2005, Form B. One of the strongest human drives seems to be a desire for power. Write an essay in which you discuss how a character in a novel or a drama struggles to free himself or herself from the power of others or seeks to gain power over others. Be sure to demonstrate in your essay how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work.
Offreds struggle begins when she is captured after trying to cross the boarder out of the Republic of Giliad. She later joins a small group of women who are most valuable because they can still bear children, who will serve their country by becoming handmaids. Upon learning that a dominating power has total control over her decisions and life, Offred is suddenly stripped of personality and individual rights/freedoms.This stress on the loss of individuality gives the novel a dark tone and makes comments on the ideas of conformity in society.
When Offred is given a job she can't complete on her part, she feels that she has regained some individual power. This first taste of freedom makes her hungry for more and begins to change her idea on following the rules. These brief moments give a small glimpse of hope to the reader and show how important individuality is to a person and how it should never be taken for granted.
When she escapes this society with the man she loves Offred gains back her personal freedoms from supreme authority. She can now live a normal life again, while still be careful not to get caught and sent right back. Atwood's ideas to of individualism and freedom are strongly enhanced through Offred and her actions, informing readers of how important they are, because one day they might be gone.
2 comments:
Your intro is good and your thesis is quite explicit. You fail to really answer the second half of the question "how the author uses this power struggle to enhance the meaning of the work". I think that this part of the question is really the most important part, and here is where you could utilize DIDLS to answer the qeustion, something you didn't really do. It seems that you may summarize the plot to much. You answer the first half of the question very well.
Your thesis is clear and answers part of the propmt, but i think there is that " hidden so what" question. How do her struggles add meaning to the book? Ypu do a good job of supporting your thesis through your paragraphs, but I think you could have less plot summary and more commentary to add to your evidence.
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