Feminism in The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood In The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood explores the role women play in society and the consequences of a country's value system. It reveals that the values ​​upheld in the United States are a threat to women's livelihoods and status. As one critic writes, “the author concluded that current social trends are dangerous to individual well-being” (Prescott 151). The novel is set in the near future in Gilead, formerly the United States, at a time when the population rate is rapidly declining. . A religious regime has taken over and women are being used as breeders to increase the declining birth rate among the Caucasian race. Women are owned by men and are breeders. In the New World Order love does not exist, but the act of love is the only form of intimacy. Atwood gives readers a firsthand look at the second-class treatment of women through the eyes of Offred, the handmaid. Offred has been torn away from her husband and daughter to become a breeder for someone she doesn't love. How does a person respond to this type of situation? Atwood reveals Offred's struggle by introducing the main character, Moira. Moira fails to tell the reader her story; rather, it is told through Offred. This narrative choice accentuates the difference between the two women. Both women don't like the situation in Gilead. However, while Offred resigns herself to her fate, Moira rebels against the regime. Moira's character develops during her escape from the rehabilitation center, a risk that none of the other handmaids, including Offred, would ever dare take. In fact, Offred is scared of running away, not because of the consequences, but more because she is "losing the taste of freedom" and finding herself... middle of paper... giving voice to her own desires and needs. . In this particular exchange, Atwood reveals both the difference between the sexes and their need to be on a more intimate and equal platform. While The Handmaid's Tale conveys the oppression of women, it also reveals the significant role women have in society. Atwood points out that just as men can be oppressed, women can equally oppress themselves. Through Offred's eyes, comparisons between today's society and the possible consequences of one's attitudes are examined. The Handmaid's Tale slowly reveals the many facets of women and the vital role they have as members of society. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. Anchor Books: New York, New York, 1985. Prescott, Peter S. “A Long Road to Liberation.” Contemporary literary criticism. Ed. Jean C. Steve. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1984.