The representation of the body and identities in The...

The representation of the body and identities in The Handmaid’s Tale, the Miller’s Tale and with reference to Never Let Me Go. The Handmaid’s tale, The Miller’s Tale and Never Let Me Go all seem to hold the human form in substantial import, exploring physicality with great significance. The fictional novels all link together and the bodies and identities of the characters are used as political statements in society. Throughout history women have fought to gain the independence they deserve as a member of society and in all three pieces of literature you are able to see that it will always be an on going battle and people feel that women are just there to be used and objectified. Atwood’s dystopian classic was influenced by texts†¦show more content†¦Sex is seen as being degrading and wrong to women; however it is seen as fine for the men and commanders to desire sexual encounters more than once a month. This is why the Jezebels were created, like the commander says â€Å"everyone is human after all†. The society its self has been taken of all ownership and power. All bodi es, especially those of the Handmaids are worshiped by society. By doing this the fundamentalist government somehow sees it as a justification of their actions, almost as if they are giving back to the society they have most definitely destroyed. In todays postmodern society their situation could be seen as relatable by the reader, however even in supposed acts of ‘kindness’ they leave their mark. The main protagonist Offred makes a conscience effort to not look at her body whilst undressing herself. This shows how she feels like even a glimpse of her own body is defying orders. However it is at this moment when she notices the tattoo of the ‘eye’ on her ankle. This provides the constant reminder that she is being watched and that the government have all control over her. Her body is not and never will be again her own. The reader is given the impression throughout the novel that Offred almost lives outside of her own body. It is as if she is a stranger loo king in on another person’s life. Her body and reproductive organs are appreciated and wanted more by other people such as the commander and his wife than herself. The emptiness