Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Denizens of Dystopia
The Grade 12 English class read the novel The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and each wrote an analytical essay on an aspect of the novel. Here is Dev Darshan Kaur's:
Denizens of Dystopia
In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale the characters all serve a similar purpose: to provide an explanation and understanding of the structure of the society to the reader. While the main characters must aid in plot and story development, there are some minor characters whose only purpose is to provide a clearer picture of the setting. However, Atwood is extremely skilled at incorporating these characters into the plotline of the novel. These characters are essential to the reader’s full comprehension of the world Offred inhabits.
One of the first minor characters that provides us with insight into the working of Offred’s mind is Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia’s character provides a view of how the society is producing its Handmaids. Offred’s references to Aunt Lydia are always in the form of ideas she has continuously repeated and instilled into the Handmaids at the Red Center. Offred seems to associate all philosophies and ideals of the Republic with the personality of Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia was Offred’s first encounter with her new position in life, and she represents the control the society has over women, their actions, even their thoughts.
Aunt Lydia seems to be a true believer in the system. The stories she tells and the messages she imparts are delivered in a manner of true conviction. She appears to be very emotionally involved in the issues she preaches upon. “Modesty is invisibility . . . Never forget it. To be seen – to be seen – is to be – her voice trembled – penetrated” (28). In order for the society to operate, they must employ women to control and, in a sense, brainwash the other women. A group is best controlled when its own members are put in positions of power and brought to believe in what they are serving. Aunt Lydia thinks that she is helping the women that she is training. “I’m doing my best, she said. I’m trying to give you the best chance you can have. . . Don’t think it’s easy for me either . . .” (55).
During one specific event we are given an opportunity to see a different aspect of the world Gilead is a part of. Even though Offred’s encounter with the Japanese visitors is fairly short, occupying only a few pages, it is a very useful view into the outside world. We are able to see that life has gone on normally in other places despite the drastic changes that have taken place in the United States.
Although Atwood mostly describes the visitors’ appearances through the voice of Offred, we also are given an opportunity to view their reactions and to a degree begin to understand their feelings towards this new government. Offred sees how intriguing she and Ofglen are to the Japanese, how curious they are about their situation. "I can feel their bright black eyes on us, the way they lean a little forward . . . the women especially . . . (29). It is a natural curiosity, one that comes of a small amount of knowledge about the makeup of the society but no clear idea of the inner workings, the feelings and emotions, of the people who live in it. Offred understands this. ". . . we are secret, forbidden, we excite them" (29).
Atwood also takes this opportunity to show the irony of the society that has been created in what was the United States. These visitors, mainly the women, are dressed not in the traditional styles of their own region but in the clothing they have adopted from the West, particularly from the United States. Their skirts are short, their shoes, high heels, are impractical, they are wearing makeup, and their hair is uncovered. Offred, while first "fascinated, but also repelled" (28) by the apparent immodesty of these women, soon drops the mindset that has been recently instilled in her by the new society. "Then I think: I used to dress like that. That was freedom" (29). She hasn’t completely adapted to the new values of the society.
The minor characters of The Handmaid’s Tale are crucial in the expansion of the world the reader sees through the telling of Offred’s story. Characters are always one of the most important aspects of a story, but Atwood utilizes the minor ones particularly well in this tale. Without characters such as Aunt Lydia and the Japanese visitors our understanding of the Republic of Gilead would not be as complete. These characters make the setting of The Handmaid’s Tale much richer and much more comprehensive.
The Grade 12 English class read the novel The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and each wrote an analytical essay on an aspect of the novel. Here is Dev Darshan Kaur's:
Denizens of Dystopia
In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale the characters all serve a similar purpose: to provide an explanation and understanding of the structure of the society to the reader. While the main characters must aid in plot and story development, there are some minor characters whose only purpose is to provide a clearer picture of the setting. However, Atwood is extremely skilled at incorporating these characters into the plotline of the novel. These characters are essential to the reader’s full comprehension of the world Offred inhabits.
One of the first minor characters that provides us with insight into the working of Offred’s mind is Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia’s character provides a view of how the society is producing its Handmaids. Offred’s references to Aunt Lydia are always in the form of ideas she has continuously repeated and instilled into the Handmaids at the Red Center. Offred seems to associate all philosophies and ideals of the Republic with the personality of Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia was Offred’s first encounter with her new position in life, and she represents the control the society has over women, their actions, even their thoughts.
Aunt Lydia seems to be a true believer in the system. The stories she tells and the messages she imparts are delivered in a manner of true conviction. She appears to be very emotionally involved in the issues she preaches upon. “Modesty is invisibility . . . Never forget it. To be seen – to be seen – is to be – her voice trembled – penetrated” (28). In order for the society to operate, they must employ women to control and, in a sense, brainwash the other women. A group is best controlled when its own members are put in positions of power and brought to believe in what they are serving. Aunt Lydia thinks that she is helping the women that she is training. “I’m doing my best, she said. I’m trying to give you the best chance you can have. . . Don’t think it’s easy for me either . . .” (55).
During one specific event we are given an opportunity to see a different aspect of the world Gilead is a part of. Even though Offred’s encounter with the Japanese visitors is fairly short, occupying only a few pages, it is a very useful view into the outside world. We are able to see that life has gone on normally in other places despite the drastic changes that have taken place in the United States.
Although Atwood mostly describes the visitors’ appearances through the voice of Offred, we also are given an opportunity to view their reactions and to a degree begin to understand their feelings towards this new government. Offred sees how intriguing she and Ofglen are to the Japanese, how curious they are about their situation. "I can feel their bright black eyes on us, the way they lean a little forward . . . the women especially . . . (29). It is a natural curiosity, one that comes of a small amount of knowledge about the makeup of the society but no clear idea of the inner workings, the feelings and emotions, of the people who live in it. Offred understands this. ". . . we are secret, forbidden, we excite them" (29).
Atwood also takes this opportunity to show the irony of the society that has been created in what was the United States. These visitors, mainly the women, are dressed not in the traditional styles of their own region but in the clothing they have adopted from the West, particularly from the United States. Their skirts are short, their shoes, high heels, are impractical, they are wearing makeup, and their hair is uncovered. Offred, while first "fascinated, but also repelled" (28) by the apparent immodesty of these women, soon drops the mindset that has been recently instilled in her by the new society. "Then I think: I used to dress like that. That was freedom" (29). She hasn’t completely adapted to the new values of the society.
The minor characters of The Handmaid’s Tale are crucial in the expansion of the world the reader sees through the telling of Offred’s story. Characters are always one of the most important aspects of a story, but Atwood utilizes the minor ones particularly well in this tale. Without characters such as Aunt Lydia and the Japanese visitors our understanding of the Republic of Gilead would not be as complete. These characters make the setting of The Handmaid’s Tale much richer and much more comprehensive.
# posted by MPA Student Work @ 10:44 PM 
