Dystopian Journal #1-The Handmaid's Tale

Topic A
Quote: "It isn't running they're afraid of. We wouldn't get far. It's those other escapes, the ones you can open in yourself, given a cutting edge" (Atwood 10).

This passage conveys exactly what the government in this society is afraid of, showing its weakness and how they make sure their fear does not come true. The society in The Handmaid's Tale the group of women slept in one big, old gymnasium where they each had their own bed. But they were split far enough apart so that they could not talk to one another; this being one of the small ways those in control exhibited their power over even the smallest thing such as talking. In this gymnasium, where the women slept, there are two women patrolling; Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth. Then there are also guards with guns who were known as Angels. These guards are not allowed to come inside the gymnasium except when called for and the women are not allowed to leave. One exception to this law is when the women go on their walks twice each day, "around the football field, which was enclosed now by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire" (Atwood 4). This very strict and secluded way of living made the women disconnected from the rest of the society. This is what the people in control ultimately wanted, to make the women feel detached from the rest of the society, by oppressing them.

Word Count: 214