“The totalitarian state tries, at any rate, to control". To what extent is “control” significant, when exploring the characters and themes, in dystopian fiction such as Handmaid’s Tale and Brave New World?
Dystopia, first used in the 19th century, has roots which comes from the Ancient Greek for “bad” and “place”; it defines a fictional place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian one. Thus, it is no surprise writers such as Aldous Huxley and Margaret Atwood have integrated aspects of control in their dystopian fiction novels, although to different extents, consequently “[haunting] the reader” for generations. Both the Handmaid’s Tale and Brave New World depict authoritarian societies which use control,
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although through diverging methods, to oppress their citizens. It can be argued that the sense of overwhelming control and alienation of citizen’s, depicting austere and bleak theocracies, has caused these novels to become prominent in the dystopian fiction genre. One of the key elements of control is the ability to objectify and redefine individuals. The society of Gilead dehumanises the Handmaid’s through the detachment of their bodies from their individual person. Gileadean society values the Handmaids for their “two-legged wombs [and] sacred vessels”; the word “sacred” suggests the Handmaid’s are thought of as sacred, but not as sacred people, only as sacred reproductive organs. Offred’s explanation that the sole purpose of the Handmaids is to produce children begins to show she accepts the prejudice because they are no longer seen as humans, but only as wombs. Offred’s statement degrades the Handmaids, but it also detaches the Handmaids from their own bodies, an act of dehumanisation and thus control. One of the strongest examples of dehumanisation in Atwood' use of language exists in how people are labelled and how they refer to themselves in this society. Handmaids are not called by their actual names; instead, a handmaid's name is composed of the possessive "of" and the name of her current commander such as Offred, Ofglen or Ofwarren making her nothing more than a possession, a nameless "missing person" used as a reproductive tool. The name changes of handmaids are also resonant of the 17th century Atlantic slave trade; whereby, during enslavement slaves' names were assigned by their owners. Thus, it could be interpreted that Atwood is hinting that Gileadean society is returning to practises of America’s dark past. Similarly, dehumanisation of the world population in Huxley’s Brave New World is achieved in the interests of "Community, Identity, Stability”; the world state's motto. This motto is ironic because the "identity" of the citizens of the world state is sacrificed in the hopes of achieving a stable community. One method the world state uses to control Identity is through the use of Eugenics; world state commanders are able to adjust the personalities of citizens so that they can conform. Consequently, allowing citizens to be categorised in groups such as “Alpha Pluses” and “Epsilon-Minus Semi-Morons”; therefore, citizens can be optimised for their role in society. Eugenics is also used by the world state in order to extinguish individuality and uniqueness; they are able to produce “ninety-six human beings” of identical nature. The removal of individuality is seen by the world state as “progress”; this can be interpreted as the natural "identity" of citizens being sacrificed for a stable community. The dehumanisation of citizens in Brave New World can be seen in Huxley’s use of animal imagery. His comparison of bokanovskified twins to "maggots" who had "the stupid curiosity of animals" can be interpreted as Huxley giving a clear message that the new world has dehumanised its citizens, to the extent that they begin resemble little more than animals. Another key characteristic of “control” is the ability to alienate and therefore; isolate individuals from the rest of society.
Alienation is a key motif that is presented throughout Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale. Alienation can be defined as the state of feeling “estranged or separated” from the rest of society. In The Handmaid’s Tale, multiple characters have been alienated from various aspects of their lives as a result of the Republic of Gilead and the enforcement of its rigorous new rules; particularly Handmaid’s. A prime example of the alienation faced by the Handmaid’s is following the birth of their children. Janine, also known as Ofwarren, is alienated when she is forced to turn their children over to the commander’s wife and “placed ceremoniously” in her arm arms. The word “ceremoniously” is significant as it alludes to the wife being rewarded for her ‘hardwork’; this further alienates Janine as she is both unable to bring up her child and is not celebrated for her achievement, one which every Handmaid aspires to. Through language, such as “unwomen” Gilead is able to deprive individuals of their humanity that further reinforce the social expectations and duties that women are obligated to perform. Handmaids are also alienated through the clothes that are enforced on them; the “white wings …... keep [them] from seeing, but also from being seen”. Thus, their clothing of “red cloak” and “white wing” is a physical barrier which isolates them from the outside world; consequently isolating handmaid’s such as Offred. The alienation of the Handmaids can be interpreted as a way of Gilead forcing Handmaid’s to conform to the roles and keep them from rebelling. The handmaids are further alienated by the fact they are unable to communicate with each other openly in public for fear that the other might report them as a traitor if they did not accept the new society. Therefore, Handmaid’s such as Offred become isolated from society; whereby they may find themselves
