1)The most challenging ideas in a text found in the detail.

INTRODUCTION – In the novel Handmaids Tale, written by Margret Atwood in 1985 a detailed dystopian setting successfully challenges the reader’s perceptions and ideas. Details such as the clothing the handmaids wear emphasizing the idea of control by being sent to the “colonies” emphasizing the idea of fear and enforced key greetings which emphasize the force of control through language.Together these details warn the reader to take a long hard look at the current social and political dynamics of the general society

BODY PARAGRAPH ONE – Atwood intentionally dressed the handmaids identical to the nuns’ habits, adding to the religious symbolism within the novel. Everyone in Gilead dresses alike within their social groups, handmaids are forced to wear a full lengthed skirt covering to the ankles and a flat yoke covering the arms and breast, exposing no skin. Also, their vision is restricted due to white wings, to keep them from seeing but also from being seen expressing an act of control. Offred describes the Handmaid outfit she’s condemned to wear:

“The skirt is ankle-length, full, gathered to a flat yoke that extends over the breasts, the sleeves are full. The white wings too are prescribed issue; they are to keep us from seeing, but also from being seen. I never looked good in red, it’s not my color. “

Atwood challenges her readers to think whether the control and restrictions over women could ever be justified. What she is describing is more extreme than even the most religious countries in the world such as Saudi Arabia, which has the most restrictions on women’s human rights on earth.

BODY PARAGRAPH TWO – Another powerful detail is the use of language that is enforced upon the society of Gilead to be followed, dictated via the government. The language used challenges the readers to be aware of the power that can be exhorted by language. Firstly the Handmaid’s names are taken from the names of their commanders, who, by the law of Gilead, essentially owned them. Taking away their identity and being defined by the men who had complete control over them, in other words becoming their property. To illustrate, Offred’s Commander is Frederick Waterford, so she became Offred: as in, “of Fred” and if she were to be moved to a new assignment, she would be assigned a new name. Besides names, there are also phrases which must be used amongst all individuals of Gilead.They are used as greetings and are religious phrases similar to those scripted by the bible. For instance, “Blessed be the fruit”, “May the Lord open” and “Blessed are the meek “. These religious sayings apply to the behavior and fertility of the women and another detail of the means used to control society.

2) Our reading experience is heightened when we care about the fate of our protagonist.

INTRODUCTION – In the Handmaids Tale written by Margret Atwood in 1985 the reader may not like Offred, but cares for her, which heightens the readers’ experience because we can empathize with her and her change in setting. Gilead strips women of their human rights such as freedom of movement, control of their sexuality and living a life without fear.

BODY PARAGRAPH ONE – Margret Atwood has created a believable dystopian society to confront the readers on what our near future is turning closer towards, allowing the readers to realize there are possible challenges ahead to come in our potential future. This warning comes from the protagonist herself because she is the narrator of the novel. She demonstrates how the protagonist lives a life through fear and under surveillance with a hidden agenda. We view the novel through the protagonist’s eyes and experience what she has to deal with, which strengthens the connection between readers and Offred. This leads it to be a natural response to only care for the well being of Offred, which heightens the reader’s experience.

BODY PARAGRAPH TWO – The protagonist’s world is set in a world not so different from the readers world.  The Handmaids tale is set in Bostin of United states but is now the Republic of Gilead. The imposing social control over the Northern American population

he setting of the Handmaids tale is set in a real life setting making it more of a realistic possibility of it happening.