The Theme Of Personal Identity In The Handmaid’s Tale
In modern times, identity has become a basic right. But in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale’s dystopian world, identity was robbed from the people to create the subservient society. The oppression and division of people is typical for totalitarian regimes. Yet, those in charge seem to ignore that no regime could destroy humanity and individualism.
Atwood explores this theme to demonstrate the impact of these limitations. They are now the Commander’s property, as their patronymics indicate: “Of Fred” for example. After three failed attempts to have children, the handmaids’ names are replaced. This reinforces the idea that the women in Gilead do not have any control over their identity and can be changed at will. Atwood implies in Offred’s statement that names can be used to create fear among people. These “true believer” women are not complicit in their identities, but rather accept what is created for them. The maternalistic names given to the ‘Aunts” are a further extension of this concept. They connote feelings of care and love, but they’re actually used to indoctrinate women with the Puritan beliefs of the Gileadian system. Their roles and titles are used to illustrate how the misogynistic nature of this organisation discourages women from getting along with each other. However, a feminist critic might argue that this dichotomy is used to impose gender roles in society. They use others as a means to consolidate power. By assigning specific colours and uniforms to each section of the society, individuality was eliminated, reinforcing their social status. The “ankle – length” skirts, the “red glove” and the “red shoes” are all parodies on fertility and sacrifice. The red color could be a symbol of blood, both in death and in life. Marthas are dressed in a dull, green gown, like the old-fashioned surgeon’s uniform. The Marthas’ dress is less attractive because it represents service, not passion. Irony: the “wings” that handmaids wear are meant to be a symbol for freedom. Yet, they are being used here to restrict their access to the world outside. The fact that you can’t choose what to wear, but instead are forced to wear a uniform reinforces the social hierarchy. This reduces the chances of someone subverting government. This factor is crucial because it shows that by controlling a whole nation by restricting the expression of certain factions in society, you can control an entire country.
The narrator believes that her body and mind are two distinct entities which don’t determine her solely. Offred has to “compose herself” before the Ceremony. Offred must “compose [her]self” before the ceremony. The constant use of the word ‘thing’ to describe her current self shows that she is struggling to reconcile who she was and what she needs to do today. The last sentence, “What is required of me is that I present a’made thing’, not’something born'” is important as it shows the internal struggle she is having, separating who she was in her past from her role today. She is able to tell the difference between her former self and the person she’s being forced to be. This shows that she understands the dangers of losing identity.
The Handmaid’s Tale’s theme, identity or the loss thereof, is an important, recurring one that the Gilead government uses to control their society. In spite of this, people with a strong sense of identity and a refusal to let go will do everything they can to preserve it.
