.IntroductionAsoneofthemostfamouscontemporaryCanadiannovelists,poetsandliterarycriticsMargaretAtwoodisbeingknownas“theQueenofCanadianLiterature”,sheisamongthemost-honoredauthorsoffictioninliteratureworld.Atwoodbeganhercreativeactivityandpublishedherfirstnovelin1969.Uptonow,shehaspublishedover40booksrangingfromnovelsandpoemstoliterarycriticisms.AndsincethepublicationofthevolumeofhernovelTheHandmaid’sTale,thisnovelgotawardsliketheArthurClarkeAwardforScienceFictionandtheLosAngelesTimesFictionPrizeintheUnitedStates.In2017,TheHandmaid’sTalewasremadeasaTVseries,thisTVserieshasgotnumerousawardsandenjoyedgreatreputationbothathomeandabroad.Atwood’snovelsarefulloffeministissuesbecauseofherexperiencesinthefeministrevolutionofthe1970s.Inherworks,womenhavelittlerightsandlibertyinthepatriarchalsocietyduetothefactthattheyarefrequentlyoppressedanddominatedbymalecharacters.womenusuallysuffermuchbothbodilyandmentallyfrommaleauthorityinthesociety.Whatthefemalesneedtodoistobeobedientandobeyeverysingleruleandregulationgivenbythemales.ThisnovelsetinthebackgroundoftotalitarianChristiantheocracywhichhasoverthrowntheUnitedStatesgovernmentinthenearfuture.Theecologicalenvironmentandpollutionproblemsaregettingworse.Toxicsubstancessneakintopeople'sbodies,nuclearpollutionwasteseverywhere,resultinginmoreandmoreinfertility,onlyquarterwomenoftheappropriateagecansuccessfullygivebirthtoahealthyfetus.Theecologicalcrisisnotonlycausespersecutionofwomenandnature,butalsobecomesavictimtosomeextentduetoecologicaldamage,andmalefertilityisgreatlyreduced.However,inGileadcountries,thisisattributedtowomen.Inadditiontobeingruledandoppressed,theyarealsoguiltyofinfertilityinthereproductivesystem.AreligiousorganizationcontrolledtheCongress,overthrewtheoriginalregime,andestablishedanewregimeofpoliticalandreligiousunitycalledtheGileadRepublic.OneofthemainpurposesoftheGileadRepublicisthatwomenaremaleaccessoriesandbelongtothestate.TheauthoritiesareagroupofChristianNewSchoolwhobelieveinreligiousradicalism.InGilead,theBibleisinterpretedbytherulersliterallyandworshipedastheonlybeliefinthewholecountry.Theyattempttobindpeople'sthoughtswithreligiouspower.Theyannouncedthatremarriageandsame-sexmarriageareinvalidmarriages,deprivingthemoftheirjobs,propertyandevenchildren.Womenwhohavefertilityandhavehadhealthychildrenhavebeendeprivedoftheirnamesandassignedtotheindifferentarchbishopswhoareinpower.Thehandmaidismanagedbythecommander’swifeinthecommander’shouse.Shecanonlyhavesexualrelationswiththecommanderunderthewitnessofherwife,andcannothaveanyemotionalexchanges.Ifhandmaidgivesbirthtoachild,shecannotraiseherownchild,butinsteadgivesthecommander’swife.Insummary,thehandmaidis"Wearetwo-leggedwombs,that’sall:sacredvessels,ambulatorychalices."(Atwood,1998:148)Theprotagonistofthenovelissuchahandmaid,hernameisOffred.Thisisnotevenherrealname,butbecausethecommandercalledFred,of+fred,formedhername,whichmeansshebelongstoFred.Once,Offredhadastablejob,hadherownfamily,andhadawoman,andeverythinglookedgood.Suddenly,thepresidentwasassassinated,thegovernmentdisappeared,thebankcardwasfrozen,andtheworkwasgone.AllthefundsweretransferredtoherhusbandLuke’saccount.Onthatnight,shefeltthatherhusband’sstatusbegantolosebalanceandshewaslikeadoll.Andlosttheabilitytodominatetheirlives,sherealizedthatthedirectresultoflosinghereconomicindependencewasthatshebecameherhusband'spossession“Wearenoteachother's,anymore.Instead,Iamhis.”(Atwood,1998:194)TheprototypeoftheGileadcountrycreatedbyAtwoodcanstillbefoundinmodernsociety.Associatingwithsometheocraticstatesinnowadays,Atwoodshowshergreatconcernsaboutthosepeoplewhostillliveinthetotalitariancontrol,whichaskspeopletobevigilanttotheresurgenceofit.Atthesametime,thisnovelalsoshowsherconcernsabouttheunbalanceofpowerdispositionbetweensexualrelations.Therefore,ithasprofoundsignificancetoresearchthisnovelfromtheperspectivesofpowerandpolitics.2.LiteratureReview2.1

Domestic

literature

reviewAsanoutstandingfemalewriter,AtwoodhasattractedwidespreadattentioninCanada,aswellassomenon-EnglishspeakingcountrieslikeChinaandJapan.Thereareabout70papersonthisnovel,mostofwhichwerepublishedfrom2005to2018.Generally,domesticresearchonthisnovelispredominantlyontheecologicalperspective,includingecology,eco-feminismandthecombinationofthetwoaspects.AccordingtoLiangYing(2012),TheStoryofaVirgintakesplaceinacountrywithextremelydeterioratingecology.Therefore,thebackgroundofextremedeteriorationoftheecologynotonlymakesreaderspayattentiontotoday'secologicalenvironmentproblems,butalsoservesasanintroductiontoreligioussocialreforms,allowingreaderstoseesuchreforms.Theprogramdoesnotleadustoreflectonwomen’smovementsandreligiousmovements.AccordingtoZhaoYilin（2018），manyofthesocialphenomenadescribedinTheHandmaid’sTalearebecomingarealitystepbysteptoday.Thisshouldcausedeepthoughtandvigilanceinthewholesociety.Moreoverpeopleshouldpayattentiontothelivingconditions.MargaretAtwoodstandsattheperspectiveofwomenanddevelopsakeeninsightintothenaturalecology,recognizingtheimportanceofwomenandnatureinhumansociety.Itisnecessarynotonlytofundamentallychangethedisadvantagesofwomen'smarginalizationstatus,butalsotochangethewaypeoplelivewithnature,nottoputpeopleintheoppositeofnature,tobeconsciouslyandactivelylinkedtothenaturalworld,toachievesustainabledevelopmentof.Therefore,theseeminglyfemalecryandawakeninginTheStoryofaWomanisactuallythecallandself-salvationofallhumanbeingsafteraseriousdestructioninthenaturalworld.Itisnotedthatecologicalstudyofthisnovelmainlyfocusesontheintimaterelationshipbetweennatureandwomen.althoughmanyscholarsanalyzethenovelfromdifferentangles,theyseemtoagreethatafterourenvironmentisdestroyed,womenwouldbecomevictimsofthesocietytoagreaterextentcomparedwithmen.AccordingtoYuanXiuping(2012),humanbeingsmustfundamentallychangethe"marginal"statusofnatureandwomen,attachimportancetoandcultivateconsciousecologicalconsciousness,andbuildanequalandharmoniousrelationshipbetweenmanandnatureandbetweenmenandwomen.Besidesstudiesfromtheanglesofecologyandfeminism,therearesomeotherperspectiveslikedystopian,power

theoryandsoon.In2013,adissertationwrittenYanGuodongnamed“Nightmare-theDystopianStudyontheThemeofTheHandmaid’sTale“analyzesthedystopiancharacteristicsofthenovelandconcludesthatGillettesocietyisanightmareforitspeople,especiallywomen,whoareseverelyafflictedbothphysicallyandpsychologically.Gileadsocietyisanightmareforitspeople,especiallythefemale,whoaretorturedbothphysicallyanpsychologically.Intermsofpowertheory"AnalysisofFoucault'sPowerTheoryinPowerandResistanceinTheStoryofaWoman"TheHandmaid'sTale'spowerstrategyinthecountry'spowersexplainstherelationshipbetweenpowerandthebodyandtheresultingresistance,acomprehensiveunderstandingofTheHandmaid'sTaleItcanpromptustomaintainahighdegreeofvigilanceandavoidsimilartragedies."(王蘋(píng)張建穎,2005:72-77)2.2

Oversea

literature

review

ComparedwiththestudyofTheHandmaid’sTaleinChina,itsresearchinEnglish-speakingcountriesismoreprosperous.UnlikeChinesescholars,foreigncriticsstarttostudythisnovelquiteearly.Inthefollowingyearsafteritispublished,thenovelisstudiedbymanyscholars.Currently,thereareabout60papersonthisnovel.Andwiththedeepeningofresearchinrecentdecades,foreignscholarshavemainlyfocusedonfeminism,ecologicalissues.ItseemsthatfeministstudyhasbeenthemostpopularperspectiveforscholarsinforeignscholarscomparedwiththoseChinesescholars.Malakpraisesthat“WhatdistinguishesAtwood’snovelfromthosedystopianclassicsisitsobviousfeministfocus”(Malak,1984:16)Atwoodstatesthat“Byandlarge,maynovelscenteronwomen,maybeitisbecauseIamawomen”(Geoff,1984:262).InthisnovelsAtwood'sin-depthdescriptionofwomen'spsychologyandtheirtragicexperiencesmakesthisnovelbecomeoneofthebestworksoffeministresearch.In“ABodyStorywithaVengeance:AnatomyandStruggleinTheBellJarandTheHandmaid’sTale”writtenbyPamelaCooper（1997）,heanalyzesthemiserablelivingconditionsofwomenandhefurtherexplainsthatthesefemaleslivesuchaterriblelifemainlyduetothefactthattheyaretreatedunfairlyintheGileadsociety.Andoncethesituationbecomesworse,womenwouldsuffermorethanmen.ManyscholarsholdtheideathatAtwoodwritesTheHandmaid’sTaletoexpressherpoliticalattitudesanddisplayherinterpretationofgovernment’smanipulationofpower.Intermsofecologicalissues.AccordingtoDeborahHooker(2006)pointoutinthepapercalled“Florality,Gender,andtheEnvironmentalEthosofAtwood’sTheHandmaid’sTale”thatthereareabundantfloralimageryinthenovelandconcludesthattheseimagescontrastwiththeenvironmentaldamageandthuspromotingpeople’sconcerntowardsourearth.Whatismore,manyscholarsholdtheideathatAtwoodwritesTheHandmaid’sTaletoexpressherpoliticalattitudesanddisplayherinterpretationofgovernment’smanipulationofpower.AccordingtoGormanBeauchamp(2009)hecallsonpeopletobeawareoftherulers’abuseofpowerinthepoliticsofTheHandmaid’sTale.Beauchampfurtherstatesthat“Thefactthateithertherulersabusepowerordonotpayanyattentiontopowercanleadtotheinappropriateuseofpower,andthusmakingtheindividualssufferfromtheterribleresults”(Beauchamp,2009:15)Insummary,theresearchonTheHandmaid’sTaleismainlyfromtheaspectsofecology,feminism,dystopia,etc.IintendtofocusontheuseofFoucault'stheorytoanalyzetherightsmechanisminTheHandmaid’sTaleandtheresistanceofthepeople.Atthesametime,italsoanalyzeshowrightscanturnhumanbeingsintodisciplinedindividuals,alertinghumanbeingstoremainvigilantatalltimestopreventGillettesocietyfrombecomingareality.3.Theoretical

