Robert Rauschenbergs work - Windward Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Robert Rauschenbergs work - Windward - Essay Example Robert Rauschenberg gathered the images and their details from various sources whereby he over painted certain parts of the using his hand by an energetic speed so that he allied the gestural painting of expressionism and the aesthetic value in the style (Joseph, et al, 2002). In Windward, some of his photographs of the statue of liberty with the images of houses so as to confront the politics in the nomination of the pope in the Sistine Chapel. Moreover, his composition is mostly dominated with the pictorial of an eagle so as to stand-in a mysterious and the richly allied discourse between the very many contrasted graphics of the worlds which confront any effort at aesthetic categorization. Robert Rauschenberg collective artwork, symbolizes his spirit of extensiveness, encompassing a reflective overview of his most separate periods, including painting, textile collage, sculptural workings prepared from cardboard and scrap iron, as well as a diversity of pictorials transmission and p rinting approaches. Robert Rauschenberg work embodies certain themes as can be found in many artistic works such as novels, short stories, and the novella. For instance, in the case of Scarlet Letter by Mariama Ba has drawn a very vivid picture in explaining the role of religion to determine the fate of women in the society. Similarly, In Windward, some of his photographs of the statue of liberty with the images of houses so as to confront the politics in the nomination of the pope in the Sistine Chapel.

Adolf Loos Design Culture Essay Example for Free

Adolf Loos Design Culture Essay There are, or were, better arguments than Loos’s against the misuse of ornament. It could be considered morally dubious, because it is a means of showing off ones wealth. That historical argument was made in the days when hand-crafted decorations were very expensive, but it no longer applicable, now that ornament can be machine-made at a modest cost. In any case, good ornamentation has never been valued solely as ostentation; traditionally, it has also been seen to have real aesthetic merit. Sometimes, excessive ornamentation could be said to be unaesthetic; and in my perspective, some extreme art creations fall into this error. Art plays a particularly important and influential role in culture. It does not simply reflect culture; it creates culture. By studying ornamentation in different periods of design history, we can understand more about how it has manifested itself and why it is a vital part of our history. Window displays, if used effectively, can bring retailers new customers, create customer loyalty, and enhance the image of the business. By decorating and furnishing the display windows, retailers can attract more customers into their stores, increase the sales and revenue, because the majority of purchase decisions are made on impulse. Window displays continue to have a massive influence even until now. It is one of the most important tools to draw customers’ attention. Even from an economic perspective, ornamentation is not necessarily a waste of labour, money, and materials. The 19th century definitely is the century of decorative arts. At the beginning of the century, the arts were ornamental subjects in the education of young ladies and gentlemen. Artistic accomplishments were displayed in pleasing social performances that appeared effortless but demonstrated good taste and ideal values, knowledge, and skills. Art education was one component of a process of secular refinement that spread from the wealthy to the middling sort and included the beautification of houses, churches, as well as school buildings. The art of interior decoration and design was at the same time intimate and luxuriant. Loos argues that ornamentation is uncivilized and primitive, and would hinder the development of national culture. However, ornamentation meant more than just decoration at that time, and the acceptable use of ornament, and its precise definition became the source of aesthetic controversy in academic Western architecture, as architects and critics searched for appropriate styles. â€Å"A plain, functional form generally signified the often harsh necessities of work, and as such was tolerated in its place, but art, in the form of decoration and ornament, represented for many people a deep aspiration for a better life† (Heskett, 56). Ornamentation at that time brought not only the sense of beauty but also mentally content to its user. What do vehicles, vacuum cleaners, ironers, planes, and ships have in common? Obviously, the streamlined design. In the 20th century, streamlined design has evolved from a scientific to an ornamental purpose. While Loos argues that ornamentation is crime and designers should focus on functions, streamlined design actually improves the functionality and the durability