When Resentment Hides The Real Enemy

As I read The Handmaid’s Tale, I noticed a recurring pattern of hostility amongst women, revealed in small moments that is often overlooked.

Early in the book, when Offred was first introduced, we get a glimpse of her being moved into a new house—-the Commander’s house—where she will serve as his Handmaid. When she reaches the door, with a Guardian not too far behind, she meets the Commander’s Wife, Serena Joy, at the door. Atwood writes, “She stood in the doorway blocking the entrance. She wanted me to feel that I could not come into the house unless she said so(Ch 3, pg. 13)” The hostility shown in the quote is very subtle but powerful. Especially considering they are both victims of the oppressive system that has overtaken Giilead. This first meeting is significant because it foreshadows the strained relationship between Offred and Serena Joy.

As I read, I found myself often disappointed and a little frustrated that these women are so focused on comparing what they have and don’t have with the woman in Gilead, not realizing they are feeding right into the people in power’s trap.

In the later 17th century, during the early stages of slavery, there was a time when both Black people and poor white men were suffering equally under the system. In fact, both of them were so fed up with the system, it seemed that they would come together to fight against the unfair circumstances created by wealthy white men. This was not what the people in power wanted. To prevent possible rebellion, the elites—the rich white men—put the poor white people slightly higher on the social ladder, giving them more privileges to separate them from the enslaved. This redirected their anger away from the system itself and towards each other, giving them a reason to fight one another. This same tactic of dividing oppressed groups appears in the Handmaid’s Tale as well. The women, like Serena Joy and Offred, are victims of Gilead, but because of the oppressive system highlights the difference between the women, preventing them from uniting against the ones who put the system in place.

Connecting back to the present, this pattern reminded me of something I experienced in my own life as well. When I was younger,there was a girl in my friend group who acted as the leader. She didn’t like me nor this other girl in the group, instead confronting us directly put us against each other. One day, she would one day be my friend, and exclude the other girl; the next day, it would be the opposite. At the time, I didn’t recognize it for what it was, because I was focused on getting her approval. The competition created tension between the girl and I, distracting us from recognizing the one who was really causing conflict.

This situation is similar to the way women are set against each other in the Handmaid’s Tale. For example, Serena Joy and Offred constantly clash instead of discerning their shared suffering. After completing the last ritual of the Ceremony, Serena Joy immediately snaps at Offred: “Get up and get out”(Ch. 16, pg 95), when normally there is supposed to be a 10 min wait period before the Handmaids get up. Similarly, Offred and Ofglen are walking home from the market, they encounter grieving Econowifes. Instead of recognition of their compassion, the girls received resentment: “the first one scowled at us, one of the others turned aside and spits on the sidewalk. The Econowives do not like us(Ch.8 pg.44). These moments show that the hostility isn’t just between Serena Joy and Offred, but between all the women in Gilead. Just like when I was younger, people who should have been united, instead their focus was redirected into competing with each other, while the real problem stayed in control.

Taking into consideration the things discussed, the pattern shown throughout the book is important to take note of because Atwood warns us that when we find ourselves comparing or competing against our peers, we should pause and take a look at the bigger picture. These smaller issues can distract us from the source of our problems, just as it happened in the novel, in history, and even my own life. Instead of turning against each other, Atwood urges us to come together and face the deeper issues that affect us all. Because in the end, even the people in power know that there is strength in numbers.