A Modern 1984

      Living in an oppressive dystopian society has the potential to scare anybody who has lived in what we believe to be a free world. The novel The Handmaids Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, vividly portrays the atrocities that result from living a life that lacks freedom. In many ways this novel feels like a more modern version of Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. I am intrigued by the number of similarities between the two novels. While reading The Handmaid’s Tale, there were a number of passages that made me think that the main characters and the societies that were being portrayed in the two stories were overwhelmingly similar.

            From very early in The Handmaid’s Tale the reader can make comparisons to Orwell’s 1984. On page 8 Offred, the main character in The Hanmaid’s Tale, states, “I try not to think too much. Like other things now thought must be rationed… Thinking can hurt your chances, and I intend to last.” (8) In the novel 1984 Winston is also forced to keep himself from thinking. In both novels thinking is considered dangerous, and a threat to ones survival. The idea of keeping people from engaging in thought provoking exercises gives power to the ruling powers in each novel. The fear is that if one has the ability to think on their own they may eventually use that freedom to go against the system.

            In each of the novels those in power must convince the others that the way they are living there lives is normal. For example, in 1984 they get people excited by holding hate rallies while watching clips of a supposed revolution. In The Handmaid’s tale this job is a one person effort as Aunt Lydia is constantly telling Offred that things are the way they are supposed to be. One passage that seems extremely similar to 1984 comes when Aunt Lydia says, “Ordinary is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary.” (33) In this passage Offred has lost all concept of what is or is not ordinary. She realizes there was a time when things were different and she lived with freedom, but she is still unsure of her thoughts. This is similar to when O’Brien tells Winston that reality is what they say reality regardless of what they think. This is an important connection because Offred and Winston both live in a society where both their actions and thoughts a limited.

            The number of similarities between the two novels continues throughout the novel. There are public displays of power by the ruling classes in each novel, and emotions such as love are forbidden. The characters portrayed in the novel are afraid to too think, and relish the chances they have to slightly disobey the rules.