Handmaid and Wife : Mimetic Rivalry in The Handmaid’s Tale

Abstract: Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) has been extensively studied, with many focusing on the patriarchal structures and the oppression of women. However, little has been written about the relationship between the character Serena Joy and the protagonist Offred, especially through the lens of René Girard’s theories about mimetic envy and rivalry. This essay tries to bridge that gap. It is argued that aforementioned theories are suitable for understanding the dynamics between the two characters. A psychological review of Serena and Offred is carried out and their behaviour analysed using Girard’s theories. Both are oppressed by the patriarchal society created by the Republic of Gilead, not by the other. Still, because they desire the same things, they become rivals and direct their resentment towards each other. The results show that a great deal of their actions can be better understood from this point of view. The kind of unconscious mimetic behaviour Girard describes is consistently at the centre of their relationship throughout the novel, explaining the reasons for the rivalry between the two characters.