Analyse Attwood's presentation of the character Offred in 'A Handmaid's Tale'

This question requires students to delve into the intricacies of the character of Offred whilst, at the same time, relating their statements back to the wider social and literary context of the novel and and make more generalised comments about genre, style and techniques. I would advise that students begin with an introductory paragraph that sets up the novel as a piece of 'speculative fiction' that deals with issues around patriarchy and oppression. After this, I would suggest that students start with, fairly, basic comments about Offred, i.e. how her name implies that she is a possession of Fred, how her clothes, and that of the other handmaids, have pagan and subservient connotations, and how her body is used as a "two-legged womb". To make more advanced analysis, I would encourage the students to comment on the fact that Offred is an unreliable narrator, and the implications of this and to break down some of the language she uses in much closer detail. For example, "All you have to go, I tell myself, is keep your mouth shut and look stupid. It shouldn't be that hard". Here her language is determined, she shows intelligence and self awareness, as well as bitterness and cynicism as a result of her environment. To go further still, students could talk about how Attwood uses Offred as a tool to make wider comments about society, a common technique in dystopic fiction.