People need energy to function. Energy is provided by fuel. For humans, fuel is not just food and water, but rather love and meaning. This is the truth; life is not complete without love. In The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, handmaid is the name given to a woman placed in a commander's household for the purpose of reproduction. Offred is the narrator of this dystopian society and she carries the burden of being separated from her husband and daughter to fulfill her new role in society. In “I Will Keep Broken Things” by Alive Walker, a woman conveys her emotions through an incredibly fractured poem. She is broken and suffering loss, as she produces images of an urn (Walker 4-5) and refers to memories, as if the person who provides the context for her message is no longer there. For Offred in Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale and the narrator of Walker's poem "I Will Keep Broken Things", love is essential, without it life is not whole. Atwood and Walker show that when love is taken away, people focus on the past and use their memories as motivators. Additionally, the cliché "it's better to love and lose than never love at all" fits perfectly, as both characters find themselves able to change their perspective on loss, which allows them to cope with it, and to show a true demonstration of how loss translates into strength. Love is a powerful and unique force that cannot be measured and without it, life is incomplete. Both Offred and the narrator of Walker's poem reflect on memories that might be considered insignificant to anyone who cannot truly understand their situation. An example of this occurs as Offred reflects on the nights shared with him during her time alone during Gileadean rule (Atwood 103). Likewise, a...... middle of paper...... strengthens them as they move beyond it. It shapes life, determines individuality and paths to the future. When love is taken away, people turn to their memories to find motivation and calm. During this time, they may get lost in the past and grow as a person before returning to reality. Love is essential, without it, life is not whole. But through it, even if it is lost, people can motivate themselves to complete a journey and bring clarity to their lives. This perseverance leads to strength and the ability to see things differently. Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Walker's "I Will Keep Broken Things" demonstrate the strength that love can have and how essential it is to be complete. If you can't get through the wall, go around it; perspective is crucial to success. Works Cited Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale Alice Walker, I Will Keep Broken Things