Offred Versus June

The Purpose of the Protagonist in The Handmaid's Tale

Abstract

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale has recently made its way back into popular culture and
media. This is a consequence of the streaming service Hulu launching a web television series based
on the novel. The protagonist, Ofred, plays a crucial role in both tellings of the story, but that
role shifts depending on the medium. Within the novel, Ofred lacks the characteristics of a hero,
demonstrating complacency in her tortured position. Meanwhile, the Ofred of the Hulu series is a
rebel, an empowered woman who refuses oppression. These intentional portrayals of Ofred speak
to the inevitable distinctions between visual and written storytelling.