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Chapter 14
Explanation and Analysis—Offred and Propaganda:
Offred, despite resisting the restrictions and injustices of Gilead, has taken some of its propaganda to heart: namely, that which inexorably ties women's societal value to their ability to bear children. These kinds of "traditional values" peddled by religious extremists naturally pit women against one another as competitors. In Gilead, women who are able to conceive children are valued; those who are unable to conceive are not. This hierarchy has the potential to stir up jealousy, directed towards "higher value" women in society—pregnant women, or older Wives.
At times, Offred indirectly reveals that she is susceptible to propaganda and jealousy. Certain statements, like the following excerpt from Chapter 14, exhibit these unreliable elements in Offred's narration:
Even at her age [Serena Joy] still feels the urge to wreathe herself in flowers. No use for you, I think at her, my face unmoving, you can't use them anymore, you're withered. They're the genital organs of plants. I read that somewhere, once.
In this passage, Offred resentfully refers to Serena Joy as "withered," implying that she is worthless to society because she is too old to have children. This is the propaganda talking: Offred, typically at least, tries to resist the sentiment that ties female value to reproductive function. Still, she is not immune to the society around her. Gilead's propaganda has a strong effect on how Offred views herself, as well as how she views other women.
Related Themes:
