The setting continuously changes from
present day Gilead to depictions of Offred's past. It seems that fear
is a constant between the two, but the fear is very different. Upon
the creation of Gilead, Offred was free. Therefore, she feared
capture and desired escape. After living in Gilead for many years,
Offred now fears escape. She lives in fear of change and freedom.
Female sexuality is represented by the society of Gilead. The
struggle within a woman between her own desire and society's desire
for her is prominent throughout history despite current circumstance.
Women struggle between pleasing themselves and pleasing their lover.
Childbearing is still a prominent responsibility in the lives of many
women. Abortion and homosexuality are often unaccepted. I think
Atwood writes, not about a specific society, but to the struggle of
any and every woman in any and every society.
The juxtaposition of Offred's physical past and present reveals a forced return to child-like existence. She describes herself as a wife and a mother in her past. She is the master of her own world. Offred has the ability to love unconditionally and choose the object of her affection. She is an adult in her past. Yet, she is expected to give in to control like a child. In her present, Offred is located at a university. She lives as a child. She is manipulated and controlled as if she is in her youth. Yet, she is expected to bear children like a woman. The conflicting ideas within each setting and the conflict between each setting reveal the duality of the female psyche.
The juxtaposition of Offred's physical past and present reveals a forced return to child-like existence. She describes herself as a wife and a mother in her past. She is the master of her own world. Offred has the ability to love unconditionally and choose the object of her affection. She is an adult in her past. Yet, she is expected to give in to control like a child. In her present, Offred is located at a university. She lives as a child. She is manipulated and controlled as if she is in her youth. Yet, she is expected to bear children like a woman. The conflicting ideas within each setting and the conflict between each setting reveal the duality of the female psyche.
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