Sue Townsend’s Ten Tiny Fingers, Nine Tiny Toes brings to the surface of our own minds the possibility of a future where society is regimented by its own perfection. The society that will be created according to Townsend will be formed on that of perfection of the outer person and not of that of their inner self, making way for financial standing within the community to have a hold on ones position within that society. However The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood looks at the function of breeding as a necessity to maintain the human race. Whereas Townsend suggests that breeding is for quality, not quantity. By the same token Atwood does discuss quality to the same extreme that Townsend does with the only difference being quantity.

Sue Townsend places the idea in the readers mind that the future could hold a society where citizens are placed in classes and there are strict rules for each class. These classes are created to improve the quality of the human race. These classes are broken up into categories that are identified using numbers from one through five; one being the highest class of society, level three is an average level of

This quote is the perfect example of how men control the woman and the women are only there to serve the men. It also shows that men not only have authority of women but that they abuse the power given to them.

Sue Townsend’s 10 Tiny Fingers, 9 Tiny Toes is extremely relevant in today’s society. As it deals with issues that are current with conceiving a child in today’s society. Compared with The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood both novel and play have themes common with each other. These include the acceptance of only perfect babies, the necessity for strict social classes, to control society and the abuse of power by those in authority. Each author has raised these common themes in their piece of literature and yet treated them in different ways. But both ways are presenting the ideas that a future human race could tend to follow these thoughts given by the authors.

Lucinda A toe?” (Townsend, 1990: Pg30)

This above quote supports the idea that was mentioned previously that Grades control society and it also brings in the theme that if people are placed in the higher classes that they take advantage of the power that is given to them. It is seen in the play that women have the main position of authority.

The acceptance of only “perfect” babies is the main theme in 10 Tiny Fingers / 9 Tiny Toes. It is associated by discussion of the roles played by IVF and “test Tube” procreation. These methods of conceiving a child suggests that breeding out class five as a process to create a perfect society.

Some topics in this essay:
Sue Townsend, Tiny Toes, Republic Gilead, Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood, Grade Fives, Crudwell Yes, Whereas Townsend, Lydia Freedom, Tiny Fingers, tiny toes, handmaid’s tale, human race, 9 tiny toes, tiny fingers, 9 tiny, allowed breed, today’s society, atwood 1985, perfect babies, control society, create perfect society, written margaret atwood, tale written margaret, handmaid’s tale written,