In "The Handmaids' Tale" by Margaret Atwood, we hear about a woman's separation from "Offred" in the Republic of Gilead. A society based on biblical philosophies as a way to validate inhumane state practices. In a society where birth rates are declining, fertile women are chosen to become Handmaids, walking incubators, whose role in life is to reproduce for the sterile wives of commanders. Elderly women, gay men, and sterile handmaids are sent to the colonies to clean up toxic waste. Fear is power. Fear is ever-present in Gilead; it is implemented through violence and force. It is through fear that the regime controls Gileadian society. There's no way Offred or the other Handmaids can help it. The corpses hanging on the wall are a relentless reminder of what rebellion and conflict entail. The abuse of power is also present in chapter fifteen: after Moira tries to escape, she is taken to the old science laboratory and has her feet beaten with steel. frayed threads and is then left on her bed ''Moira lay on her bed as an example.'' (pg. 102) She is an example of what rebellion entails. Therefore, creating fear in the other Handmaids. The Handmaids are treated like cattle, the aunts use goads to gain power and assert authority over the Handmaids. The aunts have so much power over them that they are able to control them with a whistle to kill someone in mass rescues. Rescues are another way to cause fear in order to gain more power over the Handmaids. Handmaids are branded like cattle, a numeric ankle tattoo consisting of one eye and four fingers; prevents them from escaping. Offred refers to it as "A passport in reverse". (pg. 75) this reference implies that there is no escape or exit from his situation… middle of the paper… to begin with as three stories are told; her time at the Red Center, the "time before" and her time as a Handmaid. Atwood continually uses flashbacks and often switches back and forth to the past, the distant past, and the present. The situation he describes in the opening chapter gives us the impression that the story is set in the distant future. However, as the story progresses, we learn that the time period is much closer than we initially anticipated. Offred continually engages the reader, addresses us directly and anticipates our response, and even feels like she has to justify some of her actions. Atwood is preparing us for the revelation in the historical notes that Offred is telling her story into a tape recorder. The story is open-ended; we are not told what exactly happened to Offred, Atwood does this to have a greater impact on the reader.