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Literary analysis of handmaids tale
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In The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, language is important. To Offred, the protagonist, language is something forbidden, something taboo, a relic from a lost age. Thus, to analyze the language in this novel we must consider what it means to the characters in it. To Offred and the other women, language takes on an almost sacred significance; it is something to dwell on and ponder. To the men, however, it is disposable. Unlike women, men in this society are not conditioned to feel shame or fear about being educated. They are the only ones allowed to work, learn, and even read. This book is a cautionary tale, a worst-case scenario prediction of the future. One that is, sadly, as relevant and topical now as it was at the time of the book's …show more content…
publishing in 1985. Atwoods offers this prediction and, in doing so shows exactly why such a fate can never come to pass. Atwood infuses her store with a sense of loss within the first few pages, but it shows through especially in the last paragraph of page 33. The first sentence is short. It feels sharp, creating a tone of briefness. Atwood shows Offred’s reluctance to dwell on her past for fear of making it harder to bear living in her present. The second sentence, however, is long. In it, Offred gives in to nostalgia and allows herself the space to reminisce about the past. The contrast between these two sentences sets the novel as having a clear distinction between past and present. In doing this Atwood cleverly sets up her novel as a prediction for what could happen to the world in the distant future. In the third and fourth sentences Atwood begins to play with language, giving special significance to the word “undone” in relation to women’s blouses. This wordplay is common in this novel. Words are a precious resource to the women, and Offred in particular takes a lot of time to think about words. Atwood shows this by frequently expanding and ruminating on the meaning of words. In the fifth and sixth sentences Atwood uses repetition again to make clear that Offred used to live in a world similar to America today. Similarly, she draws a parallel with the two sentences, “they seemed to be able to choose” and “we seemed to be able to choose, then.” In a way she continues this repetition in the last sentence, repeating the idea of choice in the old society vs. the new by saying “we were a society dying [...] of too much choice.” The freedom of these women of the past over their bodies, their ability to choose, was a threat to the men in power. Atwood paints a picture of an oppressive and menacing dystopia where freedom, whether it be freedom of language or freedom of choice, is forbidden. Forbidden too is the idea of women as intelligent or educated. In the fourth paragraph on page 140 Atwood highlights the differences between Offred’s internal self and the external self she has been conditioned to display. In this paragraph the first sentence starts with wordplay once again. “I sit in the chair and think about the word chair.” The same idea of language being a forbidden commodity plays an important role in this paragraph, as does repeating “It can also” and “It is.” In short quips Atwood talks about “chair” in the context of a leader, an execution, the first syllable of charity, and the French word for flesh. Even though, as she remarks in the 6th sentence, these words and ideas have no “connection with the others,” Atwood ties them together in Offred’s stream of consciousness with the repetition of their identical beginnings. She then immediately shifts, switching to a longer, more reflective sentence saying Offred uses these thoughts to “compose” herself. The length of the seventh sentence shows that, where before her thoughts were sharp and short, just like the sentences, she has now become calmer and thinks in clearer, longer phrases. Thinking about words calms Offred because words are so integral to her identity. In her past life she was intellectual, and prided herself on her grasp of language. In her new life this has changed, as evident by the clipped, simple sentences. However she still finds solace in thinking about language, these thoughts remind her of who she is outside of her social conditioning. This social conditioning shows in the simplicity of Offred’s sentences as well. With them Atwood makes a commentary on the mentality that women should stay quiet, should not speak up on issues, by using simple verbs such as “is” and “has” when creating Offred’s voice. This simplicity does not belie any unintelligence on Offred’s part; rather it shows the pain Offred feels at being forced to think in such a way. Her voice remains simple and passive even when clinging to the one comfort left to her because of the societal gender roles forced upon her. In contrast to everything discussed so far comes the second paragraph on page 381.
In it Atwood is no longer writing in Offred’s voice, instead she writes from the perspective of male intellectuals remarking on the discovery of Offred’s story years after her life. With exception to the first, a transitional sentence from the last paragraph, the sentences in this paragraph are long-winded and carry a tone of pretension. The longest sentence pushes 80 words, full of complex diction like “signification” and “contention.” In choosing these words Atwood shows how the men take pride in their large vocabulary, using it to show off to one another. The most significant choice Atwood makes in this final paragraph however is to return to the wordplay so beloved of Offred. Through this Atwood reveals that the title of the novel is little more than a pun made by the men upon discovering Offred’s story, buried as tapes in a military locker. The men use the word “tale” as a homophone for “tail” as used in the phrase “get some tail” when referring to sex. In doing so Atwood shows how the language so important to Offred throughout the book is now used against her, reducing her once again to an object for men’s desires. The very tool Offred used to ground herself, to reinforce her humanity now mocks her, made into a crude joke for the benefit of her
oppressors. Both a terrifying prediction of the possible future and a criticism of America’s puritanical past, The Handmaid’s Tale calls for a critical examination American society. Atwood asks an important question: Are the societal pressures as they currently stand pushing young women into certain roles, and if so, how will that affect the future of America? This novel presents only one of thousands of possible futures; it is up to society to make the collective choice of which one becomes reality.
