatwhatever he's done I can't touch him ... He says something. It comes out thick, as if his throat isbruised, his tongue huge in his mouth, but I hear it anyway. He says, "I didn't . . ." There's a surgeforward, ... [Ofglen] pushes him down, sideways, then kicks his head viciously, one, two, threetimes, sharp painful jabs with the foot, well-aimed. Now there are sounds, gasps, a low noise likegrowling, yells, and the red bodies tumble forward and I can no longer see, he's obscured by arms,fists, feet. A high scream comes from somewhere, like a horse in terror. - page 262 Fortunately, oursociety has not yet strayed completely from civilized behaviour. Rather, we are learning to aid thosein need as we learn about the harm ignorance causes vs. the benefits true unity and kindness grant us.In Bombay, "campaigners for women's rights are attempting to put and end to an ancient Indiantransaction that forces young girls to join a Hindu religious cult that turns them into prostitutes forlife."1 (Ehrlich) Women's groups are now trying to take the cult to court, in order to spare theseyoung girls from exploitation. The concern thes...
