1984 And The Handmaid's Tale: Lives Of Dystopia Can Be Changed

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

can see her and the only way she can see out is by sneaking short peeks at the outside world.
In both of these books, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, the main characters know that the controlled lifestyle that they are living is wrong. At the beginning, they think that this is the way they have to live, and accept things the way they are. As we read further into the books, we soon realize that the characters want to make a difference and change their lives. Both take small steps towards this, and it seems like they both start rebelling against authority. In 1984, Winston is always being watched by the telescreens and therefore has no freedom whatsoever. He takes advantage of the few minutes of freedom he gets now and then when the telescreens are off by writing in his diary. He knows the consequences if he was caught writing in this diary, so if he does write in it, he “ [begins] writing in sheer panic, only imperfectly aware of what he was setting down” (pg 10). This quote ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

and marriages are supposed to be arranged. In
The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred continues to rebel. She was assigned one Commander with whom she is supposed to get pregnant as her job as a Handmaid. Their relationship is supposed to be strictly sex and the Commander’s wife is to be present during their “meetings.” The relationship between Offred and her Commander grows as time goes on and eventually they go out on dates. The Commander says “I’m taking you out.” Offred replies with, “Out?” “It’s an archaic phrase. Surely there is nowhere, anymore, where a man can take a woman out.” (pg 217) Another quote that shows the rebelling of going out on a date with her Commander is on page ...

Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library. Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports, and research papers in 2 minutes or less.

CITE THIS PAGE: