https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a analyse the impact of point of view as used in The Handmaids Tale en-us 2018-08-04 08:14:45 UTC 2025-12-11 20:37:25 UTC hello@padlet.com ruth_van03 https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a/wish/271943266 Offred is a Handmaid, a female role that is notably oppressed in the novel, and she also does not support Gilead. This then, makes the Handmaid's Tale a biased account, and somewhat unreliable. Although the events that happen in the novel is ostensibly not made up; what the readers see and feel is distorted and influenced by what Offred herself feels towards it. Certain events also, can be manipulated in a way to shine the characters that Offred favours in a more positive light to the readers. This is evident when even though Moira, Offred's best friend becomes a Jezebel, Offred still portrays her as an independent and strong-willed woman. "I'd like her to end with something daring and spectacular, some outrage, something that would befit her." [chapter 38, page 262]. However, Offred chooses to shine Janine, a Handmaid that she does not particularly like, in a constantly negative light, and causes readers to see her as pathetic and opportunistic. "Probably Ofwarren, formerly that whiny bitch Janine..." [chapter 19, page 125].  This might be an unfair representation of Janine as often Offred's encounters with her is peppered with remarks by Offred herself that influence the reader to also see Janine in that negative light. Likewise, with Offred being the protagonist, the reader sees characters who oppose and hurt her like Serena Joy as antagonistic. By looking at characters through Offred's eyes, we see the nuances and differences in human interaction in Gilead and we also empathise more with the plight of the oppressed ones in the Gilead society. Atwood making Offred the protagonist makes us feel in some way related to her, make us empathise with her, and literally feel what she feels. We are almost given the full 'Handmaid' experience through words, but while we see it through Offred's subjective view, we also get a glimpse of what goes on in the lives of those around her. We are given the chance to look at the life of the Commander, the Wife, the Marthas, and many more, and although it is coloured by Offred's biased perception, it does not necessarily make this narration less worthy of existence. ]]> 2018-08-04 10:37:21 UTC https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a/wish/271943266 ruth_van03 https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a/wish/271949413 With Offred being withheld information from by the different members of society, she can only be left to speculate what might have happened. This is the case of her mother, Moira, Luke, her daughter, and many more. We as the readers also go through this speculation and although there might have been some form of closure to these speculations like what happened to Moira and Offred's mother [chapter 38, page 253 - , there are still some threads and loose ends that is left entirely to our interpretation. These include the question of what happened to Luke, Offred's daughter, the outcome of Offred in the end, Nick's identity, the Commander's true intentions; there are many questions left hanging and unanswered by Offred and Gilead by the end of the novel. Atwood peppered the novel with speculations and ended with perhaps even more speculations than in the beginning. These speculations make the reader feel as trapped and helpless as Offred must have felt in the Gilead, and thus this lack of knowledge that is being kept from the reader and Offred make the reader understand Offred's frustration in Gilead. With the Handmaid's Tale being speculative fiction, something that could possibly happen any moment in the future, perhaps it was Atwood's intention to leave those blanks empty and for us to fill up with what is happening currently in our society. Perhaps these blanks did not need to be filled, but Atwood rather wanted to make open to what kind of story we want to make or tell. These are all speculative as well. ]]> 2018-08-04 14:19:30 UTC https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a/wish/271949413 ruth_van03 https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a/wish/271951426 Offred sometimes either chooses to purposely withhold information from the reader, or is withheld information from by the people around her. 
She chooses not to reveal her real name, and the Historical Notes also hints that the names she used for other characters were made up as well, presumably to keep their identity safe. "There is a high probability that these were, in any case, pseudonyms, adopted to protect these individuals should the tapes be discovered." [Historical Notes, page 318]. This then, makes the reader question the reliability of the account as a whole, and up till what extent the account is true. With the names being falsified, it is possible that other parts of the Handmaid's Tale could be fabricated as well. 
Furthermore, Offred not being in a position of power or knowledge means that she knows comparatively little about how Gilead came about and the inner workings of the society, say, what happens in the Mayday resistance. Thus, with Offred as the narrator, the readers cannot know the full and whole Gilead. Perhaps Atwood had chosen to write in the perspective of a Handmaid, who, although does not know the actual workings of society, still feels the impact of what these workings have on her and the rest around her. The readers then are likewise are  given the same experience of being trapped with Offred in the society of Gilead, for we do not know anything more than what Offred knows, or what Offred tells us. This causes us to have more empathy and more understanding of what it is like to be a seemingly helpless and oppressed member of that society, and although not fully, we can at least experience a little bit of the treatment these characters dealt with and what they might have felt. ]]> 2018-08-04 15:18:50 UTC https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a/wish/271951426 ruth_van03 https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a/wish/271978660 Offred's memories and narration is often fragmented in the novel. There are almost random interceptions where she recalls the past, and even she herself admits that she does not know if her memory is accurate. "I can't remember exactly, because I had no way of writing it down." [chapter 28, page 255]. Sometimes, she chooses to make things up as well, like when she imagined the scene where she as making love with Nick. [chapter 40, page 273] Her narration is fragmented and often leaves the reader feeling confused and perplexed. However, this way of narration makes Offred's tale very real. Without the presence of these abrupt interruptions or thoughts, Offred's narrative would have sounded very calculated and far from human. Her voice is very engaged, thoughtful and emotional and with her getting raw with the reader, it is easier for the reader to feel a connection with her. "I wish this story were different. I wish it were more civilized. I wish it showed me in a better light." [chapter 41, page 279]. The reader does then get to see a glimpse of what it truly is like to be one of the women living under the Gilead regime. ]]> 2018-08-05 08:44:08 UTC https://padlet.com/ruth_van03/msaxbjgwim6a/wish/271978660