Romantic Love in “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood Essay

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What if one day it will happen that the notion of romantic love will be questioned by political regime, and what if sexual relations which are considered to be an essential part of romantic love relationship will acquire a new notion of something limited only to reproduction of human species? This is the very question addressed in the novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. After having a closer look at the novel it becomes evident that the author intended to express the idea that any laws, regulations and judicial restrictions will be able to kill the strong bond of romantic love. With the development of the novel’s plot it becomes evident that ordinary people like Offred, Luke and the Commander will take any risks just to become inspired by a chance to love and be loved.

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“The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood is science-fiction novel about the Republic of Gilead which replaced the country of United States of America after the revolution organized by “Sons of Jacob” extremist movement. The new state has a very strange legislative system organized around chauvinistic ideas about women and gender relations. The story’s narrator used to be married to a man called Luke. However, this marriage was her second one. And in accordance to the new extremist legislation it is considered to be an adulterous one. The main character along with her husband Luke was fighting for their love trying to escape to the neighboring country of Canada. This cost Luke his life as the novel’s analysis suggests. Thus, there is no doubt that romantic love was a basis of a strong bond of union between Offred and Luke.

Later the woman was made a concubine or a handmade for another man called Fred. Fred or the Commander is a high ranking administrator in the new society. He is married, but he has no children as his wife is considered to be sterile (though the story telling suggests that it is the Commander himself who is sterile). To conceive a child the man is allowed to take a concubine. Offred has a special bond of relationship with the Commander. It seems that they have sort of a love affair which is actually forbidden by the new legislation. The conclusion that the narrator and her Commander have romantic affair can be made from the way he treated her. We read that Fred practiced illegal conduct having talks of intellectual and personal character with Offred. They even played games together. Let us consider such scene:

We play two games. Larynx, I spell. Valance. Quince. Zygote. I hold the glossy counters with their smooth edges, finger the letters. The feeling is voluptuous. This is freedom, an eyeblink of it. Limp I spell. Gorge. What a luxury. The counters are like candies, made of peppermint, cool like that. Humbugs those were called. I would like to put them in my mouth. They would taste also of lime. The letter C. Crisp, slightly acidic on the tongue, delicious (Atwood, p. 127).

Analyzing this scene, it becomes evident that the Commander’s relationship with his concubine is rather warm and close. Whoever of men will play an intellectual game with a woman in case he has no romantic interest to her especially when it is forbidden by law and is connected to high risks? Actually, this episode can be related as a vivid evidence of their intimacy. Additionally, we learn that Fred engages in the other forbidden aspects of a new life with his handmade including fashion magazine and cosmetics. All in all, taking into consideration all the high risks it was connected to, it become evident that Fred’s affection for his concubine is rather strong and significant.

Speaking about Offred’s relationship with Nick, it should be said that they are rather strong as well. In this case, the one who is more engaged is Offred herself. She becomes very close to Nick emotionally; so close that she is ready to reveal the secrets from her pre-Gilead life to him which is rather risky in the new order of things. This conclusion can be also made from the scene where Offred hands herself over to Nick believing that he is an agent of the Mayday resistance organization. This sad mistake cost her life; however, she loved him strong enough to forget about such “extra” things as reasonableness and cautiousness. This demonstrates the power of romantic feelings which are far stronger than legislation and the fear of punishment. New system shows its inconsistency in case with such people as Offred, Luke, the Commander himself and many more. It is no wonder that it does not stand for long. Analyzing the motif of such situations as this one where Offred or Fred showed their ignorance for the fear of punishment for romantic feelings and actions caused by those feelings, it is evident that ordinary people like them will take any risks just to become inspired by a chance to love.

As a final point, it should be stated that the novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood is a solid proof for the fact that romantic love is much stronger that any bans and restrictions by law, state and any other causatives. What has happened to Offred, Luke and Fred reveals that ordinary people like them will take any risks just for a chance to love and be loved.

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Works Cited

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. United States: Anchor, 1998. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2022, January 13). Romantic Love in "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood. https://ivypanda.com/essays/romantic-love-in-the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood/

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"Romantic Love in "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood." IvyPanda, 13 Jan. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/romantic-love-in-the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood/.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Romantic Love in "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood." January 13, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/romantic-love-in-the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood/.

1. IvyPanda. "Romantic Love in "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood." January 13, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/romantic-love-in-the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood/.


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IvyPanda. "Romantic Love in "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood." January 13, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/romantic-love-in-the-handmaids-tale-by-margaret-atwood/.

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