There are two types of freedom, as described in the text, "freedom to, and freedom from". Historically women in the united states have fought battles in order to achieve the "freedom to" and have been successful. But the text depicts a society where women were suddenly returned back to the old traditions where their only freedom is the freedom from dangers of their surrounding world. Sociological values about the position of women in society are brought up by Margaret Atwood in The Handmaid's Tale. The novel depicts two contrasting societies with completely opposing ideologies and concepts of freedom which are juxtaposed. The first society is Modern America with its liberal customs, and the second society is Gilead, a totalitarian Christian theocracy which takes control of America in order to save its dying birthrate. .
The novel's protagonist, Offred, uses two sets of images to document the history of the contrasting societies. The text is written in first person narrative, and so allows the reader to see the recounts of the images of Offred's memories of her part life as an American woman and those of her present life as a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. The images of Offred's life in Gilead are recounted in the present tense which gives them a more solid tone and realistic in contrast with her past life. .
It is also important to note that the novel, written in first person, does not depict images are mere descriptions but the descriptions are also mingled with the narrator's own emotional reaction to it. The narrator is also well aware of her capacity to make errors. She calls her account a "reconstruction . [because] it's impossible to say a thing exactly the.
way it was . you always have to leave something out, there are too many parts,.
sides, crosscurrents, nuances," which infers that her story is based on flawed memories of what truly passed. .
Imagery is used to describe the setting.