Power Construction in the Handmaids Tale
Narrative conventions in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale are used to develop the representations of power seen throughout the novel. Through the characters of Offred, Nick, the Commander and Serena Joy different levels and types of power are displayed, some in favour of Offred and others to her detriment. In the relationship between Offred and Nick, Nick holds power over Offred, emotionally as well as for the obvious reason of the repercussions they would suffer from the Gilead authorities. The Commander holds a different kind of power, power over Offred’s life or death, power over her actions and over her limited freedoms.