of a product. The goal for the future is to improve aerodynamic efficiency by greatly reducing drag while maintaining and, wherever possible, increasing down-force† (Ferrari. com). As a result of using aerodynamic streamlined design, Ferrari has become one of the best hyper-sport car brands in the world for fifty years, best known for its speed and handling. â€Å"In fact, Fordism turned the factory into a kind of super-machine in its own right, with both human and mechanical parts† (Wollen, P66). Fordism is the economic period that turned craftsmanship into the mass production of standardized objects. Under Fordism, production entailed an intensified division of industrial labor; increased mechanization and the coordination of large-scale manufacturing processes to achieve a steady flow of production, and shifted toward the using of less skilled labour. This system effectively reduces the costs of producing large quantities of products and, consequently, makes the sale price significantly lower than the craftsman’s. An ornament is not considered to be a prior-determined mask anymore, to create a significance, or, to have a certain meaning, as it was during the postmodern period. It does not have the role of concealing things, as it did in different historical periods before the modern period, when its existence was futile. A good example of modern design is a wall clock. A clock is meant to draw our attentions through its function. With a fancy design, it also serves as a decoration in the environment. But no matter how fancy the design is, a clock is always meant to be seen easily and quickly. Practical and ornamental designs oftentimes intersect. In those cases, the design elements involved can either work well together or hinder each other. Loos’s argument about decoration is degenerate and inherently criminal does not stand up. Given the time in he is writing, we can forgive Loss his racist assumptions about the black and the Papuans. However, his assertion that primitive people decorate themselves in tattoos so, therefore decoration must be a degenerate practice is completely unfounded and holds no weight at all. I appreciate modern design just as much, if not more than the ordinary person, but truth be told, I am not really interested in decoration.

Charles Dickens The Signalman and A Birthday by Karen Mansfield Essays

Charles Dickens' The Signalman and A Birthday by Karen Mansfield A signalman is a short story written by Charles Dickens. This is a story about a signalman who is driven â€Å"mad† by the environment of his work, away from sunlight and people. But he was not alone; a supernatural ghost decides to accompany him too. He has a lot of responsibilities to shoulder. There are only two characters that really are prominent in the short story. In fact in the story, there are only about three to five characters. The important characters are the signalman and the narrator. Charles Dickens uses dialogue to make the characters more appealing and easier to understand. He has written exactly what was need to understand the story, nothing less or nothing more. The characters are described physically briefly but Charles Dickens has described their attitude, nature, thoughts and character to a great deal. Through out ‘The Signalman’ the signalman’s name is not mentioned which seems quite awkward. The signalman tells the narrator about his worries and still they do not ask each other their names. It seemed a little strange! The signalman was troubled but it did not seem so if a person who would have seen him for the first time and judged him by his appearance. The signalman’s appearance described in the story as, â€Å"†¦he was a dark sallow man, with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows.† He seemed to look perfectly reasonable and normal but you should never judge a book by its cover. You cannot tell his problems merely by his appearance! (Proved by the short story) The signalman is a very peculiar man. When the narrator called him from the top of the steep cutting he did not seem to reply and walked down the railway li... ...is short story is written by a woman it seems to be more descriptive. If ‘A Birthday,’ and ‘A Signalman,’ were compared Andreas Binzer’s character would be unquestionably more descriptive than that of the signalman. Karen Mansfield described everything from his teeth, attitude and nature in greater detail. Meanwhile, Charles Dickens just wrote what was needed exactly. The way people see each other seems to differ so drastically. In one short story you try to understand a person’s problems and situation whereas, the other shows how inconsiderate a person can be and still be blessed with great people around them. I spent a long time writing this essay and I believe that if I take the time I would really show what people are like. It amazed me how realistic the characters in these short stories are and that many people like those can be found in the world.