reminiscing in past memories. Much like Handmaid’s Tale, Brave New World also has characters which are isolated from society such as Bernard Marx and John. Bernard is one of the prominent characters in Brave New Worlds who are an outcast. He doesn't fit in because of his "smallness”; as an Alpha plus this was unusual. Therefore, Bernard becomes alienated by his status as an outcast, and his alienation leads him to be a critic of the Brave New World rather than an advocate of it. Thus, it can be argued alienation in a community based society is unfavourable, such as the world state; while, it is favourable in societies based on “rule and divide” such as Gilead in Handmaids tale. Bernard's critique of society stems from his frustrated desire to "fit in" and Huxley does not portray him to not have any logical problem he has with it; however, Huxley portrays him as having a "reputation" for being "anti-social". Therefore, it can be argued that the only reason Bernard is considered “anti-social” is that society has rejected him as a substandard specimen. John has also been isolated for much of his life, largely due to his appearance, values, and outrageous thoughts. John was alienated mentally, emotionally, and physically in both the Savage Culture and the World State Culture. Being different from the rest of the Indians on the reservation had hampered John's ability to fit in with the “Savage” society. John claim that “they wouldn't let him” join their traditions; this can be interpreted as his isolation due to their “dislike” of john which was largely due to his different “complexion”. One of the most prominent aspects of control is the use or presence of a totalitarian authority. It can be argued that it is the totalitarian authority, in dystopian novels such as Handmaids Tale, that preserve control for an elite class i.e. commanders. One example of totalitarian authority is the Aunt’s; they carry “electric cattle prods” to make sure Handmaid’s are “obedient”. The use of animalistic imagery to portray the Handmaids as animals is significant; the word “cattle” suggest Handmaids are seen as mere ‘animals’, thus Gilead denies them their humanity. It could be argued that the Aunts in The Handmaid’s Tale are a clear type of feminine power, who possesses as much control as commander’s. On the other hand, it could be argued that their control and power is limited, as seen through their lack of “guns” as “even they could not be trusted with guns”. There are also “Angels” who are the soldiers of the army; they have names which have biblical connotations such as “Angels of the Apocalypse” or “Angels of Light”. The word “angel” suggests something innocent or holy; however, the “Angels” in Gilead fight in wars suggesting that it is a religious war they fight. In conclusion, it can be argued that the sense of overwhelming control and alienation of citizen’s in both the world state and Gilead, depicting grim and unwelcoming theocracies, has caused these novels to become prominent in the dystopian fiction genre. It can be argued it is due to the aspects of control such as dehumanisation of Handmaid’s in Handmaid’s Tale; this is most clearly shown through Atwood’s use of the possessive "of". We also see these aspects of control in Huxley’s Brave New World, themes of alienation through John, “the savage”, journey from two unappealing worlds. It is through his exploration of the character John that we begin to understand how aspects of control such as alienation, and in turn isolation, are significant in portraying this grim and unpleasant society. Therefore, it can be argued that it is the aspects of control that Atwood and Huxley use in their characters and themes which have allowed these novels to be so influential on society and form a warning of what a future society may look like.
The two texts Harrison Bergeron, written by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. and The Handmaid’s Tale by Reed Morano explore the idea of individuality loss due to complete government control through similar and varied techniques. Both texts enable the audience to obtain an understanding that a society where there is no ability to express one’s own self, is ultimately dangerous in both execution and outcome. Throughout the two texts the authors explore individuality suppression through government control by utilising varied techniques such as motifs, similes as well the ideas of handicaps which are a result of the need for constant surveillance. The dystopian texts of futuristic, imagined universes display the illusion of perfect societies that are being created,
“In every age it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both to deceive and overawe the People.” A quote by Eugene V Debs in his speech in Canton, Ohio, on June 16, 1918. Enter dystopia. In a universe already tarnished by future time and changing, pessimistic ideals or unconventional social standards, tyrants have the tendency to act as the main antagonist who enforce the moral laws of their worlds upon the innocent. And in George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, the authors explore the ideas of dystopic tyrants though antagonists O’Brien and Mustapha Mond, who portray their ability to control through their individual societies’ extreme ideals
In "The Handmaid's Tale", Margaret Atwood tells a saddening story about a not-to-distant future where toxic chemicals and abuses of the human body have resulted in many men and women alike becoming sterile. The main character, Offred, gives a first person encounter about her subservient life as a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a republic formed after a bloody coup against the United States government. She and her fellow handmaids are fertile women that the leaders of Gilead, the Commanders, enslave to ensure their power and the population of the Republic. While the laws governing women and others who are not in control of Gilead seem oppressive, outlandish and ridiculous, they are merely a caricature of past and present laws and traditions of Western civilization. "The Handmaid's Tale" is an accurate and feasible description of what society could be like if a strict and oppressive religious organization gained dominant power over the political system in the United States.
