The Role of Power and Oppression in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)

Expanding the Roles:
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is set in a dystopian future where a totalitarian regime has stripped women of their rights, forcing them into reproductive servitude. The protagonist, Offred, struggles to maintain her autonomy and sense of self in the face of extreme oppression. For literature students, The Handmaid’s Tale is an essential text for exploring the intersection of gender, power, and personal autonomy.

• Power and Control Over Women’s Bodies:
  The novel critiques the patriarchal control over women’s bodies and reproductive rights in the society of Gilead. Students can explore how Atwood uses this dystopian society to critique the ways in which real-world societies attempt to control women’s autonomy and bodies.

• Resistance and Agency:
  Despite the oppressive regime, Offred’s internal resistance and desire for autonomy reflect the universal struggle for freedom. Literature students can analyze how Atwood portrays personal agency in the face of overwhelming societal control and the moral complexities of defiance.

What We Learn:
The Handmaid’s Tale provides literature students with a powerful critique of patriarchy, power, and oppression. The novel urges readers to reflect on the importance of gender equality and the need for resistance against systems of control.