Prompt: A symbol is an object, action or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning.
Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
In the novel The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood employs the symbol of clothing in order to convey the status of the wives and the handmaids, ultimately illustrating people in power will do anything to maintain that power.
To begin, Atwood uses the symbol of clothing to convey oppression. The wives of the commanders are clothed in blue to show their status. Because of these colors, the wives show their superiority over the handmaids. Consequently, they continue to use their power to keep the handmaids in line. Therefore, the use of clothing shows that the wives like to use their color of blue to display their power over the handmaids and to discourage them from rebelling. Continually, Atwood uses this symbol to separate the women.
The wife's color of blue is used to separate them from the handmaids and to make them have a sense of power in a world where women truly have no power. Because of this separation, the wives feel as if they have some control in their society since they have more power than the handmaids. Since, the wives mistreat the handmaids to have this sense of control. Thus, the use of the symbol of clothing separates the women from each other by this false sense of security through their “status” that they have. This separation shows that people will truly do anything to keep or gain power.
Even though it seems that the wives gain power through the color of their clothes, this symbol of clothing is used to oppress women as a whole and not to empower them. Furthermore, Atwood uses clothing to demonstrate power. Nick wears the color navy blue to demonstrate his authority in the Republic of Gilead. Because of this clothing, Nick constantly walks around with a symbol that he is superior to most people around him. Consequently, the clothing oppresses the people around him through the elevation of status that his clothes bring him. Therefore, the use of clothing as a symbol demonstrates that he is a higher-ranking individual. Moreover, this symbol of clothing even separates the superior men from one another. Fred, the commander of the area Offred lives in, wears black clothing to demonstrate true power within their oppressive society. Because of this choice in color, the commander further separates himself even from the other men to show dominion in the hierarchy of their society. Since, the choice of his black attire is used to even control the other men in this society. Thus, the use of clothing shows that the color scheme is strictly used to segregate the people into their social class. This segregation proves that people from any position will do what it takes to stay in power.
In this novel, Atwood uses the symbol of clothing to oppress and separate the people from one another. Women flaunt their blue dresses to the handmaids in the same way that the commander constricts the other men with his black suit. These attempts at power grabs truly show that anyone with a chance to move up will take the opportunity to bring themselves up even if it means that others will fall.