An essay written as extra work, graded A+, on the theme of Oppression in The Handmaid's Tale.
Note: the essay was a practice essay submitted to a teacher prior to studying quotes and hence, it focuses predominantly on the theme and not the quotes.
Oppression
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood features oppression as a pervasive and central
theme. The novel takes place in a dystopian society under the rule of a totalitarian governance
known as Gilead, which has taken control of the population and assessed strict regulations on
them. The novel's protagonists, the biddies, are particularly affected by this power dynamic
because the government rigorously controls and oppresses their lives.
Through the perpetration of strict regulations that circumscribe individual liberty, the Gilead
governance maintains its grip on the crowd. The" Commanders," or members of the ruling
nobility, make use of their authority to put their will on the population and exclude any dissent or
opposition. Because they're impelled to bear children for the ruling nobility, who are unfit to
conceive on their own, and because the governance rigorously controls and regulates their
lives, the biddies are particularly affected by this oppression.
The novel also looks into the way oppression affects people's internal and emotional countries.
The biddies are stripped of their independence and individuality and forced to conform to the
governance's prospects. Any deviance from this is met with severe discipline, and they're
subordinated to constant surveillance and indoctrination in the testament of the governance.
insulation, despair, and a diminished sense of tone- worth result from this pressure to conform.
The power of individualities to repel the government's control is also the subject of the novel's
disquisition. Offred, the main character, struggles with the oppression she goes through and
how it affects her internal and emotional state. Offred is suitable to maintain her sense of tone
and humanity in the face of the government's attempts to control her. Through her inner studies
and recollections, as well as her connections with other characters who give her a sense of
stopgap and community, she's suitable to repel the government's control.
In conclusion, The Handmaid's Tale is a potent look at oppression. The novel demonstrates
how a totalitarian government can circumscribe individual freedom by administering strict
regulations. It also looks into how people can repel this control and keep their humanity and
sense of tone. The story serves as a warning about the troubles of rough administrations and
the significance of securing individual freedom and rights.
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