The Ceremony

The most disturbing part of the book so far is definitely the ceremony. Not because of the detail, but because of the process they descrbe. The Republic of Gilead has completely stripped society of any form of intimacy or a sacred bond between two people. Sex is no longer a way to love one another, it has been transformed into a mandated process involving not the necessary two, but three people! How do the children in the Republic feel, knowing they were created by force not want or love. I guess you could argue that they have no knowledge of society previous to the Republic of Gilead, but wouldn't they still wonder why they don't resemble their "mother". I find it hard to accept the ceremony as appropriate because I believe sex it a basic human need. If you take the pleasure or recreation out of sex, will it still satisfy our desire? I think the Handmaids and the Commanders would increase their chances of pregnacy if they were to have sex in private, on their own account, instead of participating in the ceremony. I feel sympathy for the other members of the Republic who aren't even allowed to have sex, because it should be saved for the more important people. For example, Nick finds pleasure in something as trivial as touching Offred's foot. This desperation could lead to a revolt. I hope that in the end the Republic of Gilead is overthrown and society returns to its former ways. By restoring the institution of love and marriage to its original state, I think there would be a rise in birth rates, because people would actually want to have sex with their spouse. I guess it is true: you'll never know how much you appreciate something or someone till it is or they are gone.