Literary Criticism E.Alvarado Pd.3

 "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood is a novel that is filled with suspense, romance, sadness, and most importantly insight. The author successfully used the point of view of the narrator to describe the tragic situation that "Offred" along with all the other handmaid's were forced to surpass. Atwood's use of imagery and irony help her audience better understand as well as visualize the exact situation these women were forced to live in on a day to day basis. "There must have been a chandelier once but they took down anything you could tie a rope to". Although to many a chandelier is admired for its intricacy and beauty, to the handmaid's the chandelier is an escape from the hell that they are currently living in. This is one of the many examples of the way Atwood uses imagery in order to successfully convey her message. Through out the entire novel Atwood applies many examples of irony such as when she states "I am a reproach to her as well as a necessity." Using the situation between the commander's wife and Offred Atwood is able to illustrate an image of the irony that is implicated within the handmaid's lives. Even though the commander's wife treats Offred with nothing but hostility, deep down she knows that she greatly depends on her not only to keep her home running successfully but also because Offred is the person who will make Serene Joy a mother one day.   The use of imagery and irony is one of the many great tools Margaret Atwood applies to her novel in order to convey her deeper message. Her way of laying out her details is what causes her audience to better capture the true meaning of this novel.