The novel explores the conflict between the commanders, who are the ruling class, and the women, who make up the rest of the other socio-economic statuses of Gilead. One of the most evident social conflicts in the novel is the oppression of women. In Gilead, women are reduced to their biological functions and are stripped of their rights, including the right to read, write, and work. They are segregated by social class and forced into roles. They’re forced to bear children and they’re treated as property, which highlights their exploitation and alienation. Handmaids are women who are used as surrogates to bear children for the ruling class. The oppression of women in Gilead is a central theme of the novel, and it is depicted through the experiences of the protagonist.