Essay --

The Tea Party’s Influence on American Politics Throughout American history, the role and size of the United States government has been debated since the 1st United States Congress. In modern times, a new conservative group, known as the Tea Party has formed to advocate for smaller government, fiscal responsibility, and restoring traditional American values. This group has made it tougher for Democrats and Republicans to solve their differences. Receiving dramatic support when it formed, the Tea Party, acting as the most conservative members in government, has changed American politics by dividing the Republican party, making it tougher for Congress to pass bills, showing major opposition to the President, and causing gridlock within the government. The Tea Party is defined as a conservative grassroots movement that, â€Å"calls awareness to any issue which challenges the security, sovereignty of domestic tranquility of our beloved nation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ .1 In addition to this, there are many based Tea Party groups around the country, such as Tea Party Patriots and Tea Party 911.2 Furthermore, the formation of the Tea Party is not fully defined. Many Tea Party activist like to refer to the 1773 Boston Tea Party as when their movement was established.3 However, it is argued that the modern Tea Party formed on a nationwide protest, known as the Tax Day Protest, on September 12, 2009.4 This group was protesting nationwide against 787 billion dollar stimulus package and the 3.5 trillion dollar deficit that was implemented by the Obama Administration and a Democratic controlled Adams 2 Congress.5 While many argue that the Tea Party was formed as a grassroots coalition, others claim that this movement was funded by elites, former politicians and con... ...ugh time on dealing with the debt ceiling once again. Thirty Republican Tea Party members oppose raising that debt ceiling. Because of this, Republicans have to create a bill in which they will receive Democratic support. Hopefully, a bipartisan solution by all members will allow the debt ceiling to be risen.44 The Tea Party has changed politics by making the Republican Party more Conservative and making the legislation process slower. They have indeed influenced and change politics in the election process and caused the necessity of bipartisanship in Congress. In addition, they brought the debate about the interpretation of the Constitution, restoring traditional values, economic ideologies in America, and the role and size of the United States government. The Tea Party will go down in history as one of the groups that has changed American politics in many aspects.

Education and Social Class Differences

What is the role of women in the story of Persepolis? Compare and contrast the various women in some detail using at least three examples: you might include Marji, her mother, her grandmother, her school teachers, the maid, the neighbors, or the guardians of the revolution. In the story of Persepolis, each female character had a designated role that they could not escape from. Marji's role was to show the reader how the Iranian Revolution truely affected her life.An example of this was when the government made it mandatory for all women to wear veils. Marji did not have a choice in the matter because she was young and had to abide by her parent's requests, but more so when she had to wear the veil to school and was stopped by the guardians of the revolution. Marji's mother's role was to support Marji and be there for her to express what she was feeling. However, her mother also had to make sure she was well off in her endevours.Her mother was much more direct and stern with Marji as compared to her grandmother. Her grandmother's role was also to support Marji, but she also tried to calm Marji by giving her words of wisdom, which included a slight insight to what has occurred in the past and some events that were once hidden from her. The maid in the household did not attempt to take on any of the roles of the females because her primary role to the reader was to show us the social class differences that existed within that society.She was nothing more than a maid who must know her place. The school teacher's role was held higher than that of the maid's role. The school teacher was there to educate all of the students, but part of this education was to ensure that all of the female students that were attending would wear their veils at all times because if they did not, the guardians of the revolution would have them arrested.

High-Risk Family Assessment and Health Promotion Essay

