of their subjects. Most human societies are organized with hierarchies, usually by age and sex. Older people dominate over younger people while men dominate over women (Van den Berghe, 1974, p. 782). Therefore, in most societies, there is a constant struggle within the communities, in the forms of class conflicts, generational and sex tensions, along with military coups (Van den Berghe, 1974, p. 785).
However, in Gilead, social conflicts are suppressed through the rigidity of the hierarchy. The hierarchy envelops the entire existence of the people and obliterates their individual identity. Deviation from these roles is punishable by death in Gilead. In addition, the functions of these roles, especially for the people in the lower ranks, are often menial and degrading to the human spirit. By giving them such menial functions, the leaders ensure that no one can accumulate enough power or resources to mount a challenge against their authority.
In Gilead, the Commanders are at the head of the hierarchy. Beneath them are the Commander's Wives who also wield significant power over the rest of the people below them in the hierarchy (Atwood, 1986, p. 9). Individuals or families who have been arrested for attempting to escape or for past activity are either killed or expelled to the Colonies. The people in the Colonies are condemned to a slow death by cleaning up toxic radiation spills (Atwood, 1986, p. 248). Within this group, the survivors are allocated various functions on the hierarchy to support the needs and interests of the Commanders.
Among the men, some of them become Guardians who work in households as drivers and gardeners or as policemen at checkpoints (Atwood, 1986, p. 20). Other men become a part of a Secret Service called Eyes, whose task is to arrest dissidents and individuals on the hierarchy who have violated their functions (Atwood, 1986, p. 18). Women are divided into various roles. Below the Commanders' Wives are...