FrameworkMichelFoucault(1926.10-1984.6)isaFrenchphilosopher,socialtheoristandhistorianofideas.InFoucault’smind,powernotonlycontrolsthesocialresources,butflexiblypenetratesallrelationswithinasocietyaswell.Foucaultseespowerasagoverningtoolofmakinguseofsocialinstitutionstoachieveone’sownaim.Andhearguesthatpowerdoesnotbelongtothejusticemechanismbuttothetechnical,tactical,orstrategicexecutions.Hefocusesonthewayofpowerdispositionandoperationmodesatthemicrolevel.3.1

Michel

Foucault’s

power

theoryThemainbodyofFoucault’spowertheoryincludesthreeaspects：Firstly,accordingtoFoucault'sanalysis,powergeneratesknowledge,andknowledgefunctionsintheformofpower,spreadingtheinfluenceofpower.Forexample,thesourceofpsychoanalysisisthepracticeofimprisonmentformadmen,andthetrainingandcontrolofthebodyinthemilitary,hospitals,schools,etc.providesthenecessityandpossibilityforthedevelopmentofphysiology,medicine,psychology,education,etc..Itcanbeseenthatpowerandknowledgearealliedtogether,andthetwoareexactlywhateachothercontains.Secondly，Powerpenetratesintoallrelationshipswithinsociety，“Powerinveststhem,istransmittedbythemandthroughthem;theserelationsgorightdownintothedepthofsocietyandnotlocalizedintherelationsbetweenthestateanditscitizensoronthefrontierbetweenclassesanddonotmerelyreproduce.”(Foucault,1995:30)Foucaultinclinestoputpowerintotheintricateanddynamicrelationswhicharefunctionedbyvariousfactsofpolitics,cultureandeconomy.Thirdly,powerisproductiveFoucault'spowerisproductiveandmostconcentratedinthepowerofdiscipline.Disciplinarypowerfromtheprisontothetransformationofprisoners,theshapingofaqualifiedsoldierinthemilitarycamp,thecultivationofaskilledworkerinthefactory,thestandardizationofstudentsintheschool,etc.,generallyrepresentstheproductionofpowerSexual,creativefunction.Productivepowertampersthebodythroughtechniquessuchashierarchicalsurveillance,standardizedrulings,andinspections,producingobjectsthatconformtonormsanddisciplines.3.2

Michel

Foucault’sdiscoursetheoryThefamousscholarPhilCrowpointedoutthat"discourseisakindofpower,itisapatternofbelief,value,desire,amechanism,asocialconnection,aspecificpractice"(Fairclough,1992:6).Inthesystemofpowerandpolitics,languageisthetoolandcoretoachievegovernance,andhasaninseparablerelationshipwithpolitics.InthefictionaldystopiansocietyofTheHandmaid'sTale,poweristhecorecontentofpoliticaloperation,anditsmostimportantformisthepowerofdiscourse.AccordingtoFoucault'stheory,oneoftherepresentationsofdiscoursepoweristherighttousediscourse.Hebelievesthatdiscoursehasconstraintsandcontroloverthesubject."Unlesscertainconditionsaremet,nooneshouldenteradiscourseaboutaparticularsubject.Moreprecisely,notalldiscourseareasareequallyopenandaccessible.Someareopenareas,othersareopentoeveryone,withoutanypriorrestrictions”(Foucault,1997:225).Foucaultmentionedinhisspeechthattheproductionofdiscourseitselfischosenandcontrolledtoacertainextent.Toeliminatethepoweranddangerofwords.Therefore,discourseisnotjustplaintextandlanguage.Itisconstrainedbyhistoricaldevelopment,socialsystem,etc."Itisanotherwayofshapingtheworld."(鄭樂(lè)平,2003;62)Atthesametime,Foucaultbelievesthatdiscourseandpowerarecloselyrelated,andthediscourseisboundary,whichstipulateswhatcanbesaid,whatcannotbesaid,thediscourseisthetoolofpowerexertion,themasteryofpowerisessential,hebecomesasystemofpowercontrolthroughtheseeminglyhiddenway,throughtheimplementationofpower,Theformationofanewdiscoursesystem,whichfurtherstrengthensthepowertotheformthatthesubjectwantstoachievecertainrights,isalsoaweaponforthesubjecttocontrolthesituation.Therefore,inFoucault'sview,therealpowermustberealizedthrough"discourse."Discoursepowerpenetratesintoeverycornerofsocietyinaninvisibleformofoperation,andplaysaroleinpersuadingandtamingthesubject.Theoperationofdiscoursepowerisnotonlyreflectedintherulingclass'sconstraintdiscourseform,theestablishmentofdiscourseexclusionandtheestablishmentofritualprinciplestomaintainsocialhierarchicalstructure,butalsointhecontrolofideologicalstatemachinessuchasreligionandeducation,especiallyfordailylife.Reconstructionandarrangementoftheformof"civilsociety".Thisdiscoursepowerpenetratesintoeverycornerofdailyentertainment,entertainment,news,media,etc.,throughpersuasion,thesubjectacceptsthe"natural"conditionoflifeandconsciouslyobeysthediscourseorderoftherulingclass.Indeed,inAtwood'snovels,discoursepowerisomnipresent,pervasivethroughoutthesocialstructureandideology,andthusplacesallsubjectsinthehierarchyofpowerpolitics.Further,itispreciselythepoliticalpowerrelationsandpowermechanismsthatcreatethemainbody.4.PowerControlMechanismandOperationModeinGilead4.1