High-Risk Families A high-risk family is a family unit that is at an increased risk for emotional, intellectual, or developmental problem because of the type of environment or circumstances that is occurring within the family unit. Adults and children that are involved in these high-risk family units are at a higher risk to develop problems, both physically and emotionally. There are many indicators for early detection of risk factors: neighborhood environment, poverty, poor kept homes, characteristics of adults present in the home, marital problems, and child neglect. There are many programs and interventions that can be implemented to try to change the negative effects and ensure a positive outcome within the family unit. History of Teen Pregnancy According to Furstenberg, Brooks-Gunn & Chase-Lansdale (1989), in an article titled Teenaged Pregnancy and Childbearing, teen pregnancy did not become prevalent until the 1960s. Two changes occurred contributing to the increase in teenage pregnancies: 1.) an increase in sexual activity of young girls and 2.) a decrease in the number of teenage marriages. By the 1980s over half of white females and three-fourths of black females were sexually active by the age of 18 (Furstenberg, Brooks-Gunn & Chase-Lansdale, 1989). Contraception was not regularly used when having sexual relations, and many of these females became pregnant during their teen years. Furstenberg, Brooks-Gunn & Chase-Lansdale (1989), also continue to say that compared to the number of unmarried teenage females in 1950 the females of 1980s were two-thirds white and almost 97% black single females. Also, 40% of these teenage pregnancies would end with abortion, and that the younger teenagers would have more abortions. A pre gnant teenager has many decisions to make regarding her future: 1.) future schooling 2.) relationship with the  baby’s father 3.) family’s support 4.) peer’s support. Summary of the Health Profile of a Pregnant Teen The risk of some teenagers getting pregnant is high in some circumstances. There are many life situations that place teenage girls at a risk of becoming pregnant. These may include poor school performance, sexual abuse, poverty, being raised by a single parent household, having a mother who was an teenager mother, or having a sister who has become pregnant at a young age. According to Saewyc, Magee & Pettingell, (2004) the risk of a teenager getting pregnant is increased if that teenager has been sexually abused. The pregnancy is because they have been sexually abused they have a feeling of powerlessness which can lead to impairment when it comes to using a contraceptive (Saewyc, Magee & Pettingell, 2004). Also, if the teenager has been sexually abused then they may have a higher chance of substance abuse and running away from home (Saewyc, Magee & Pettingell, 2004). Substance abuse can lead the risk for multiple partners, unprotected sex, and turning to sex work in order to support their habit. Many teenagers feel that they are under pressure to have sexual relations. Peer pressure, bullying, and teasing by friends can lead to sexual intercourse at a much earlier age. Also, being allowed to date at an early age can lead to pregnancy, especially if the individual they are sleeping with refuses to use contraception. There are many social and cultural changes that have occurred regarding dating. Getting to know a person over a long period, or courting, is no longer part of dating. Couples now move onto physical relationships much quicker, and sex is part of the relationship. Poor education and low achievement levels in school can lead to unwanted pregnancies. Teenagers who drop out of school are more likely to become pregnant and not complete their education. Teens that get pregnant tend to come from more disadvantaged families than those who do not become pregnant. Being of lower income contributes to a low hope of possible financial success which usually leads to choices of short-term contentment, having a  baby while they are young and unmarried. Orem’s Self-Care Model Dorothea Orem published the Concepts of Nursing in 1971 and the sixth publication in 2001. According to Sitzman & Eichelberger, (2011), â€Å"Orem’s Self-Care Model describes a structure where the nurse assists the client, as needed, to maintain an adequate level of self-care. The degree of nursing care and interventions depend on the degree to which the client is able (or unable) to meet self-care needs† (p. 96). Orem’s general theory is in three parts: 1.) theory of self-care 2.) theory of self-care deficit 3.) theory of nursing system (Chitty, 2005, p. 283). The theory of self-care focuses on patient’s self-care capacities. The theory of self-care deficits specifies when nursing care is needed. Orem identifies five methods of helping: 1.) acting for and doing for others 2.) guiding others 3.) supporting others 4.) providing an environment promoting personal development in relations to meeting future demands 5.) teaching another (Orem, 2001 as cited in M asters, 2011, p. 183). The theory of nursing system describes the responsibilities and roles of the nurse and patient, the reason for the nurse-patient relationship, and the types of interventions needed to be provided to meet the patient’s needs. The theoretical framework of Orem’s theory as it relates to the metaparadigm for nursing is based on the person, a nurse, environment, and health. Nursing is the ability to assist patients to provide and manage self-care to improve and maintain human function at some level. Health is not only taking care of the body but is also how a person performs with daily activities of living and progressing toward higher levels of functioning. Environment includes four features: 1.) physical 2.) chemical 3.) biological 4.) social (Orem, 2001 as cited in Masters, 2011, p. 183). The environment has an impact on the individual’s health and well-being. Finally, persons are human beings who are different from other living beings. Human beings can reflect, symbolize, and use symbols. The person is a patient whom the nurse cares for. Orem’s theory can be applied to all three levels of