ROUGH DRAFT!!!!! FOR JOHN
Sexuality. Almost everyone feels it's presence, but how many people actually talk about it? Margaret Atwood's book The Handmaid's Tale brings light onto this struggle. Women in the society are expected to be modest, and therefore are forbidden from engaging in any other sexual contact other than with their Commander, and they must dress in clothes which cover their entire bodies. To add to this, the women are not expected to speak about sex either. In fact, they are not expected to speak at all. The women are not only sexually oppressed, but mentally oppressed as well. Margaret Atwood's use of profanity, graphic images, and tone towards sex creates an uncomfortable environment for the reader, showing that society does not publicly address sexuality. This lack of attention towards sexuality restricts women's ability to express their opinions freely on the subject.
During the Ceremony, Offred thinks about what her Commander does to her. She refuses to call it making love because she feels it an inappropriate term in describing what happens in every Ceremony. "Below it the Commander is fucking" (Atwood 94). Most books do not use profanity out of fear of offending the reader, but Atwood does here. Her use of profanity intends to offend the reader and make them feel uncomfortable. The lack of comfort comes from talking about sex, but there should not be a lack of comfort about the natural act. Atwood shows through this how society lacks to address sexuality. Offred also only thinks these thoughts in her head, but never out loud. She is not able to speak out in any way against her Commander, and she only thinks against him sexually. This shows how her ability to express her opinions on sexuality are restricted.
Margaret Atwood uses graphic images to relay the lack of attention given to one's sexuality. She reveals this throughout the book. After taking her daily walk, Offred tries to show off her sexuality to the guards. "I hope they get hard at the sight of us and have to rub themselves against the painted barriers, surreptitiously" (Atwood 22). Atwood describes the desire for a public relationship in a gruesome manner. Instead of describing Offred's desire for the guards to long for her in a simple way Atwood uses gory and graphic images to set an uncomfortable setting for the reader. The discomfort created by the sexual references reveals that the society does not discuss sexuality as much as it should thus limiting how much the women can emotionally reveal to the public. Because Offred hopes that they internally break the rules of wanting a woman, Atwood shows the reader how rebellious the Handmaids feel. They feel imprisoned and used.
Margaret Atwood uses various techniques to make the reader feel uncomfortable about sexuality showing the lack of communication about sex. The absence of pleasure in sexuality stifles women’s rights and limits their ability to speak publicly about their inner conflicts.
During the Ceremony, Offred thinks about what her Commander does to her. She refuses to call it making love because she feels it an inappropriate term in describing what happens in every Ceremony. "Below it the Commander is fucking" (Atwood 94). Most books do not use profanity out of fear of offending the reader, but Atwood does here. Her use of profanity intends to offend the reader and make them feel uncomfortable. The lack of comfort comes from talking about sex, but there should not be a lack of comfort about the natural act. Atwood shows through this how society lacks to address sexuality. Offred also only thinks these thoughts in her head, but never out loud. She is not able to speak out in any way against her Commander, and she only thinks against him sexually. This shows how her ability to express her opinions on sexuality are restricted.
Margaret Atwood uses graphic images to relay the lack of attention given to one's sexuality. She reveals this throughout the book. After taking her daily walk, Offred tries to show off her sexuality to the guards. "I hope they get hard at the sight of us and have to rub themselves against the painted barriers, surreptitiously" (Atwood 22). Atwood describes the desire for a public relationship in a gruesome manner. Instead of describing Offred's desire for the guards to long for her in a simple way Atwood uses gory and graphic images to set an uncomfortable setting for the reader. The discomfort created by the sexual references reveals that the society does not discuss sexuality as much as it should thus limiting how much the women can emotionally reveal to the public. Because Offred hopes that they internally break the rules of wanting a woman, Atwood shows the reader how rebellious the Handmaids feel. They feel imprisoned and used.
Margaret Atwood uses various techniques to make the reader feel uncomfortable about sexuality showing the lack of communication about sex. The absence of pleasure in sexuality stifles women’s rights and limits their ability to speak publicly about their inner conflicts.
No comments:
Post a Comment