Everything has a price. Especially freedom, ironically. Nothing can be gained without sacrificing something else. This seems to be the way of things. So my freedom, yes, is exceptionally limited. In this country we're given the glossy-shiny 'power to choose', which draws us in, convinces us. But there are more manipulations behind the cover that very few can perceive, and even fewer orchestrate. My freedom has bounds.
Offred has no freedom at all really. There are glimpses, tastes of it; but for her it does not exist. Slowly, she is becoming aware of avenues of power. Ways in which she can manipulate the system. We shall see if she can escape, and what that means, where it brings her.
I think my biggest issue with the novel is that I can't believe the system that is now in place. To what end is this freaky sex triangle fertility weirdness thingy? It's almost hinting that the theme of the novel is love. Which I think would be tragically clichéd or something. Somehow that would disappointing. Seems like the author has very twisted concepts of intimacy and procreation. What exactly is she criticizing (satirizing) here? Religion? Sexuality? Modern Society & Women? Also she is sometimes confusing.
What is she satirizing, indeed? A good post, Kesley, in that you ask a lot of productive questions. Further thought & contemplation are the surest routes to answers, I suspect. (Though, you have a point in that Atwood's views are not as clear cut, nor is her critique as one-dimensional, as we might find in another satire).
ReplyDeleteKeep reading, and let me know what you think!