The acceptance of the position of the governess is a heroic action known as a sacrifice. The role of the Governess in the nineteenth-century had them socially and romantically isolated. By committing to this employment it is accepting and understanding the terms of the rejection of the possibility for these governess’s to marry and create their own family. At the beginning of the novella we notice “for a moment, disburdened, delighted, he held her hand, thanking her for her sacrifice, she already felt rewarded” . We see that the quote implies the term ‘sacrifice’ implementing that nobody else would take the job due to the recent death of the governess prior. By implementing a heroic character with bravery and pursuing a home where children…show more content… Through Atwood’s characterisation of the character Offred, displays readers with a prime example of how the use of language can contribute to a female’s heroism, the quote “scrabble, now it’s forbidden, for us. Now it is dangerous. Now it’s indecent. The feeling is voluptuous. This is freedom”, effectively portrays how Offred goes against societal expectations despite the consequences as she is demonstrating her own will for being able to use language. As language is forbidden, and Offred still chooses to make use of it, her choice reflects the characteristics of that of a heroine, therefore demonstrating her rebellious attitude. Catalado shares the enthusiasm the status of language as heroic possibility as she quotes “language through the word-game of scrabble she feels she has some power and has thus, in a way, broken the circle” . Power is constructing through the language giving Offred the independence to think for herself, in which is considered a luxury at this point without having a patriarchal society determining a small piece of freedom that is taboo. The power of language gives women a thought process and knowledge that aggravates men, since holding power over knowledge and literacy they could not offer anything else apart from procreation. Brocken from the circle entails that Offred does not belong to anyone and is an agent of her own. Critique David