The

rigid

social

hierarchy

in

Gilead

FoucaultoncesaidinDisciplineandPunishthatthe“chieffunctionofdisciplinarypowerwastotrainratherthantoselectandtolevy”(Foucsult,1995:170).Poweraimstoclassify,analyzeanddifferentiateitsobjectsinsteadofturningthemintothesameindividuals.Classificationplaysanimportantroleincontrolbyclassifyinganddifferentiatingtheindividuals.TheCommanders,whosetarigidhierarchyofpowerinGileadRepublic,skillfullyoperatethemethodofclassification.Thewholepeoplehavebeenclassifiedintodifferentclassesaccordingtotheirdifferentfunctions.Menhavebeendividedintosuchfivegradesasfollows:theCommandersholdsupremacyastheheadofthestate:theAngelandEyes,whoareinthesecondgrade,takechargeofwarandhelptorunthecountry;theGuardianswhoarethelowergradeofsoldiersguardathome(sometimestheytakecareofgardensfortheWives);theothermen,whoareoldandweak,areputinthelowerclassandworkfortheprivileged;and“Unman”(thegay),keptatthebottomofsociety,aretakentotheColoniestodealwithnuclearwasteranddeadbodies.Meanwhile,womenareclassifiedintomoredetailedgradesWomenaredividedintoCommander'sWife,Aunts,Handmaids,Marthes,Econowives,Jezebelsaretheprostitutes,Unwomen(theoldage,infertilityoroversteppingwomen);andeachofthemisresponsibleformanaginghousework,Domesticatinghandmaids,purchasingbirths,cookingandwashing,diligentlyholdinghomes,providingsexualservices,isolationcampsdealingwithnuclearwaste,etc.;theCommandersalsoclassifypeoplebythestrategyof“color”menchoosethedeepcolors,suchasblack,greyanddarkgreen,toshowtheirpoweroverwomen.Handmaidsaredressedinreduniforms,symbolizingbleedingduringchildbirth.Inaddition,theredismoreeye-catching,andtheescapeiseasiertoidentify.Olderpeoplearedressedinbrowncostumes.Theirdutiesareto“swearhumiliation”andphysicaltortureofhandmaids;Maria’swife,thebishopofthebluedress,isresponsiblefordailysurveillanceofthehandmaids.Forexample,ifhandmaidsorMarthesviolatestheregulations,itwillbereducedtoalowerlevelof“Unwomen”,whichwillbedischargedtothenuclearwastefactorytoremovenuclearwaste.Theclearclassificationismoreconducivetopowercontrolandprovidesagoodinstitutionalbasisfordiscoursecontrol.4.2

