FREE ESSAY ON THE HANDMAIDS TALE

THE HANDMAIDS TALE

September 18,2000
James 
Fall 2000
Atwood, Margaret.1986."The Handmaids Tale."
The Handmaids Tale focuses itself on some past history of societies that once 
were and to some extent may be reality of today. The main characters face certain 
uncertainty unless they follow the rules of the society and accept their position within
the society. 
One must contemplate whether there may be any risk, large or small, that the current
society we live in may be susceptible to this type of change. If you consider the base to
be that of old day Puritan values with some additional changes within the culture 
there are individuals of both sexes that would accept the altered way of life. 
Considerations to other world powers, not necessarily superpowers, could influence and
change due to religious beliefs as well as terrorism to bring in change. Many would
believe that this would not happen in the society of today within the United States as
there are governing bodies, laws, and political beliefs to protect the freedom of
individuals. Any threats to the society are dealt with by the Armed Forces or local
Police Forces. There was little mention of a large armed force within the story line
suggesting the takeover and the creation of the new government. The detail of the story
suggests that the government was abolished within an extremely short period of time that
may have left the remaining to surrender or face certain death. This sudden change
brought the country to its knees that resulted in the quick takeover by the new regime.
This level of takeover would require either a large atomic revolution or a biological
warfare of great magnitude. Uncertainty within some third world countries could lead to
attempts of these types of risks. These countries are viewed as terrorist based or
unstable political governments who will spend what is required to obtain the power. The
Indian government is an example of this in today's world as well as the case of Iraq of
the past few years. 
However, the story is based on Gilead with its boundaries best described to be the former
city of Cambridge Massachusetts. This city had checkpoints with guards and walls to
contain the limits. It also allowed visitors to the city for people to view the culture
and its habitants. This would leave one to believe this could have been an isolated case
that may have resulted in the takeover of a state or city alone, and if so how would it
survive attacks from governing bodies?
Current history has a case that could assimilate the Handmaids tale in Gilead. This case
is of the cult within the Waco Texas society that was attacked by the FBI and forced to
surrender under terms not even considered to be humane by some. This society lived by its
own rules and beliefs in both religion and with force. The government of the U.S.
monitored the cult closely until such a time determined it was time to action for the
release of the people. This action by the government led to the total destruction of all
of the members of the community by certain death from the attack on the camp.
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Each Handmaid was considered to be "OF" their commander. These symbolisms placed
ownership of the Handmaid directly to the commander and all were on equal statuses.
Offred, Ofglen, Ofwarren, to name a few, were the Handmaids of Fred, Glen, and Warren.
The "OF" prefix also can be construed to be demeaning to the Handmaid placing herself
within the ranks of the household she resided in. Although the rank of the Handmaid could
be considered to be somewhat of importance, if fertile, there were many more downsides. 
In today's society it is customary for the bride to adopt the name of the groom. This
practice is considered by some to be completely acceptable yet to others extremely vain.
Many brides now make it a point to either add the groom family name after their own or
make the point to maintain each original family name. In the latter cases it is more of
the family name carrying some sort of importance within the society or the wish of the
family to maintain the existence of the family name. It is not unheard of for the groom
to adopt the brides name if there are no other males within the generation to carry on
the bride's family name.
With the divorce rate maintaining its level of almost 50% it leaves many families with
choices to make. Many of these families with children residing with the mother have the
mother maintain the grooms name if adopted during the wedding. This is done for reasons
of the children's upbringing within school districts and also within the society being
that it is completely acceptable.
To some males there may be great differences between both parties and potentially both
families if the bride wishes to maintain her maiden name. Dependent on the families'
social status or heritage it may be considered to be unethical. It would not be
surprising that these differences could become irreconcilable differences leading to
break ups prior to the marriages.
Although the practice could be considered similar the difference lies in the ownership of
the Handmaid within this story that is not a practice within the society of today in the
U.S.