Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it really isn't about who can own whom, who can do what to whom and get away with it, even as far as death. Maybe it isn't about who can sit and who has to kneel or stand or lie down, legs spread open. Maybe it's about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it. Never tell me it amounts to the same thing.
The quote from Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" reflects on the complexities of power dynamics and forgiveness within relationships. It suggests that the struggle for control among individuals may be less about ownership and dominance, and more about the ability to act without facing consequences. This perspective challenges the notion that power is solely about physical acts of submission or authority.
Instead, Atwood provokes thought on the moral implications of actions and how society perceives transgressions. The idea that some can do harm and receive forgiveness, while others face punishment, highlights the underlying inequalities in social interactions. This commentary raises questions about accountability and the true nature of power, suggesting that the ability to pardon may be a more significant aspect of human relationships than previously understood.