The novel “The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood shows the way of life for women in the
Margaret Atwood is famous for many things. She is a poet, novelist, story writer, essayist, and an environmental activist. Her books are usually bestsellers and have received high praises in the United States, Europe, and her native country, Canada. She has also received many Literary awards, like the Booker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the two Governor General’s Awards (“Margaret Atwood” Poetry). Through her books, she has written about what she sees in society towards women. She discusses how gender equality was corrupted in the past, but still is far from being reached, and women’s roles in society (“Spotty-handed”). Atwood also takes events in her life; like the Great Depression, Communism, and World War II; and applies it to her works. Margaret Atwood's works, including her novel The Handmaid's Tale, reflects women’s fight in equality, how society determines
Staels, Hilde. "Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale; Resistance Through Narrating ." English Studies (1995): 455-467.
The Handmaid's Tale has been described as a scathing satire and a dire warning! Which elements of our own society is Margaret atwood satirising and how does her satire work ?
of rebels and rebellions. It is not fair to say that the form of rebel
In Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, women are subjected to unthinkable oppression. Practically every aspect of their life is controlled, and they are taught to believe that their only purpose is to bear children for their commander. These “handmaids” are not allowed to read, write or speak freely. Any type of expression would be dangerous to the order of the Gilead’s strict society. They are conditioned to believe that they are safer in this new society. Women are supposedly no longer exploited or disrespected (pornography, rape, etc.) as they once were. Romantic relationships are strongly prohibited because involving emotion would defeat the handmaid’s sole purpose of reproducing. Of course not all women who were taken into Gilead believed right what was happening to their way of life. Through the process of storytelling, remembering, and rebellion, Offred and other handmaids cease to completely submit to Gilead’s repressive culture.
In life, people don’t always stand up for what they believe in in order to avoid exclusion – this is called apathy. In specific situations, people will blindly follow a primitive ideology without any regard for morality. Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is an excellent example of how apathy can affect an entire population. This novel is by and large a feminist novel that addresses the ignorance in imperialistic and religious ideologies, but also addresses the issue of human apathy. In this novel, Atwood offers a disturbing look into what could be. The alterior motive of the society is to purify and improve the country as a whole. However, it is not only nationalism and imperialism
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
While The Handmaid's Tale conveys the oppression of women, it also reveals the significant role women have in society. Atwood gets the point across that just as they can be oppressed by men, women can equally oppress themselves. Through Offred's eyes, comparisons between today's society and the possible consequences of one's attitudes are examined. The Handmaid's Tale slowly uncovers the many facets of women and the vital role they have as members of society.
Offred is a Handmaid in what used to be the United States, now the theocratic Republic of Gilead. In order to create Gilead's idea of a more perfect society, they have reverted to taking the Book of Genesis at its word. Women no longer have any privileges; they cannot work, have their own bank accounts, or own anything. The also are not allowed to read or even chose who they want to marry. Women are taught that they should be subservient to men and should only be concerned with bearing children. Margaret Atwood writes The Handmaid's Tale (1986) as to create a dystopia. A dystopia is an imaginary place where the condition of life is extremely bad, from deprivation, oppression, or terror. Three ways she displays the dystopia are through the characters, the language and the symbolism.
The Handmaid's Tale presents an extreme example of sexism and misogyny by featuring the complete objectification of women in the society of Gilead. Yet by also highlighting the mistreatment of women in the cultures that precede and follow the Gileadean era, Margaret Atwood is suggesting that sexism and misogyny are deeply embedded in any society and that serious and deliberate attention must be given to these forms of discrimination in order to eliminate them.
The Handmaid’s Tale (Contemporary Classics). Journals Bertens, H. (2001) Literary Theory: The Basics, The Politics of Class: Marxism. Abingdon, Routledge. Sourced in AQA Critical Anthology LITB4/PM Issued September 2008.
Margaret Atwood sheds light on two concepts that are intertwined; fertility and motherhood. Nevertheless in Gilead these notions are often viewed as separate. The Republic State of Gilead views women as child-bearers and nothing more. In Gilead, these women are known as handmaids, who’s function in society is to produce children for barren females of a high status. Gilead also prohibits the handmaids from being mothers to their previously born children, meaning before Gilead was created, for instance, Offred, who is separated from her daughter. Thus it is evident that Margaret Atwood generates a state that views birth only as growth in population rather than the beginning of a relationship between mother and child.
Ally Condie expressed "the beauty of dystopia is that it lets us vicariously experience future worlds - but we still have the power to change our own." This demonstrates how authors use literary power to unfold the mask on society. They expose the controversial topics occurring in the real world, such as the role of women in society. Margaret Atwood, an author of a dystopian novel, took it upon herself to write a novel reflecting how women are treated in society with a theocracy. Several other writers have made it their mission to decipher what Atwood's work is trying to convey.