Traditional Gender Roles In The Handmaid's Tale

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The systems behind the Republic of Gilead developed from the beliefs of past patriarchal and puritan cultures. These beliefs were slowly reintroduced into society beginning with events from Offred’s childhood, such as the burning of pornography and continuing through her marriage with Luke when the United States began to undergo drastic changes. Offred believed these unofficial cultural changes to be alarming, yet she treated them as harmless, therefore acting as a bystander. Although Offred is a clear victim, she is also an accomplice in her own oppression due to her lack of action in opposition to Gilead, both before and within their regime. Serena Joy’s role as a spokesperson for traditional gender roles represented a major societal shift …show more content…
Offred allows herself to be controlled by fear, therefore allowing Gilead to control her actions. This first becomes evident in the hospital after Offred has been captured trying to escape. Offred is informed Gilead has placed her daughter in a new family and that “She’s in good hands... with people who are fit” (39). Subsequently, Offered accuses the officials, claiming, “you’ve killed her” (39). Offred makes the assumption that Gilead will use her daughter as insurance for her own behavior, although it is never said. It is a natural instinct for a mother to panic when her child is taken, yet overtime, Offred should have come to the logical conclusion that with a largely infertile population Gilead would not kill one of the few children. Furthermore, Serena Joy senses this irrational fear and uses it as a method to control Offred. After proposing that Nick impregnates Offred, Serena Joy offers to provide Offred with a picture of her daughter and Offred describes that she feels as though she “can’t speak” (206). Offred is complicit in how Serena Joy took advantage of her illogical fears because Offred permitted herself to be controlled fear and not
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