prevention: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Every person needing nursing care has requirements at the primary level of prevention. Secondary prevention is required after the onset of illness and is directed toward reducing complications and disability. Tertiary care is appropriate when functioning is limited. Dorothea Orem’s  theory provides a widespread foundation to the nursing practice and is specific to when nursing care is needed. Orem’s theory can be applied can be applied to various age groups including teenage mothers of newborns. The self-care deficit theory of nursing is useful with teenage mothers of newborns. The theory will focus on the strengths and/or weaknesses of the individual. Methods of help and interventions include teaching, guiding, and providing for and/or maintaining direction in an environment that supports personal development. Healthy People 2020 Objectives According to Healthy People 2020 goals are to improve pregnancy planning and spacing, and prevent unintended pregnancy. Reducing pregnancies among adolescent females aged 15 to 17 years, reducing the number of pregnancies conceived within 18 months of a previous birth, increasing the number of both males and females who have never had sexual intercourse, increasing the number of sexually active persons who use condoms to both effectively prevent pregnancy and provide barrier protection against disease, and increase the number of adolescents who received formal instruction on reproductive health topics before they are 18 years old are all applicable objectives related to teenage pregnancy (â€Å"Family planning,†). There are many nursing interventions that are applicable for prevention of teen pregnancies. Nursing education that includes teaching about contraception, abstinence, and having schools administer condoms through the health office. Interventions can also include designing and presenting programs that includes parent-teen communication with their parent(s), while promoting abstinence and the proper use of contraception. According to Furstenberg, Brooks-Gunn & Chase-Lansdale (1989) there have been efforts made to prevent teen pregnancies. According to the Panel on Adolescent Pregnancy and Childbearing primary prevention, delaying sexual activity, and using contraception is where all efforts should be focused on for prevention (Furstenberg, Brooks-Gunn & Chase-Lansdale, 1989). Primary prevention programs include: 1.) educating teens about sexuality and contraception 2.) changing attitudes about early sexual involvement and 3) providing contraceptives and family planning (Furstenberg, Brooks-Gunn & Chase-Lansdale, 1989). Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse as a Case Manager Advanced Practice Nurses have the education, training, and skills to perform many of the primary-care duties performed by physicians. Advanced Practice Nurse Case Manager carries out advanced practice functions and develops functions that help to achieve the best results for the client through valuable interactions with clients. The Advanced Practice Nurse will manage and coordinate care for the pregnant teenagers and their families, provide health education, teach self-care behaviors, and offer psychosocial counseling and support, assess the efficacy of the health care system, and assist and monitor improvement ideas of the health care system. Conclusion Teenage pregnancy has been a major problem facing our children since the 1950s. Teen parents are less likely to finish school, more likely to live in poverty, more likely to have babies with low-birth weights and more likely to have children who become teenage mothers themselves. The goals of the health educator should include changing the behavior, providing counseling services, primary and preventative health care, and family educations. For the future, all teens should be aware of the risks involved of sexual intercourse and be educated on the ways to prevent pregnancies. Reference Chitty, K. K. (2005). Professional nursing, concepts & challenges. W B Saunders Co. Family planning. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicId=13 Furstenberg, F. F., Jr., Brooks-Gunn, J., & Chase-Lansdale, L. (1989). Teenaged pregnancy and childbearing. American Psychologist, 44(2), 313-320. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.44.2.313 Masters, K. (2011). Nursing theories, a framework for professional practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Saewyc, E. M., Magee, L. L., & Pettingell, S. E. (2004). Teenage pregnancy and associated risk behaviors among sexually abused adolescents. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 36(3), Retrieved from https://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3609804.html Sitzman, K., & Eichelberger, L. W. (2011). Understanding the work of nurse theorists, a creative beginning (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Gender and Power in the Handmaids Tale Essay

