IndexWomen's Bodies as Political ToolsLanguage as a Tool of PowerThe Causes of ComplacencyWomen's Bodies as Political ToolsBecause Gilead was formed in response to the crisis caused by the drastic decline of birth rates, the The entire structure of the state, with its religious symbols and rigid political hierarchy, is built around a single goal: the control of reproduction. The state tackles the problem head-on by taking complete control of women's bodies through their political subjugation. Women cannot vote, hold property or jobs, read, or do anything else that would allow them to become subversive or independent and thus undermine their husbands or the state. For all of Gilead's pro-women rhetoric, such subjugation creates a society where women are treated as subhuman. They are reduced to their fertility, treated as nothing more than a set of ovaries and a uterus. In one of the novel's key scenes, Offred lies in the bathtub and reflects that, before Gilead, she considered her body an instrument of her desires; now it's just a mound of flesh surrounding a womb that needs to be filled to be useful. Gilead seeks to strip women of their individuality to make them docile bearers of the next generation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Language as an instrument of power Gilead creates an official vocabulary that ignores and distorts reality to suit the needs of the new society's elite. Having made it illegal for women to work, Gilead creates a system of titles. While men are defined by their military rank, women are defined solely by their gender role as Wives, Handmaids, or Martha. Stripping them of permanent individual names robs them of their individuality, or at least tries to. Feminists and deformed children are treated as subhuman, referred to as “Not women” and “Not children”. Blacks and Jews are defined by biblical terms (“Sons of Ham” and “Sons of Jacob,” respectively) that distinguish them from the rest of society, making their persecution easier. There are prescribed greetings for personal encounters, and to fail to offer the correct greetings is to fall into suspicion of disloyalty. Specially created terms define the rituals of Gilead, such as “Prayvaganzas,” “Salvagings,” and “Particicutions.” Gilead maintains its control over women's bodies by maintaining control over names. The Causes of Complacency In a totalitarian state, Atwood suggests, people will willingly endure oppression as long as they receive a small amount of power or freedom. Offred recalls her mother saying that it's "really amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are some compensations." Offred's complacency after starting her relationship with Nick shows the truth of this intuition. Her situation limits her horribly from the freedom her previous life allowed her, but her relationship with Nick allows her to reclaim the smallest fragment of her former existence. Physical affection and companionship become compensations that make the restrictions almost bearable. Offred suddenly seems so pleased that she doesn't say yes when Diglen asks her to gather information on the Commander. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Women in general support the existence of Gilead by voluntarily participating in it, serving as agents of the totalitarian state. While a woman like Serena Joy has no power in a man's world, she wields authority within her own.