The

severe

punishment

system

in

Gilead

Therighttopunishisadimensionofthemonarch’srighttodeclarewaronhisenemies.TherighttopunishbelongstotheRomanlawcalledtheMerumimperium,whichkillsandgivespower.Themonarchreliesonthispowertosupervisepeopletorespectthelawbypunishingcrimes.IntheRepublicofGilead,theCommanderscarryoutaseverepunishmentsystemtosuppression.ThefirstimpressivemethodistosendtheviolatorstotheColonieswherearefullofdeadbodiesandnuclearwaste.Violatorssenttothecolonymustdealwithharmfulsubstancesandwaitfordeath.TheHandmaid’sTale，Atwoodmakeadetaileddepictionaboutthosehangingbodiesonthewall.Thesinner'sheadiscoveredwithasack,hungaroundtheneckwitharope,andusuallyhangsinfrontofthepublicforseveraldaysuntilthenewbodyisremindedofeveryonepassingby,betrayedGilead,andviolatedthedoctrine.PublicexecutionisafeatureofGilead,gatherwomeninasquaretoregularlyeliminatepoliticalenemies,politicalprisonersareexecutedwithoutcriminalstatements.Afterthecriminalswerehanged,thewomenhadtopulltheropetoexpresstheirloyaltytothedeathpenalty.Auntsdonotstatethecrimes,directexecutionofprisonersanddeprivationofprisoners’voices,althoughitdoesnotaccordwithlegalprocedures,unfairtrialsshowthepowerfulpoweroftherulers.“Beforethejusticeofthesovereign,allvoicesmustbestill”(Foucault,1995:36)Gileadhasestablishedaseriesofpunishmentsystemsthatgiveunrelentingcontrol,destructionandkillingtoanyonewhodarestobreakthelaw.Punishmentofallkinds:secretarrests,secretexecutions,andsuspensetoshowthepublicthattheyforcedthewomennotonlytowitnessthekillingoftheirownkind,butalsotopersonallyparticipateinthemassacreinordertocompletelydestroytheirwilltoresist.4.3

