"The Handmaid's Tale" passage analysis

“It’s difficult to resist, believe me.  But remember that forgiveness too is a power.  To beg for it is a power, and to withhold or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest (Atwood 134-135).”  This insightful thought is considered by Offred as she debates with herself, concluding that something is inevitably lost in a reconstruction, and admits that even her own account is a reconstruction.  I find this line compelling because of its relevance not only to the lack of responsible use of power and its translation into Gilead’s society, but also to both human interaction and religion.  This passage speaks to human behavior, warning society not to lose track of their treatment of others, to be forgiving because we make mistakes, and to be cautious with whom you bestow trust in.

  Gilead is familiar with imbalance of power and mistreatment of people, such as the commanders who are superior to other members of society and abuse their designated power, to the extent of breaking the very laws that they themselves established.  Commanders have crumbled to the temptation that is power, and have corrupted themselves by imposing laws on others, while they do not hold themselves to such standards, such as when Offred’s commander illegally slips her out at night to the brothel, Jezebel’s.  Offred has witnessed the destructive effects caused by an abuse of power, as her thoughts confirm.

While Offred may not be a religiously devoted person, she does understand Gilead’s misconceptions towards religion, which she corrects with her reminder “that forgiveness too is a power…perhaps the greatest (134-135).”  She encourages forgiveness where it is due; because unlike the leaders of Gilead who aim for inhuman perfection, she recognizes that no one is so righteous and God-like that they are beyond faltering.  She also acknowledges that those who refuse to offer forgiveness and mercy are not acting within their limits, as it is the role of a god or other religious figure to withhold or bestow the most extreme, and ultimate forgiveness or lack thereof. 

Finally, Offred’s message serves as a caution against simply handing out forgiveness to untrustworthy people, because both forgiveness and trust are qualities that must be earned.  Offred is aware that the majority of Gilead’s population has been misguided by leaders such as the Commanders and Aunts, and she has also been taught by a fellow handmaid to be conscientious of whom to bestow trust in. 

By heeding the warning of Offred, individuals improve society, themselves, and their faith, all through the immense power of receiving, presenting, and asking for forgiveness.