Sexuality is probably the biggest one.
With Grace, she is accused of doing sexual favours for James in order to have him kill Kinnear and Thomas. Also, it is suspected Grace and Jamie had a sexual encounter in the orchard, whereas according to Grace, it was just an innocent interaction. Grace often would flirt with Kinnear in hopes that maybe she would get an elavated position. She must also fend off sexual predators in the prison.
With Nancy, she actually had a sexual relationship with Kinnear in hopes of a marriage contract, an evalation in position,
Mary had a sexual relationship with her employers son, George. When she became pregnant, she was then jilted and had an abortion. She later died from it.
For Rachel, she begins a sexual relationship with Dr. Jordan after her husband leaves her.
Dr. Jordan also faces this when he is in bed with Rachel, thinking about Lydia, or fantasizing about Grace.
In many ways, the characters are driven by the sexuality or sexual desire. This is often a re-occuring theme is Atwood's writing as well.
Sexuality so often seems to be something people USE to gain power, or something one might hold over another person in order to control them.
ReplyDeleteThis leads to a theme of relationships.
Can also lead to gender issues - which is another major theme in the novel.
Try to start citing some more themes as you read - and make connections between the themes and the literary devices Atwood uses. How do the literary devices convey theme?