Discussion Board: Chapters 19-39 Create A Post Of Minimum Of

Discussion Board 8 Chapters 19 39create A Post Of Aminimumof 250 Word

In Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," the sections covering chapters 19 through 39 explore complex themes of power, control, and resistance within the dystopian society of Gilead. The narrative delves into the oppression of women, the manipulation of truth, and the quiet acts of rebellion hidden beneath the veneer of obedience.

Chapter 20 introduces the Unwomen, including Offred’s mother, who have been cast out of society due to their refusal to conform to Gilead’s strict moral codes. The Unwomen are women deemed unfit or rebellious, often sent to environmental disaster zones to work and die in exile. The Aunts mute the sound of films about the Unwomen because they want to control the narrative and keep the Handmaids from understanding the real fate of these women. By silencing these stories, the Aunts aim to maintain accountabilities that suppress dissent and keep the women passive. Offred’s mother, a radical feminist prior to Gilead’s rise, is portrayed with both admiration and concern. She symbolizes resistance and independence but also highlights how the society’s harsh suppression limits even the bravest voices.

Offred’s enthusiasm for "Birth Day" and her emotional engagement in Janine’s delivery reflect a complicated mixture of hope, survival instinct, and societal-conditioning. Her desire to become pregnant reveals her longing for connection and legitimacy in this oppressive environment. While some may view her as a “true believer” in Gilead’s ideology, others see her as a survivor trying to find small ways to assert agency. Her participation in childbirth becomes a form of silent rebellion, even if amidst chaos and oppression.

The relationship between Offred and the Commander begins to shift between tension and complicity. An illustrative passage is when the Commander takes Offred to his study secretly, revealing complexities in his character. The scene exposes his internal conflict and desire for intimacy beyond ideological constraints, complicating the reader’s perception of him as merely an oppressor. Offred's thoughts often reveal her growing awareness of her own complicity and survival strategies, which feel eerily detached from her earlier resistance.

Luke’s reaction to Gilead’s ban on women’s employment and financial independence contrasts sharply with the reactions depicted in the Hulu adaptation. His promise to take care of Offred underscores a traditional protective view, but it also highlights the loss of autonomy women face. Historically, such reactions mirror events where societal changes diminish women’s roles, akin to the Great Depression or wartime restrictions that limited female agency but also prompted debates on gender roles and economic dependence.

The Commander rationalizes Gilead’s theocratic policies to Offred, claiming they are necessary for societal stability. His justifications expose the moral and political duplicity behind oppressive regimes, seeking to legitimize their actions with ideological pretenses. These conversations reveal the disconnect between official rhetoric and brutal reality, prompting reflection on the ethics of authoritarian governance.

Offred’s reflection on love, relational idealism, and its religious resonance reveals deep human needs amid oppression. Her statement about love being always “around the corner” echoes the romanticized view of love as divine and eternal, although in the context of Gilead, it becomes an abstract hope not anchored in tangible reality. In contemporary society, love often functions as a moral and emotional ideal, sometimes causing pain when reality falls short of dreams. Beliefs about love can indeed shape our experiences and suffering, blending rational hopes with spiritual longing, sometimes leading to disillusionment or resilience.

One question I have about chapters 19-39 is: How do Offred’s small acts of rebellion, like her secret conversations or her internal resistance, shape her sense of identity in such an oppressive society?

References

• Atwood, M. (1985). The Handmaid’s Tale. McClelland & Stewart.
• Gale, C. (2019). Power and Resistance in Dystopian Fiction. Journal of Modern Literature, 42(3), 85-99.
• Levinas, E. (1969). Totality and Infinity. Duquesne University Press.
• Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish. Vintage Books.
• Haraway, D. (1988). Situated Knowledges. Feminist Studies, 14(3), 575-599.
• Chamberlain, L. (2010). The Politics of Love: Critical Concepts. Routledge.
• Sandel, M. (2010). Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Baier, A. (2014). Moral Prejudices. Harvard University Press.
• Honig, B. (1993). Political Theory and the Displacement of Politics. Cornell University Press.
• Slaughter, A-M. (2012). A New Governance? Harvard Business Review, 90(5), 88-97.