Written Task 2
Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is one of many novels that are often considered part of a genre known as: Dystopian Fiction. Dystopian novels are often characterized by an extensive use of propaganda to control the populace, separation of society into multiple different castes and the presence of a unified, totalitarian government system that has complete control over the society. These characteristics are often used in dystopian novels in order to “make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system” (Dystopias: Definition and Characteristics). Other works that could be characterized as dystopian fiction include, but are not limited to: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, 1984 by George Orwell, and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. All of these novels share the common
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characteristics of dystopian literature and The Handmaid’s Tale is certainly no different. Margaret Atwood uses The Handmaid’s Tale to criticize the opposition towards the feminist movement of the 1980s as well as to form a cautionary tale of what may come in the future of modern societies. This is done by following the conventions of typical dystopian novels such as the use of propaganda to brainwash the public, separation of society into strict caste-like structures and even the control of reproduction and sexual rights. Propaganda is often seen as a staple of dystopian fiction and can be found throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, most notably through the use of biblical allusions.
The most notable of these allusions are simply in the names of the different societal groups. The soldiers within Gilead are often known as “Guardians of the Faith” (Atwood, 20) and the women who work within the households are called “Marthas” (Atwood, 9), possibly a reference to the sister of Mary who served Jesus (Luke, 10:38-42). The use of the term “Handmaid” can also be seen as a reference to the Old Testament, specifically Genesis 30:1-3. Biblical allusions also extend to the names of shops within Gilead, namely “Loaves and Fishes”, “All Flesh”, “Lilies of the Field” and “Milk and Honey”. These biblical allusions are used as propaganda within Gilead to promote the idea of holiness and sacredness in a society that is rife with religious undertones. Atwood’s use of propaganda, specifically religious propaganda, is done in order to criticize the many religious groups that made up a majority of the opposition towards the feminist movement at the time and to warn of the dangers of interweaving church and
state. Another hallmark of dystopian literature is the use of a caste-like structure, reminiscent of the European colonial era, in order to separate the various social groups within a society. The Handmaid’s Tale represents an extremely rigid caste system through the separation of the various groups such as the Handmaids, Marthas, Aunts, Jezebels, Econowives, Unwomen and Commander’s Wives in order to reflect on the current separation around and within the feminist movements of the 1980s. The use of a caste system in The Handmaid’s Tale is quite similar to other dystopian novels such as George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World; however, it does differ in that the separation of the populace is based on gender rather than economic place or a predetermined group. Atwood uses a caste system in The Handmaid’s Tale in order to represent the gender inequality of the time as well as the growing separation within the feminist movement between lesbians and non-whites as opposed to the straight, caucasian majority. One of the most common characteristics present in dystopian fiction is the control, or lack of control, surrounding reproduction and sexual rights. In George Orwell’s 1984, sexuality among both men and women is forcibly repressed and sexual intercourse is looked down upon except for the strict purpose of reproduction. On the opposite side, in Huxley’s Brave New World, all people have the freedom to choose any partner and sexual promiscuity is actively encouraged by the government. Sexuality within The Handmaid’s Tale is highly controlled and intercouse is often solely used for the purpose of reproduction and is seen from a highly utilitarian point of view. Atwood uses this reproductive control to mirror the highly controversial topic of reproductive rights present within modern society. Within the United States, the Supreme Court case of Roe V. Wade, which took place in 1973, shook the world as it guaranteed women the right to have an abortion; however, during the 1980s, multiple large-scale anti-abortion protests took place across the country, often led by religious groups. Atwood also uses the Wives harsh judgement of the Handmaids within The Handmaid’s Tale in order to reflect on the negative views towards the feminist movement that can be found among many right-wing religious groups of the 1980s. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale can, in many ways, be seen as an archetypal work of dystopian fiction. Her use of multiple characteristics such as the control of a population through propaganda, the separation of social groups into a strict caste system and the control of reproduction and sexual rights are all reminiscent of other dystopian works. Atwood uses these various aspects in order to form a critical commentary on the feminist movement of the 1980s and its opposition as well as to tell a cautionary tale of the dangers of failing to separate church and state.
Gilead were categorized and toyed with and dominated by the men. Gilead woman are used and
The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood is a novel about a totalitarian state called Republic of Gilead that has replaced the United States in which the women of society have been taken away from their families and forced to be
Atwood makes it evident that Offred isn’t supposed to be the most aware character, in fact, her narration displays both ambiguity and hazy recollection throughout the novel. Her intention is for Offred to be interpreted as a complicated character though, so, she offers an ending that is just as ambiguous as Offred is, as a means to further the ongoing idea that she is three-dimensional. However, this could be an explanation as to why Atwood creates such an ambiguous ending: to further characterize Offred. The references to light and dark, however, foreshadow the fate of Offred as it constructs its own ambiguous interpretation, in which the way that light and dark contrast with each other creates a more vague ending; this can symbolize the fact
Thesis Statement: Both 1984 by George Orwell and The Handmaid 's Tale by Margaret Atwood are similar as they are placed in dystopian societies with governments that have complete control over their citizens, however, the roles of the narrator in both novels contrast each other. In 1984, the point of view is Limited Omniscient while the point of view in The Handmaid 's Tale is first person.