Therepublic

of

Gilead-a

huge

psisonAccordingtoFoucault’stheoryofPanoption,surveillanceisthemosteffectivemeanstodisciplineandgovernpeople.“Theauthoritativegazecomesfromthemechanismofmanagementratherthansomecertainpeople,andtakeseffectonthewholesocietyasauniversalprincipal”(Danaher,Schirato,Webb,34-78)Through“l(fā)evelsurveillance”,thepeopleofGileadareeffectivelydividedandcontrolled.Thereisasighofsuspicionandspeculationeverywhere,andnotwopeoplecanbeconnected.Surveillancecomesfromboththeofficialeyeandthedailylife.Intheredcenter,handmaidsarebrainwashedandcorrectivetrained,handmaidsarenotclosedwhensleeping,butdark,Auntsmonitorsthemwithelectricsticks,andtheyarenotallowedtostayaloneinadistrictortalktoeachother.Handmaidsmustgooutshoppingtogetherinordertomonitoreachother.Forexample,OffredandMoriaaregoodfriends,buttheypretendnottoknoweachotherinRedCenterbecausethefriendshipshereareeasytobereported.Noneedforweapons,physicalviolenceandmaterialbans,onlyagaze,asupervisedgaze,everyonewillbecomehumbleundertheweightofthisgaze,andhewillbecomehisownprisoner.Sotheseeminglytop-downsurveillanceforeveryoneisactuallyimposedbyeveryone.Therefore,the"gaze"methodhasbecomethebesttoolforconsciouslyobeyingwomeninthepatriarchalsociety.Noindividualcanhaveaconnection.Forexample,Commander'sWifehatehandmaids,handmaidsandmarthesalsohavenofriendship;econowivesarehostiletohandmaids.ThepeopleinGileadjustliketheprisonerswhonevergetoutoftheprisonunderthecontrolorsurveillance.Theyaresegregated,supervised.educated,andeventuallyaredisciplinedtobethequalifiedmodifiers.5.TheResistanceStrategiesofWomenAccordingtoFoucault（1995）allformsofrightswillcauserebellion,generatenewknowledgeinawaythatresistsdiscourse,createnewtruths,andthendevelopnewpowers,andresistancewilloccurwithinpower,inshort,“WhereThereispowerthereisresistance”(Foucault,1982:211)5.1Women’spublicresistanceInGilead,thoughcontrolledbythetotalitarianstat,manycitizensdonotgiveuphopetoresistanceandstrivingforfreedom.Someofthemareinopenrebellionagainstthegovernment.ThemostrepresentativeofthoseindividualsisMoira.Shepubliclykeepshername,wearsherownclothes,anddoesnotwanttosuccumbtotheneworderofGilead.Shetriedtoescapetwice.Forallotherservants,Moirawashopingtobe"InthelightofMoira,theAuntswerelessfearsomeandmoreabsurd."(Atwood,1998:145).Moiraisafeminist,lesbian,andaclosefriendofOffred.ThetwohadbeeneducatedtogetherwiththeRedProbationCenter.LaterMoiraescaped.Moiraislikeabanner,remindingeveryonethatthereisanotheroption.Later,OffreddiscoveredthatMoirabecameaprostituteof"Jezebel's".Moira,thefemalerepresentativeinthefeedback,continuestofailandconstantlyresistuntilthefateisnotcontrolledbyherself.Ofglen,isalsooneofthosefightersinopenresist,ShebravelyparticipatesintheMaydayresistanceandfightsagainsttheauthorityinGilead.OfglenactivelygetclosetoOffredandwantstohelpherescapefromthesuppression.Inapublicexecution,shediscoveredthattheso-calledrapistwasMayday(rebelorganization),andsheimmediatelykickedhimtodeath,lesthebetorturedmoreincollectiveviolence.Finally,whenheridentitywasexposed,shealsolikedafighterwhowouldrathercommitsuicidethanwaitfortheblacktrucktotakeheraway.5.2Women’ssilenceresistanceHowever,inGillette,mostpeoplechooseamorepeacefulwaytoresistOffredisatypicaloneofthem.Offredisnotananti-institutionalherointhissociety.Shewillnotclearlycompetewithanyrules,andshenevertrytoescape.Shetriedtobeobedientandlivedintently,butsheknewhowtouseherbeautyandsimplicityinfrontofmentoexchangeforachancetotakeabreatherinthegapbetweenthesystems.Sherepresentsthevastmajorityofordinarywomenwhoareanonymousandlittleknown.Theypracticeamoresubtle,morecarefulandmoreresistantresistancetheypretendtobethebelieversandwatchingforachancetolaunchacounterattack.Althoughwomenaredeprivedofthepowertocommunicate,theyneverstopfighting.AttheRedCenter,thehandmaidsaresupervisedstrictlybythoseauntseventhenthesleep,buttheystillfindthewaysrocommunicatewitheachother.Theylearnedtowhisperalmostwithoutsoundandexchangetheirnamesbylip-read.OffredandMoirahavetheirownsignal.Theyonlyneedtoholdthecigarettetotheirmouthandmakethehandstayshortinairwith“allfiveoutspread”(Atwood,1998:239).Itmeanstomeetinthewashroomfiveminuteslater.Womenusethenon-verballanguagetocommunicateandresistoppression.AccordingtoFoucault(1980)discourseandtrutharetruthareboththeproductsandtherepresentativeformsofpower,andpowerrelationarealsodiscursiveandareestablished,consolidatedorimplementedthroughdiscourse.Silenceareaspecialformofdiscourse.“Thementalsilenceisastrategyofresistance,whichisamuchstrongervoicethanspeech”(King-kok,1993:57).Womenshowtheirrebelliousspiritsthroughsilence.6.ConclusionAtwoodcreatedat