AP English 4 TEAR Paragraph E.Alvarado Pd.3

Topic One: Analyze a character from your novel whose mind is pulled in conflicting directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or influences.



       In Margaret Atwood's somber novel "The Handmaid's Tale", the narrator of the story finds herself desperately desiring things that are frowned upon within her society.These wants and desires are what put the narrator in many sticky situations that could eventually lead to a drastic consequence. Before being forced to become a handmaid, Offred lived a very normal life. She had a successful marriage, a daughter, and money of her own. Offred always had a very independent mentality and she loved knowing that she could go out and earn her own money, she makes this very clear when her "bank account becomes frozen my husband Luke now has full control of my money". This lets the audience know how important independence is to Offred, to her nothing matters if she cant go out and provide for her family in order to be an equal with her spouse. Her pride and mentality cause her to suffer when her independence is slowly taken away. Once becoming a handmaid attention is something the narrator desperately craves. This becomes evident when the commander Offred works for begins to take an interest in her "he sits and watches me read to him this is some kind of sexual act". Although it is forbidden for a handmaid and a superior to have any type of relationship, offred continuously goes into the commander's office and interacts with him. The narrator appreciates the attention the commander grants her because its one of the many things that was abruptly snatched away from her life. This is why she would rather follow her desire by playing with temptation and risk being caught, just to receive a feeling of admiration and attention. Having any kind of relationship with men is forbidden for all the "maids" unless they are allowed to do so with an "assigned" partner. For this reason Offred begins to slowly give in to her sexual attraction to Nick but then realizes the small token of pleasure isn't worth risking her life. "We're shaking how I'd like to...I can almost taste his skin and it makes me hungry". Knowing that at any moment someone could walk in and catch Offred and Nick, makes Offred think twice about having sex with Nick. Her desperate want of sexual pleasure and her desire to reminisce her sexual relationship with her husband Luke almost becomes the reason for Offred's death. Once processing the situation in their minds both Nick and Offred realize that giving into their desire would only bring them trouble, and that risking their lives for pleasure wouldn't be worth the sacrifice in the end.