Topic Question: What understandings of the issue of gender and power are gained from characterization of men and women constructed in the text studied?The notion of power is a fundamental building block of any ancient, modern or futuristic society. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is an example of the distribution of power across a futuristic society, specifically a patriarchal dystopia. The power which women hold in this society is minimal compared to that held by men, but this is not an unquestionable reality. The issue of gender and power and highly subjective by nature and throughout this novel this fact is emphasized and the topics interrelated. Women demonstrate this power with their possession and use of language, sexuality, choice and even the exertion of their own autonomy. Men within this society also experience repression and disempowerment. Their struggle is centered on the absence of emotional needs, along with sexual tensions being relieved for pleasure rat her than reproduction. Atwood creates these power struggles through the characterization of both men and women within the text. In terms of female characterization, Offred is an elementary character. Being a first person narrator, she offers incredible insight into the world which Atwood has created and her reactions to it, and thus her own means of power. The way in which language is used shapes this insight incredibly and demonstrates how she can gain control. The Republic of Gilead imposes strict censorship on language, ranging from forbidding all women except Aunts to read. â€Å"†¦ decided that even the names of shops were too much temptation for us. Now places are known by their signs alone.† [p35] to intertwining biblical rhetoric into everyday language. â€Å"†¦a whirlwind; better than the Chariot, much better than the chunky, practical Behemoth†. Gilead even removes the Handmaids names, in this society the are know as Of[Male name here] in reference to the Commander in which they are placed with. Throughout the novel, Offred resists these rules. She creates her own vision of the world through the use of English. Poetic devices are utilized and repeated; from the use of a simile in her description of a young guardian â€Å"His skin is pale and looks unwholesomely tender, like the skin under a scab.† [p31] to the use of repetition to emphasize points. â€Å"I am, I am. I am, still.† [p 293] â€Å"Her fault, her fault, her fault† [p82]. As Angela  Carter, an English novelist once said â€Å"Language is power† and in this respect, Offred has great power in a patriarchal society. The power of language is not all that Offred posses. The characterization of her relations with males in the novel is also important to the notions of power and gender. Similarly to language, sexuality is heavily controlled and repressed in Gilead, especially that of females. The Handmaids (Of which Offred is) don in skirts that are â€Å"ankle-length, full, gathered to a flat yoke that extends over the breasts†[p18] with â€Å"sleeves that are full† [p18]. Her nightgown is also â€Å"long-sleeved even in summer† [p201]. It is accepted that those within this community will not have sex before marriage nor express themselves through the form of masturbation â€Å"They have no outlets now except themselves, and that’s a sacrilege† [p32] or pornographic mediums. â€Å"There are no more magazines, no more films, no more substitutes.† [p32] Offred exerts power in these repressed circumstances by going against the convention of Gilead and embracing her feminine features. She takes an active role in resisting this subjugation by tempting the young Guardians. â€Å"I move my hips a little, feeling the full red skirt sway around me.† [p32] The kiss she engages in during a secret game of scrabble with the Commander is also a reflection on the power of her sexuality and choice. The Commander, a high level male wants Offred to kiss him. â€Å"I want you to kiss me† [p149]. She is given the power in this situation, as she has the power to refuse. The power which Offred, as a woman, has in this oppressed society due to her sexuality is an important issue. The notion of choice, specifically extrinsic choice is demonstrated with the Commanders want for a kiss is also apparent in other parts of the text. Choice is power and she always has some choice. The idea of existentialism is valid here – she always has self determination, even if under duress. If she does not wish to stay a Handmaid she could depart for the colonies and become an Unwoman, â€Å"†¦shipped of to the Colonies with the Unwomen.† where she would have the power of autonomy. The Mayday resistance is also a choice made by Offred. She is asked by Ofglen to search the Commanders room, to give information to the resistance, but she chooses not to. â€Å"You could go into his room at night, she says.† [p282] Opting to stay as she is, content  with her relationship with Nick, she exerts power to say no. Jezebels is also another option, when visiting there with the Commander he offers for her to stay there â€Å"You might even prefer it yourself, to what you’ve got.† [p250] She is aware of the decisions which she can make in these situations, â€Å"There wasn’t a lot of choice, but there was some and this is what I chose.† [p105] It is through this characterization which her power lies. In addition to these choices Offred along with other females have intrinsic choices and power, being a female with ‘viable ovaries’ they have the ability to reproduce. In Gileadean society this gives them a huge power advantage due to declining birth rates and increased infertility, sterility and genetically mutated babies. â€Å"†¦a graph, showing the birth rate per thousand, for years and years: a slippery slope, down past the zero line of replacement.