Handmaid’s Tale †the character of Offred Essay

Margargont Atwoods novel The Handmaids Tale houses a very authentic range of characters, in a complex world. Set in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state, where a reproduction rate is rapidly decreasing, some women are labeled as handmaids and assigned to elite couples that down difficulty conceiving. The soulality of one character in particular, however, may seem hasty and misunderstood at first glance. But given the circumstances, she proves to hold the values of humanity she has her cause traffic circle of opinions, flaws, and apparels has regrets and a balance of courage and care.Furthermore, the setting this character moldiness survive in is not much different from todays society. The g all overnment is deemed corrupt, fear of punishment is in blanded, and the leaders witness that the citizens adhere to the law. Finally, the aid and support that she receives, the faith and hope she has, and the development of friendships she makes also has a aliken ess to everyday relationships in our world. Hence, the novels protagonist, Offred is a relatively relatable individual, especially in terms of her character, her surroundings and her backing roles.Offred conveys a sense of veridicality in her personality as she is not perfect and has her own set of opinions, flaws, and habits. For instance, Offred has m all moments and flashbacks where she reminisces somewhat her past. This implies that she has regrets and obstacles in her life, just as every human being does. When Offred describes her appearance, albeit briefly, it signifies the insecurities that she keeps bottled up inside I am thirty-three years old. I have embrown hair. I protrude five seven without shoes. I have incommode remembering what I used to require like. I have viable ovaries. I have one more chance (Atwood, 143).Had she been proud of what she looked like, she most credibly would have gone into more detail, but the lack of war crys plainly states that she thin ks nothing special about herself. At one focus that she mentions that she does not like to look at herself in the mirror. This shows that she does not look at her self as superior and she is also self-conscious of her own appearance. She also possesses a authorized attributes that any person would possess she is rebellious and disobedient in constricting situations. This is what makes her more interesting and what sets her unconnected from the rest.Although Moira, Offreds best friend, was an even more revolutionary character, she seemed too daring to be true. A real life person would not be likely to pull off stunts that Moira had accomplished, for example escaping from the Red centerfield She had both hands on the lid when she felt something hard and sharp possible metallic dig into her ribs from behind. Dont move, said Moira, or Ill stick it all the way in, I greet where, Ill puncture your lung, I couldnt believe how easy it was to get out of the Center. In that brown outfi t I just walked serious through.I kept going as if I knew where I was heading, till I was out of sight (Atwood, 130, 244). Offred had just enough courage and just enough fear to seem realistic. Keeping these points in mind, it is clear that Offred could have been an ordinary character in our society. The Republic of Gilead, as strange as it may seem, actually has some similarities to the modern day and this is primarily seen by Offreds response to its laws and regulations that they instill. To her, the government appears as corrupt as most governments in this world, and dictators still thrive, just as they do in Offreds society.Offred responds to this by doing nothing, which would be the decision of most people if hale to wait under these conditions. The leaders of Gilead, after all, employ obedient enforcers to make sure that citizens abide by their laws. She mentions this in the book when she retells how the qualifys in her nation started. She describes in full length that she , along with all women in the U. S. , were forced from their jobs by men in uniform carrying machine guns Not fired, he said. Let go. You toilettet work here anymore, its the law (Atwood, 176).The fear of punishment is instilled, akin to the terrors of being imprisoned or given a death sentence in our world. Penalties are dreaded so much in Gilead, for most of the time they are unjustly given out and they vary from hanging to Salvaging which is being shell to death The three bodies hang there, even with the white sacks over their heads looking curiously stretched, like chickens set up up by the necks in a meat shop window like births with their wings clipped, like flightless births, wrecked angels (Atwood, 277). Offred ultimately responds passively, on account of this fear, and because liberal ways are shunned in Gilead.Margaret Atwood was right in not giving Offred any extraordinary abilities to surpass or overthrow the tyrants that ruled over her life as it would result in a l oss of Offreds relatable self. Relationships with other people are a necessity of life that defines human existence. As Offred progresses with day-to-day life, she develops these friendships, which ensure that she exists. The friends and allies that she made were prerequisite for keeping her sanity intact because without any shoulders to lean on in times of sorrow, a persons mental capacity could break.Amongst her friends were Cora, whom Offred was not very close with but did not have any tension with, Ofglen, Moira, her best friend, and Nick, the Commanders chauffeur that Offred opens up to and confides in towards the closure of the story. Offred frequently finds herself seek support and knowledge in people who share the same beliefs and opinions as her, most significantly from Ofglen and Moira. This portrays the doubts about her world that she holds another human quality. From Ofglen, she realizes that she is not alone in thinking that their country is corrupt and that something must be done to change things At last Ofglen speaks.Do you think God listens, she says, to these machines? She is whispering our habit at the Center(Atwood, 168). However from Moira, Offred finds out that escaping from their strict nation is not as easy as she had thought, as Moira could not even arrive at such a courageous feat. Without her supporting roles, Offred could have been an ignorant citizen in Gilead that was brainwashed into believing every word that the government fed them. If that were the case, Offreds community to the readers would have been lost. Furthermore, Offred turns to hope and faith to console her and help her to move on with life.Just as her friends helped her, these virtues aid in protecting her wellbeing though forced, since she had nothing else to look to. The hope that Offreds husband is still alive is very similar to the feelings of families in modern day society that pray for the safe invert of their lost, loved one from war or other degrees of se paration. Faith is introduced to Offred when she acknowledges the pillow in her room with the word faith printed on it Theres a hard cushion on it, with a petit point cover FAITH, in square print surrounded by a wealth of lilies (Atwood, 57).The fact that it is something she can read implies that there is still hope, as not everything has been taken away from her. This knowledge strengthens her belief that change will come, though subconsciously since Offred never mentions it. The faith that she puts into the Commander also ties into the trust she gives him when playing games, recitation magazines and when he brings her to Jezebels He wanted me to play Scrabble with him, He sits me down, and sits himself down beside me. He puts an subdivision around my shoulder (Atwood, 144, 236). Trust is a very common issue that people have trouble giving out.But in examining these elements it is clear Offreds confidantes have impacted her life and how they make her into a real character. The Ha ndmaids Tale is appealing due to its main character, Offred, who shows a great get over of realism in a world of impossibilities. Her character itself is strong-willed, but moderate, and is the perfect mix of what it is to be human. through her, many of the readers can see a bit of themselves in Offred. She is an excellent example of how a unshakable person would behave if they were thrust into the world of The Handmaids Tale.