Forbidden Relationships in the Handmaid’s Tale

Alternative transcript:

how the forbidden relationship only benefitted in Offred having more to add to her story, which only had the important parts revisited and the personal parts removed - essentially wiping her trauma. She is subjected to extreme tyranny and control by the dictatorship as a handmaid, with her every movement and activity scrutinised and regulated. In this environment, her capacity to tell her own tale and craft her own narrative is a potent kind of resistance, allowing her to assert her autonomy and agency in a world that wants to deny it to her. She is not a passive victim, but rather a protagonist in charge of her own fate. Given the limits imposed by the system, this agency is especially vital. Offred is able to keep her sense of self and reject Gilead's dehumanising consequences by claiming her own agency in her tale. Lexis/semantics The neglected declarative in: "without Serena knowing", with the verb of perception "knowing" excludes Serena which demonstrates the little trust she has for Serena. It displays how their relationship is strained or rather one-sided as Serena offers in helping her but Offred just takes advantage of this. This shows the reader that Offred is aware of how risky this forbidden relationship with Nick is and so she decides to keep it from her instead of confiding in her, which let's the reader know that Offred does not consider Serena as someone trustworthy - it is possible she were afraid of Serena potentially ratting her out. As Offred is lower is of social status than Serena as Offred is merely just a Handmaid and Serena is The Commander's wife, it is possible that Offred has distaste for Serena just because they are both women yet one of them is higher in terms of status than the other so by defying her without her knowledge it gives Offred the sense of authority and power she no longer has because it was stripped from her the moment Gilead formed. However, Offred's actions may not be totally justified, and she may be taking advantage of Serena's goodwill and eagerness to assist her. This demonstrates the complexities and intricate nature of power interactions in a society based on oppression and injustice. This subject of female power relations is expanded upon later in the text when Offred has a talk with her fellow Handmaid, Ofglen. Despite their comparable social level, Ofglen has control over Offred due to her membership in the Gilead regime's resistance effort. Offred is warned not to trust anybody, especially other Handmaids, and the significance of secrecy and caution in their relationships is emphasised. This focuses on how women's power dynamics in Gilead are formed not just by their socioeconomic rank, but also by their participation in resistance or devotion to the dictatorship. It also emphasises the significance of autonomy and self-preservation for women in this repressive culture, as they must negotiate their way through it. Furthermore, these dystopian themes of secrecy have also been explored in Orwell's novel: 1984, in which Winston does things that he shouldn't like writing in journals without the Party knowing - which is possibly an inspiration for Atwood to make Serena unaware of Offred's extended sleeping arrangements with Nick. Grammar/syntax "I would not turn back" and "I would hurry across" displays parallelism through the modal verbs and declaratives. It let's the reader know that Offred is certain in her choices and potentially does not regret anything she has done or will do. It displays that she takes control of her life as much as she can despite knowing she has little control of it to begin with. This demonstrates her opposition against the Gilead regime and its strict rules. Offred's unlawful romance with Nick also contributes to her opposition to the Gilead dictatorship. Her connection with Nick allows her to express her agency and reclaim control over her body, which is normally severely monitored by the state. By having a consensual relationship with Nick, Offred is defying Gilead's severe laws and regulations that prevent such connections. This also demonstrates her readiness to take chances and oppose the regime's attempts to keep her under control. As a result, the parallelism and forbidden connection both highlight Offred's antagonism to the Gilead rule as well as her willingness to exercise her agency in whatever way she can. Orwell's 1984 is an example of a dystopian fiction that might promote the concept of forbidden relationships as a form of resistance against an oppressive system. Winston Smith, the novel's protagonist, develops a covert sexual involvement with Julia, a fellow party member. The governing government, which wants to control all areas of its citizens' life, including their emotions and desires, rigorously prohibits this connection. Winston and Julia are able to establish their own agency and humanity by engaging in this illicit relationship, fighting the repressive system that wants to dehumanise them. Their resistance, however, eventually leads to their capture and punishment by the government, highlighting the great costs inherent in opposing a totalitarian dictatorship. Discourse/pragmatics Futhermore, there is a semantic field of death through the nouns: "blood", "noose" and the past participle verb "gone". This reinforces the dystopian agenda as it highlights dark themes which is common in many dystopian novels such as Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Guy Montag, the main character of Fahrenheit 451, begins an illicit connection with Clarisse McClellan, a young girl who causes him to rethink the world in which he lives. Books are outlawed in the dystopian society described in the story, and "firemen" burn any that are discovered, and independent thought and curiosity are discouraged. Clarisse is seen as a deviant due to her unorthodox behaviour and free thinking, which eventually leads to her abduction. The story depicts a dystopian society that employs technology to control and manipulate its population, limiting their freedom of thought and speech. It also illustrates the pitfalls of censorship and thought suppression. Montag and Clarisse's illegal romance emphasises the significance of personal connection and intimacy in a world that values conformity above all else. It demonstrates how partnerships that question the dominant culture's norms and beliefs can be viewed as a danger and result in serious repercussions. The choice of language and images in The Handmaid's Tale underscores the dystopian agenda and the bleakness of Offred's existence. The repeated image of the Wall, with its ghastly exhibition of executed bodies, for example, emphasises the state's use of violence and intimidation to retain power. The Handmaids are also subjected to "the Salvaging," a cruel and ritualised punishment that entails the killing of anybody believed to be rebellious or disloyal to the government. Furthermore, there are unpleasant and violent scenes in the story, such as the Handmaids being compelled to participate in public executions by beating a condemned person to death with their bare hands. The repressive aspect of the society is highlighted further by the use of colour symbolism, with the Handmaids having to wear red, a colour associated with blood and bloodshed.