Novel 1

Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political or social issue. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.


Imagine a world where women's bodies are recycled—used only for reproduction. A place where love is blocked from society because social classes depict who you are, who you can associate with, and what you do. A place where men's wives count on mistresses for children. A place completely opposite from our standard morals.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a futuristic story that involves political and social conflict between feminine classes. In this story, the economy spiraled down, and because the government failed their countries, leaders formed an extreme hierarchy, much similar to the “olden days.” Families were torn apart and forced into homes that were ruled by “Commanders.” Commanders were the head of the household. They and the Wives all counted on the Marthas, who were cooks, and more importantly the Handmaids. Handmaids were depended on by Wives because they were the “key ingredient” to success.

In fact, Handmaids were depended on by the entire household, because they had to give the Commander and Wife a child. You see, Wives were commonly infertile and because marriage was destroyed for everyone besides them, they were needed to continue the human race. If the Handmaids did not prove successful, they were transferred to another household. If they did not prove successful after three transfers, they would be sent to the Unwomen, where they would work in hazardous areas.

The social conflict with the Handmaids mainly revolves around their relationship with the Wives. In the novel, one particular Handmaid, Offred, describes her awkward conflict with one of the Wives. Since Offred has to give a child to the Commander, she has to have silent and impersonal sex with him, while the Wife sits there holding her hand. As the story continues, the Wive hates her until she comes to realization that she needs a child. She secretly pays another man to have sex with Offred because she is afraid the Commander is infertile as well.

Another social conflict the Handmaids encounter is their freedom. Everyone is constantly watching them, and they cannot express their opinions, beliefs, or personality. They cannot use soap, they cannot do their hair, and they have to cover themselves with a long, thick dress and bonnet. During the story, the Commander asks Offred to secretly see him at night, just to discuss games and what she likes. This, under all the circumstances, is completely against the rules. Nonetheless, it’s abrupt and surprising to Offred since the Commanders have always ignored Handmaids and since this is a new sense of freedom.

Social and political conflict swarms the Handmaids, and in their world of pressure, many are sent away. The conflicts between Handmaids and Wives, Wives and Commanders, Handmaids and Marthas, and Commanders and Handmaids all contribute to the dystopic and futuristic aura the author creates.