Imagine a country where choice is not a choice. One is labeled by their age and economical status. The deep red cloaks, the blue embroidered dresses, and the pinstriped attire are all uniforms to define a person's standing in society. To be judged, not by beauty or personality or talents, but by the ability to procreate instead. To not believe in the Puritan religion is certain death. To read or write is to die. This definition is found to be true in the book, The Handmaid's Tale (1986) by Margaret Atwood. It is a heartbreaking story of one young woman and her transformation into the Gilead society, the society described above. In the book, we meet Offred, the narrator of the story. This story is not the first to create a society in which the only two important beliefs in a society are the ability to procreate and a strict belief in God. It is seen several times in the Old Testament, the Bible. The Biblical society is not as rigid as the Republic of Gilead, which Margaret Atwood has built, but it is very similar. The Handmaid's Tale holds several biblical allusions.
Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale is a story heavily influenced by the Bible and has many biblical themes that are used to prove Atwood’s belief in balance. The novel is set in the Republic of Gilead which was formerly the United States. The story is told through the perspective of a handmaid named Offred and begins when she is placed at her third assignment as a housemaid. Offred describes her society as a fundamentalist theocracy where the Christian God is seen as the divine Ruler over the Republic of Gilead. Atwood is often thought of as a feminist writer but through this novel her writing is not completely feminist nor patriarchal but something in the middle. Atwood is also someone who described herself as a “strict agnostic”
The ability to create life is an amazing thing but being forced to have children for strangers is not so amazing. Offred is a handmaid, handmaid's have children for government officials, such as Commander Waterford. Offred used to be married to Luke and together they had a daughter but then everything changed; Offred was separated from her family and assigned to a family as their handmaid. The society which Offred is forced to live in shaped her in many ways. In The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood uses cultural and geographical surroundings to shape Offred's psychological and moral traits as she tries to survive the society that she is forced to live, in hopes that she can rebel and make change.
Margaret Atwood's renowned science fiction novel, The Handmaid's Tale, was written in 1986 during the rise of the opposition to the feminist movement. Atwood, a Native American, was a vigorous supporter of this movement. The battle that existed between both sides of the women's rights issue inspired her to write this work. Because it was not clear just what the end result of the feminist movement would be, the author begins at the outset to prod her reader to consider where the story will end. Her purpose in writing this serious satire is to warn women of what the female gender stands to lose if the feminist movement were to fail. Atwood envisions a society of extreme changes in governmental, social, and mental oppression to make her point.
In the real world, different symbols are used to help people understand things, and to add different effects onto people’s lives. For example a pendent a women or man wears from the army helps someone understand what they’ve been through and helps portray them as a strong individual. In novels which may have complex story lines like The Handmaids tale it is important that these novels have some symbolism to help the reader decode what some details in the novel represent, helping them understand the plot more in-depth. Through the novel of the Handmaid Tale by Margaret Atwood, symbolism is present and that helps to enhance the story line, as well as contribute an important factor in which is helping the reader understand
The Handmaid's Dystopia The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian tale about a world where unrealistic things take place. The events in the novel could never actually take place in our reality." This is what most people think and assume, but they"re wrong. Look at the world today and in the recent past, and there are not only many situations that have ALMOST become a Gilead, but places that have been and ARE Gileadean societies. We're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy! Even today, there are places in the world where there is a startling similarity to this fictitious dystopia.
The foundation of the Gilead’s newly implemented society is packed with biblical phrasing and connotations, but it lacks authenticity. From the names of the different social ranks to the names of the buildings and stores to the name Gilead itself, every object within the society possesses some sort of biblical significance. Peter G. Tillman says ...
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel in which Atwood creates a world which seems absurd and near impossible. Women being kept in slavery only to create babies, cult like religious control over the population, and the deportation of an entire race, these things all seem like fiction. However Atwood's novel is closer to fact than fiction; all the events which take place in the story have a base in the real world as well as a historical precedent. Atwood establishes the world of Gilead on historical events as well as the social and political trends which were taking place during her life time in the 1980's. Atwood shows her audience through political and historical reference that Gilead was and is closer than most people realize.
Feminism as we know it began in the mid 1960's as the Women's Liberation Movement. Among its chief tenants is the idea of women's empowerment, the idea that women are capable of doing and should be allowed to do anything men can do. Feminists believe that neither sex is naturally superior. They stand behind the idea that women are inherently just as strong and intelligent as the so-called stronger sex. Many writers have taken up the cause of feminism in their work. One of the most well known writers to deal with feminist themes is Margaret Atwood. Her work is clearly influenced by the movement and many literary critics, as well as Atwood herself, have identified her as a feminist writer. However, one of Atwood's most successful books, The Handmaid's Tale, stands in stark contrast to the ideas of feminism. In fact, the female characters in the novel are portrayed in such a way that they directly conflict with the idea of women's empowerment.
In the great desert lived a poor bricklayer with his two children and his wife. A girl named Lupe and a boy named Juan. He had little work and just as little food, and once when great dearth fell on the land, he could not afford even daily tortillas. When he thought over this in his bed, and stuck in his anxiety. He said to his wife, "What will become of us?
As The Handmaid’s Tale is considered an allegory of the social injustice women face against traditional expectations of their role in society, the symbolism of the Handmaids and other women as a whole for repressed feminine liberty and sexuality allows Atwood to connect her work to the theme between gender and expectations in her society. As Handmaids in the Republic of Gilead, females are stripped of their previous identity and are defined as a tool of reproduction for the men who is assigned them. At its core, these females are forced against their will to be mere tools, experiencing unwanted sex at least once a month, which Gilead names “The Ceremony”, hiding its true nature as a form of rape. Offred