How does the writer present the importance of relationships in the ‘Handmaid’s
Tale’
Throughout the ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ there are recurring instances where Atwood
focuses on the vital importance of human relationships. Atwood specifically depicts a
society where relationships have been altered, undermined and in many ways
forbidden. The centrality of relationships can be classified into different themes such
as love, exchange, touch, and trust. These themes can be observed throughout the
novel and Atwood portrays them and in effect highlights the importance of
relationships, using key language techniques, emotive language and powerful
imagery.
The key word in the issue of relationships in the novel is love, which Atwood
specifically distinguishes from sex. This is illustrated as Offred says (chapter 18)
‘nobody dies from lack of sex. It’s lack of love we die from’. This direct comparison of
sex and love highlights the importance of human relationships specifying love as a
key theme. The obduracy of love as well is implied as Gilead expects its citizens to
have faith in its commandments but has tried to remove love and hope. The
importance of love and therefore human relationships is depicted through Offred’s
feelings for Luke, and for her mother, her friendship with Moira, her growing
affection for Nick and above all her passionate love for her child. Furthermore,
Atwood suggests the importance of the theme of love through Offred’s first-person
narrative stating ‘I ought to feel hatred towards this man…I don’t know what to call
it…It isn’t love’. This uncertainty of the tone used here and the implication that love
is at the forefront of Offred’s mind when she tries to decipher what she feels
towards the commander again emphasizes the importance of love and therefore
relationships in this novel. Moreover, the scene when Offred…
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Tale’
Throughout the ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ there are recurring instances where Atwood
focuses on the vital importance of human relationships. Atwood specifically depicts a
society where relationships have been altered, undermined and in many ways
forbidden. The centrality of relationships can be classified into different themes such
as love, exchange, touch, and trust. These themes can be observed throughout the
novel and Atwood portrays them and in effect highlights the importance of
relationships, using key language techniques, emotive language and powerful
imagery.
The key word in the issue of relationships in the novel is love, which Atwood
specifically distinguishes from sex. This is illustrated as Offred says (chapter 18)
‘nobody dies from lack of sex. It’s lack of love we die from’. This direct comparison of
sex and love highlights the importance of human relationships specifying love as a
key theme. The obduracy of love as well is implied as Gilead expects its citizens to
have faith in its commandments but has tried to remove love and hope. The
importance of love and therefore human relationships is depicted through Offred’s
feelings for Luke, and for her mother, her friendship with Moira, her growing
affection for Nick and above all her passionate love for her child. Furthermore,
Atwood suggests the importance of the theme of love through Offred’s first-person
narrative stating ‘I ought to feel hatred towards this man…I don’t know what to call
it…It isn’t love’. This uncertainty of the tone used here and the implication that love
is at the forefront of Offred’s mind when she tries to decipher what she feels
towards the commander again emphasizes the importance of love and therefore
relationships in this novel. Moreover, the scene when Offred…
Preview ends…buy to see the whole essay (which includes 4 paragraphs and a
conclusion)