† [p123] Ironically, it is due to this power advantage that they are suppressed. Suicide is also another intrinsic power which all characters in this novel possess, although, its characterization in the Handmaids is the most prominent. The concept that suicide is an ultimate bid for freedom and exertion of power is an understood perception of characters within The Handmaid’s Tale. The removal of all objects which could be used to hurt oneself from the Handmaid’s rooms portrays this. â€Å"I know why there is no glass, in front of the water-coloured picture of blue irises, and why the window only opens partly and why the glass is shatterproof. It isn’t running away they’re afraid of.† [p17] as well as Offred’s musings when she believes she will be captured. The notion of suicide becomes very real to her as a means of escape and power. â€Å"I could noose the bed sheet round my neck, hook myself up in the closet and throw my weight forward,† [p304] These intrinsic powers exist within the characters of The Handmaid’s Tale, the help form the society of Gilead and show the possible choices which can be made by its citizens. Moira is an embodiment of the power which females hold in Gilead. She epitomizes those who fought back and were not completely obliterated. She lives on the outskirts of Gilead and rejects its values whilst still existing as an institutionalized portion of the society. â€Å"[in relation to her clothing] Government issue.† [p254] She chooses the alternative path to  Offred. Moira fled the red center, succeeding on her second try. â€Å"Moira has escaped† [p140] â€Å"Moira didn’t reappear.† [p143] â€Å"So here I am. They even give you face cream.† [p261] She exists in an outreach of the government, under the power of the patriarchy, and yet doesn’t suppress herself to the point which other females within The Handmaid’s Tale do. She still engages in homosexual acts, â€Å"†¦it’s not so bad, there’s lots of women around. Butch paradise, you might call it.† [p261] cigarettes, and implied drinking and drugs. . â€Å"†¦and there’s drink and drugs, if you want it.† [p261] â€Å"You want a cig?† [p255] Moira’s characterization holds power in this society, particularly over herself and her wants and needs. The control of wants and needs is a way in which this society functions. It is a patriarchy which suppresses all women and most men, though men have inherently more rights. This is exemplified through the character of Nick. The characterization of him is paradoxical by nature. In hierarchal terms, Nick has little power. He is a low level guardian without even an Econowife. â€Å"He lives here, in the household, over the garage. Low stats: he hasn’t been issued a woman, not one.† [p27] He is perceived by those in power to have little of it. â€Å"He doesn’t rate.† [p27] In reality, he has power. â€Å"He has chasms of intangible power. He has knowledge of Mayday either due to his involvement in it or the eyes â€Å"It’s all right. It’s Mayday. Go with them† [p305] â€Å"Nick, the private Eye.† [p305] and has access to the black market. â€Å"He has a cigarette stuck in the corner of his mouth, which shows that he too has something he can trade on the black market.† [p27] He manages to engage in a physical and emotional relationship with Offred whilst still maintaining the guise of faithful Gileadean citizen though even then, the only reason he able to start this relationship was due to the Commander’s Wife ordering him to bed with Offred. â€Å"‘I was thinking of Nick’, she says and her voice is almost soft.† [p216] The idea the he influenced this engagement is always a possibility however, as he has initiated contact with her prior to that. â€Å"Then he winks.† [p28] The power which Nick holds in this novel is that of intangibility. His power is never outright stated, but the implications of it are visible. This is a stark contrast to the tangible power displayed in Commander Fred.  The characterization conveyed through him shows he is a strong public figure and may have even orchestrated the creation of Gilead. â€Å"We’ve given them more than we’ve taken away.† [p231] Which, in a way makes him the creator of his own demise as he too is suppressed by the patriarchy; he is not having his emotional needs met, and thus has to search elsewhere. In doing this he gives power to someone else in order to fulfill these needs, this apparent when he asks Offred to his study at night to play scrabble. â€Å"I’d like you to play a game of scrabble with me† [p148] Despite this, he remains locked in traditional beliefs about gender â€Å"all we’ve done is return to Nature’s norm.† [p232] and his power is a result of his male gender. Gender and power are integral parts of the society portrayed in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, as with any society. Understandings surrounding these issues are found within this novel. The characters within Gilead deal with the different forms of power which they encounter, including that of language, sex, choice, intrinsic and extrinsic notions and the effect of a dystopic patriarchal society has on its citizens. These forms of power are explored through the characterization of both male and female characters. Overall, The Handmaid’s Tale intertwines the issues of gender and power expertly and her constructed characters carry for the notions of power contained within the text with ease. Bibliography The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood