Conversion And Political Corruption In The Handmaid's Tale

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In The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood envisions a dystopian society governed by radical conservatism. Through her protagonist Offred, Atwood considers the political extremes that bedevil the citizens of Gilead. Atwood employs Aunt Lydia and Moira as foil characters for Offred to underscore the importance of political moderation. On the political spectrum, Aunt Lydia represents the radical right that is Gilead. Aunt Lydia adheres proudly to the Christian doctrine imposed by the nation. Yet, she fails to recognize the discrepancy between the Bible and Gileadean conventions—the result of moral perversion and political corruption. Her misuse and misunderstanding of Scripture demonstrate the susceptibility of such extreme doctrine to depravity. …show more content…

First, she gives definition to the protagonist’s beliefs. Several times in the novel, Offred calls to mind wisdom imparted by Aunt Lydia. For instance, while waiting for her walking partner, Offred recalls Aunt Lydia’s religious explanation of the Handmaids’ fate at the Red Center. In present-time, Offred subtly discredits Aunt Lydia’s proclamations, refusing to accept the Parable of the Seeds as pacification for the abhorrent demands made of Handmaids (18). Offred’s opinions are rarely spoken aloud; rather, Atwood places them in interior monologue. Offred contextualizes, quantifies, and questions the viewpoints she absorbs from her surroundings. Aunt Lydia is the primary figure of Gileadean authority from whom Offred develops her conclusions. Offred’s commentary on maxims she recalls from Aunt Lydia provides key insight into her political position. Secondly, Aunt Lydia acts as a villain for the reader. The series of memories Offred shares about Aunt Lydia elicits rage in the reader. These recollections also assert Offred as “the voice of reason” in the novel. Offred’s accounts are honest; she even acknowledges her own fallibility, stating, “This is a reconstruction” (134). The reader has faith in Offred as a biographer of

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