“There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from” (Atwood 24). The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a story of freedoms, and questions what it means to truly be free. An oppressive character in the novel, a woman apart of the theologically tyrannical Gilead, named Aunt Lydia introduces the ideas of “freedom to” and “freedom from” early in Offred’s telling of her story (Atwood 24). ‘Freedom to’ is best described as being able to do what one wants to do, while ‘freedom from’ is established as a sort of protection from evils of the world: like crime and abuse. Margaret Atwood’s dystopian future argues two different perspectives on the concept of freedom, but ‘freedom from’ in Gilead is not true, but in
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Malak makes the strong point that the government and community of Gilead all “operate” on extremities, to limit choice (Malak 134). Aunt Lydia, though her intentions may not be good, makes a strong argument. Occasionally, everyone has a day where they feel overwhelmed and just want another to make the decisions and only be told what to do. But, this thought process can lead to a dangerous trap that the people of the New Republic fell victim to - freedom from. ‘Freedom from’ takes away true choice, and you must take what you are given. Margaret Atwood draws from her own life experiences in this snippet of social criticism. On her book tours, she would carry with her clippings of human rights and women’s freedom to insist that she had “invented nothing” in Gilead (Neuman). The mere idea that the events and laws of Gilead were once upon a time apart of human history only reinforce the concept of freedom and how precious it is to have true freedom. Taking away people’s choice has been apart of the earth’s cruel history, a way of control. Of course, some people of the past had ‘freedom from’, with the sacrifice of no choice. But freedom is not being protected or suppressed. No choice, much like Offred and the other women of the novel have, has become ordinary. “Ordinary, said Aunt Lydia, is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will …show more content…
There are not many instances of free will, but when there is an act, it is significant to the person and to Offred and her story. Moira escapes the facility. She is able to take one of the Aunt’s clothing and walk away, seemingly home-free to do as she pleased. To be free. This inspired the other Handmaids, in Offred’s words, “Moira was our fantasy” (Atwood 133). Because of Moira’s escape, the Handmaids didn’t view the Aunts as “fearsome,” but more “absurd” (Atwood 133). The first Ofglen that Offred had walked with countless days before, their small discussions of the Resistance keeping a small fire of hope within Offred, kills herself. Hangs herself before she can be taken away to keep the Resistance safe, and with that keeping Offred safe (Atwood 285-286). Finally, Offred gives herself up when the black van comes to collect her. Asami Nakamura makes the assertion that “[Offred] eventually drowns herself in a destructive stream of solipsistic thoughts.” Solipsistic means to view or theorize that the self is all that can be known to exist. “And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light” (Atwood 295). All that’s left is Offred. Nothing left but her thoughts and her past to try and figure out her future. She recognizes that she could have made a fuss, been protected by her family, the van possibly be fake and they run away. But Offred makes the decision to simply go. This is the end of her story, and the
Malak makes the strong point that the government and community of Gilead all “operate” on extremities, to limit choice (Malak 134). Aunt Lydia, though her intentions may not be good, makes a strong argument. Occasionally, everyone has a day where they feel overwhelmed and just want another to make the decisions and only be told what to do. But, this thought process can lead to a dangerous trap that the people of the New Republic fell victim to - freedom from. ‘Freedom from’ takes away true choice, and you must take what you are given. Margaret Atwood draws from her own life experiences in this snippet of social criticism. On her book tours, she would carry with her clippings of human rights and women’s freedom to insist that she had “invented nothing” in Gilead (Neuman). The mere idea that the events and laws of Gilead were once upon a time apart of human history only reinforce the concept of freedom and how precious it is to have true freedom. Taking away people’s choice has been apart of the earth’s cruel history, a way of control. Of course, some people of the past had ‘freedom from’, with the sacrifice of no choice. But freedom is not being protected or suppressed. No choice, much like Offred and the other women of the novel have, has become ordinary. “Ordinary, said Aunt Lydia, is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will …show more content…
There are not many instances of free will, but when there is an act, it is significant to the person and to Offred and her story. Moira escapes the facility. She is able to take one of the Aunt’s clothing and walk away, seemingly home-free to do as she pleased. To be free. This inspired the other Handmaids, in Offred’s words, “Moira was our fantasy” (Atwood 133). Because of Moira’s escape, the Handmaids didn’t view the Aunts as “fearsome,” but more “absurd” (Atwood 133). The first Ofglen that Offred had walked with countless days before, their small discussions of the Resistance keeping a small fire of hope within Offred, kills herself. Hangs herself before she can be taken away to keep the Resistance safe, and with that keeping Offred safe (Atwood 285-286). Finally, Offred gives herself up when the black van comes to collect her. Asami Nakamura makes the assertion that “[Offred] eventually drowns herself in a destructive stream of solipsistic thoughts.” Solipsistic means to view or theorize that the self is all that can be known to exist. “And so I step up, into the darkness within; or else the light” (Atwood 295). All that’s left is Offred. Nothing left but her thoughts and her past to try and figure out her future. She recognizes that she could have made a fuss, been protected by her family, the van possibly be fake and they run away. But Offred makes the decision to simply go. This is the end of her story, and the