The government in Huxley's Brave New World and Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, both use different methods of obtaining control over individuals, but are both similar in the fact that humans are looked at as instruments. Human's bodies, in both novels, are looked at as objects and not directly as living things with feelings. In both societies the individuals have very little and are controlled strictly by the government. In Handmaid's Tale and Brave New World, through issues of employment, class systems, and the control of reproduction, Atwood and Huxley forewarn that in an all-powerful society, it is destined to become corrupt.
In Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, Offred recounts the story of her life and that of others in Gilead, but she does not do so alone. The symbolic meanings found in the dress code of the women, the names/titles of characters, the absence of the mirror, and the smell and hunger imagery aid her in telling of the repugnant conditions in the Republic of Gilead. The symbols speak with a voice of their own and in decibels louder than Offred can ever dare to use. They convey the social structure of Gileadean society and carry the theme of the individual's loss of identity.
Before the war handmaids had their own lives, families, and jobs but that’s all gone now; They have all been separated from their families and assigned to A Commander and his wife to have their child. Handmaids did not choose this life but it was forced upon them. 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
Psychologically, censorship is a form of negativism because it is a type of repression caused by the fear of consequences. In the novel The Handmaid 's Tale by Margaret Atwood, censorship is used to manipulate individuals such as Handmaids, into following the laws of their society called Gilead. This book focuses on the negativism in the presence of censorship in a society, and portrays the consequences that come along with it. In this novel, censorship results Handmaids as well as other citizens of Gilead to become narrow minded, following such uncertainty, and essentially being trapped from freedom.
In Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaids Tale’, we hear a transcribed account of one womans posting ‘Offred’ in the Republic of Gilead. A society based around Biblical philosophies as a way to validate inhumane state practises. In a society of declining birth rates, fertile women are chosen to become Handmaids, walking incubators, whose role in life is to reproduce for barren wives of commanders. Older women, gay men, and barren Handmaids are sent to the colonies to clean toxic waste.
Thesis: In The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood characterizes Handmaids, as women with expectations to obey the society’s hierarchy, as reproducers, symbolizing how inferior the Handmaid class is to others within Gilead; the class marginalization of Handmaids reveals the use of hierarchical control exerted to eliminate societal flaws among citizens.
The words control and Gilead, the setting for the novel "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, are interchangeable. Not only is control a pivotal feature of the novel and its plot, it consequently creates the subplots, the characters and the whole world because of its enormity in the Republic of Gilead. Resistance also features heavily, as does its results, mainly represented in the salvagings, participation and the threat of the colonies. Control dominates all aspects of Gileadian society, from minor, seemingly petty normalities such as the clothes allowed, all the way up to how and who to have sexual relations with. Unimaginable in this day, Atwood represents modern society gone sour, something which is chillingly close enough to reality to get worried about.
Throughout time women have been oppressed. The journey women have had has been a long one. Women were oppressed from choosing whom to love, speaking against her husband or any male, getting jobs outside household duties, voting, etc. Women were looked at as the weaker sex. The oppression in Gilead is no different. These women are oppressed by the patriarchy. In Gilead women are valuable, but not all are treated as such. Handmaids play a role for the greater good, but the Wives are treated above the Handmaids, even though the Handmaids, such as the narrator Offred, are the ones giving society a chance. The patriarchal society set in place makes all of the decisions over the greater women populations. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale examines the overall effect of a patriarchal society on
Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, the author Margaret Atwood gives the reader an understanding of what life would be like in a theocratic society that controls women’s lives. The narrator, Offred gives the reader her perspective on the many injustices she faces as a handmaid. Offred is a woman who lived before this society was established and when she undergoes the transition to her new status she has a hard time coping with the new laws she must follow. There are many laws in this government that degrade women and give men the authority of each household. All women are placed in each household for a reason and if they do not follow their duties they are sent away or killed. Atwood bases the irrational laws in the Gilead republic on the many
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
The handmaid’s Tale final assignment The handmaid’s tale is a dystopian novel written in 1985 that was also turned into a Hulu series in 2017. The show does a great job at following the same storyline as the book. This is more than likely due to the fact that Margaret Atwood played a big part in the production of the show. However like many books that have been turned into movies, there are some differences between the two as well.
In the novel The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood the themes of Religion and inter-human relationships are the themes that are most evident in the text. This novel shows the possibility of the existence of an all-powerful governing system. This is portrayed through the lack of freedom for women in society, from being revoked of their right to own any money or property, to being stripped of their given names and acquiring names such as Offred and Ofglen, symbolizing women’s dependant existence, only being defined by the men which they belong to. This portrayal of women demonstrates the idea that individuals are unimportant, that the goals of the society as a whole are more pertinent. “For our purposes, your feet and your hands are not essential” (chapter 15) is a quote revealing that Gilead denies rights to individuals and to humankind. In The Handmaids Tale, handmaids are only considered of value for their ability to reproduce, otherwise they are disposable. Religion is an aspect very prominent in the society of Gilead. We see this in chapter 4, where Ofglen and Offred meet and th...