Novel Overview The Handmaids Tale Essay Example

Novel Overview The Handmaids Tale Essay â€Å"The Handmaid’s Tale,† written by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, is a dystopian novel. Set in the future of the United States of America, Atwood depicts a position of which an autocratic government has taken over an area newly called ‘Gilead.’ Throughout The Handmaids Tale, we find recurring instances where Atwood focuses on the vital importance of human relationships, between contrasting characters. The novel depicts a society where such bonds have been altered, undermined and in many ways forbidden. Offred is a handmaid, who is limited to controlling her actions, relationship and ultimately her life. In this novel the most distinctive relationship within this novel if between Offred and Nick. Nick is a guardian, a person who is unable to interact with handmaids; this means that Nick and Offred’s relationship together is extremely dangerous. If they are caught, the punishment is death. When Offred first sees Nick, she notices him staring at her, at first Offred is unsure if he is just nice or if he’s an ‘Eye, a person who is undercover working for the government. The danger and exhilaration of getting caught emphasize the suspense of the novel and bravery of each character. â€Å"He begins to whistle. Then he winks. He’s just taken a risk, but for what? Perhaps it was a test to see what I would do. Perhaps he is an Eye.† In this quote Atwood uses rhetorical questions, this shows her uncertainty while the repetition of ‘perhaps’ em phasizes how unsure she is of his actions. We will write a custom essay sample on Novel Overview The Handmaids Tale specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Novel Overview The Handmaids Tale specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Novel Overview The Handmaids Tale specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Nick walks in, nods to all three of us looks around the room. He too takes his place behind me, standing. Hes so close that the tip of his boot is touching my foot. Is this on purpose? Whether it is or not we are touching, two shapes of leather. I feel my shoe soften; blood flows into it, it grows warm, it becomes a skin. I move my foot slightly, away.† In this quote, Offred describes how Nick was touching her shoe with his boot.