Neither of us says the word love, not once. It would be tempting fate; it would be romance, bad luck.
In Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," the intricate dynamics between the characters are portrayed with caution, particularly their reluctance to express emotions openly. The absence of the word "love" signifies a profound fear of vulnerability and the consequences that might arise from it. The characters believe that uttering such a powerful word could disrupt their already precarious situation, suggesting a tension between desire and survival.
This hesitance reflects the oppressive society they inhabit, where emotional connections are fraught with peril. By avoiding the term "love," the characters are engaging in a delicate dance between intimacy and the harsh realities of their world. It emphasizes how the weight of their circumstances alters their relationships, reducing what should be a natural expression of affection to a potentially fatal risk.
