If you don't like it, change it, we said, to each other and to ourselves. And so we would change for the man, for another one. Change, we were sure, was for the better always. We were revisionists; what we revised was ourselves.
In "The Handmaid's Tale," the characters engage in a constant cycle of self-revision, driven by a belief that change leads to improvement. They express a commitment to altering themselves for the sake of pleasing others, reflecting a desire for acceptance and adaptability. This notion of transformation is seen as a necessary response to their oppressive environment, suggesting that personal growth is often influenced by external pressures.
Atwood's narrative reveals the complexities of identity and autonomy, as the characters are continuously reshaping their selves. Their insistence on changing for others highlights the struggle between individual desires and societal expectations, emphasizing that self-revision can be both a coping mechanism and a means of survival. This exploration raises questions about the authenticity of such changes and the true cost of conformity.
