The Handmaid's Tale Final Response

Atwood's society in The Handmaid's Tale portrays that of a negative utopia in which women are very heavily oppressed. The U.S. Government has been overthrown, and new policies have been implemented in which women are divided by class and forced to perform tasks according to the group they are placed in. The Handmaid, which is the group of the main character, serves the function of childbearing. During certain ceremonies, the handmaids have sex with commanders while the wives are present, as to retain the sanctity of marriage. This is to imply that the wife is the person being impregnated, rather than the handmaid. The main character, Offred, gives her accounts of the actions which took place prior to the regime throughout the book. Offred tells of her and her husband's attempted escape and capture. Her husband and daughter were taken from her and she was implemented into the new policies of the regime. Due to the Commander's liking of her, Offred is able to get away with many things and is granted many privileges. She is called into the Commander's room many nights simply for conversation. Women in the regime cherish any luxuries they are able to come by, as they are very few and far between. Throughout the book, many events are similar to those that have occurred throughout history. A theme of history repeating itself is present in nearly every aspect of the regime. The heavy oppression of women is a theme which has been present in many governments throughout history, and it has once again taken place in the futuristic utopia that America developed into.