Significance of the title: The Handmaid's Tale

(Also looking closer into Offred’s and the Commander’ s relationship.)

The “Handmaid” in the title is referring to Offred, the main character. This is clearly revealed as the story is told in Offred’s perspective. However it is more complicated than you think. The story is told from when Offred is living the actual scene but she also narrates it as if it were told from third person. I noticed how there were parts in the book when characters were speaking, their dialogue was not in quotation marks and other parts were. When there was dialogue without quotation marks, Margaret Atwood, the author, would write “I said.” or “He said.” The dialogue that had quotation marks Atwood would write “I say.” or “He says.” This technique used by Atwood allows the reader to picture the scene when there was dialogue without quotation marks but with quotations, Atwood wanted the reader to feel like they were in that scene. To feel what Offred felt.

When I googled the definition of “Tale” it defined it as “a story, especially one that might be invented or difficult to believe.” On page 39 Offred said, “I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it… It isn’t a story I’m telling. It’s also a story I’m telling, in my head, as I go along.” She is letting us know this book is her tale, not everything is true. Chapter 38 basically summarizes Moira’s whole journey after she escaped the Center, it was a long long long journey. Not many would have made it out as sane as Moira did. There was a point where she wanted to end her life. On page 249 it stuck out to me that some dialogue, that had quotation marks, were questions and yet they still ended it with “I say.” “ What about the others? I say”. This observation sparked the question Why is it “I say.” even when it is a question? With the help of my peer, Leticia Desouza we were able to discuss and come up with an explanation. Even though this scene was told in present tense, it is still a tale that she is telling the readers. As Offred mentioned on page 243, Moira told her all about her journey but she could not remember everything. She said, “I’ve filled it out for her as much as I can…” Once again letting the reader know that not everything said is exactly true.

Moira’s character is the life/adventurous element of this whole book. Every time Moira is mentioned something to keep the book interesting happens. When she was at the Center she managed to escape but to escape she tricked Aunt Elizabeth into helping her unclog a toilet Moira purposely clogged. She then threatened Aunt Elizabeth, tied her up and swapped clothes with her to make her escape easier. At the end of chapter 38 Offred seemed like she did not really like the content of Moira’s journey. She said, “I’d like to tell a story about how Moira escaped for good this time. Or if I couldn’t tell that, I’d like to say she blew up Jezebel’s, with fifty Commanders inside it. I’d like her to end with something daring and spectacular, some outrage, something that would befit her.”(250) Offred sees in Moira the courage she does not have. She depends on Moira to feel safe or become free. Before the new government took over Gilead, Moira was already expecting it. Moira already had ties with the Underground Femaleroad. Unlike Moira, Offred was not prepared. Everything to her was all of the sudden that is why she depends on Moira to become free. That is also why she wanted to tell a story of how Moira blew up Jezebel’s with fifty Commanders inside. She herself would not do anything to fight or protest and become free.

In chapter 39 it is illustrated an uncomfortable scene between Offred and the Commander. The Commander took Offred to Jezebel’s, where she saw Moira and explained her whole journey after escaping the center. After that the Commander took Offred to a hotel room at Jezebel’s to sleep with her. Although he acknowledged that the Ceremony was the next day, he still goes on to say, “I thought we could jump the gun.” He starts to caress Offred’s body however the way she worded it shows that she is uncomfortable. “…the left leg. He stops at the foot, his fingers encircling the ankle.”(254) Instead of calling her body “my” she references them as “the” because in this moment she is an object to the Commander. An object for him to get his pleasure out of. Even as this was all happening she continues to defend the Commander though not to someone, she is mentally defending him. “I remind myself that he is not an unkind man; that, under other circumstances, I even like him.” Offred holds onto this idea that the Commander is a good guy because she could end up like the last handmaid, killing herself to end her suffering.