The Struggle of Women in The Handmaid's TaleThe Handmaid's Tale This is a futuristic novel that takes place in the northern part of the United States at the beginning of the twenty-first century, in the oppressive and totalitarian Republic of Gilead. The regime demands high moral remuneration and a virtuous lifestyle. The Bible is the guiding principle. Due to sexual freedom, free abortion and the sharp increase in venereal diseases at the end of the 20th century, many women (and men too, but it is forbidden to say so) are sterile. Women who are still fertile are recruited as Handmaids, and their only mission in life is to bear the offspring of their Commander, whose wife is barren. The book's main character is Offred, one of these unfortunate servants whose only right to exist depends on the productivity of her ovaries. He lives with the Commander and his wife in a highly controlled facility. Unlike men, women have faced unique problems for centuries and often experience harassment and discrimination. In today's society, women try to combat their tribulations through lawsuits and protests. Literature often deals with people who are unable to articulate their problems. Often, unexpected circumstances force people to hide their true emotions. In The Handmaid's Tale, the main female characters find ways to escape their situations rather than face them. Offred from The Handmaid's Tale uses different tactics to deal with her situation. She is trapped in a dystopian society composed of a community tormented by desperation. While she is not physically tortured, the overwhelming and ridiculously powerful government enslaves her mentally. Offred lives in a horrible society, which prevents her from being liberated. In essence, the government enslaves her because she is a woman and fertile. Offred's memories of what life was like with her husband, Luke, her daughter, and her best friend Moira provide temporary relief from her constraining situation. Additionally, Offred befriends the Commander's aide, Nick. Offred longs to be with her husband and feels she can find her love by being with Nick. She risks her life multiple times just to be with Nick. Feeling loved by Nick gives her a window of hope in her otherwise miserable life. Instead of proclaiming his feelings out loud, he represses them. The result is a series of recordings describing his life and the things he would like to change.