The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, is a criticism and embroidery of contemporary issues regarding patriarchal, hierarchical, and religious fundamentalist developments in history and the present. The Handmaid's Tale is often likened to eminent dystopian novels such as George Orwell's 1984 and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Feminist literary criticism employs feminist principles to explore "... the ways in which literature… reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women"(Tyson). Analyzing the dystopian novel through the feminist lens, the reader can observe Atwood's portrayal of the relationships between the sexes, the roles they are expected to play, and the definition of masculinity and …show more content…
femininity in society. Atwood's novel serves as an admonitory tale in which readers may be able to draw parallels between the Republic of Gilead, a dystopian society based on traditional values and male domination, and their own societies. Margaret Atwood explores various themes of feminist criticism to denounce the objectification and control of women, as well as warn the public of the possibility of a religious fundamentalist regime. The Gilead society in the novel values freedom for women; however, in the words of Aunt Lydia, “in the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don't underrate it”(Atwood 24). The earlier society was cautious and unsafe: women were instructed keep their doors closed to strangers, ignore catcalls from men on the street, and never go anywhere alone. But in the Republic of Gilead, although women are given freedom from the dangerous and disrespectful aspects of the former time period, such as rape and sexual harassment, their rights were stripped along with it. In the Republic of Gilead, men are prohibited from whistling at, talking to, or touching women in any way. The men rule and fight for the Republic of Gilead while the women are expected to act as housewives or procreate. Women must cover themselves from head to toe, wearing uniforms described by Offred as, "skirt is ankle-length, full… extends over the breasts, the sleeves are full. The white wings… are to keep us from seeing, but also from being seen. I never looked good in red, it's not my color"(Atwood 8). The uneven distribution of power between the sexes creates a society in which men control not only the bodies and sexuality of women but their personality and identity as well. The restraints on women are very hypocritical because while the women are not allowed to speak to men or provoke sexual intimacy, women referred to as “Handmaids” are raped and exploited to bear children for the infertile wives of men in their society. The society also seeks to control the identity and free expression of women. In our society abortions are regarded as a symbol of freedom and control for women, because abortions allow a woman to have control over her own body and choose to not have a child. In Atwood’s dystopia, abortions are illegal, and doctors who had previously executed abortions are murdered and put on public display. The author uses the criminalization of abortion to symbolize the suppression of female control and choice, and display the traditional roles that women are expected to play as child bearers. Another symbol of lost female identity is the veil. The Handmaids are required to wear head coverings and walk with lowered gazes. Their vision is limited and their bodies are covered to prevent men from desiring them and to prevent the women from expressing themselves. The veil worn by the women is a vital tool of oppression, as well as the identical uniforms that conceal the women’s bodies. Consequently, Offred loses her identity and cannot even recognize herself when looking in the mirror, ¨a distorted shadow, a parody of something, some fairy-tale figure in a red cloak, descending towards a moment of carelessness that is the same as danger”(Atwood 9). Clothing is a medium through which human beings express their individuality and personality, so the restrictions on and uniformity of clothing for women in Gilead is the author’s way of highlighting the absence of choice and freedom for women. The author’s feminist interpretation of the bible is exemplified by the biblical influence in the text. The oppressive regime’s entire justification of the use of fertile handmaids for reproductive purposes is premised on the biblical figure Jacob who used his infertile wife´s handmaid to bear him children, ¨When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children… she said to Jacob, Give me children or I shall die!... Here is my maid Bilhah; go into her, that she may bear upon my knees, and even I may have children through her.¨(Gen. 30:1–3). The subdivisions in the Gilead society also have biblical origins. The social hierarchy of women, who are all placed below the men, in order of most powerful to least are as follows: the “Wives”, "Marthas”, “Handmaids”, “Econowives” and “Un Women”. The different groups and classifications are important because they determine a woman's social status and function in society. Each group is appointed its own color-coded uniform so that women can be recognized easily and classified as a member of one of the 5 different groups of women, ¨some in red, some in the dull green of the Marthas, some in the striped dressed… cheap and skimpy, that mark the women of the poorer men. Econowives, they're called"(Atwood 24). The label “Martha” alludes to the sister of Mary who served Jesus by cooking and cleaning the house instead of listening to his words, which corresponds to the role of ¨Marthas¨ as maids and cooks in the household. The Bible as an allusion is of importance due to the frequent feminist criticism of the text. The main criticism of the Bible is that it supports and encourages patriarchal society. For example, many Christians attribute the corruption of man to the actions of a woman susceptible to temptation in the story of Adam and Eve. Negative views of women are frequent in the Bible which leads feminists to typically characterize the Bible as misogynist, by encouraging the control and domination of men over his wife and family. In analyzing the novel, it is evident that Margaret Atwood agrees with this perspective. These fundamentalist values are emulated in The Handmaid's Tale as the men in the theocratic society are not only the heads of their families, but are able to control the sexuality and free will of their female counterpart. Atwood addresses the use of language and nomenclature as a means of isolating and subjugating women from themselves and others throughout the novel. The Handmaids, women used for procreation by men in the society, are dehumanized by being stripped of their own names and renamed according to their commander. The protagonist's name, Offred, is a combination of ¨Of Fred¨, which indicates that she belongs to Commander Fred. Offred remarks that, “My name isn’t Offred, I have another name, which no one uses now because it’s forbidden. I tell myself it doesn't matter, your name is like your telephone number… but … it does matter”(Atwood 84). The men in the society of Gilead use this nomenclature to subdue and deprive the women of their individuality and reinvent them as inferior to men. The Republic of Gilead also uses the absence of language and literature to oppress women and retain power over them. The saying ¨knowledge is power¨ means that the more one knows, the more they will be able to control and exert power over others. The women in Gilead are prohibited from reading: the shop signs no longer have names, they cannot read books— including the bible—and have to listen to audio lessons as opposed to reading books. The men in power are able to withhold the information or truth from women, therefore keeping them subservient to men. Because women are not allowed to read, they are forced to accept whatever altered versions of the Bible or other texts that the men recite to them, and are manipulated into believing false interpretations and complying with ascribed gender roles. Offred recognizes the power of language and asserts, “ The pen between my fingers is sensuous, alive almost. I can feel its power, the power of the words it contains… warning us away from such objects… I envy the Commander his pen. It's one more thing I would like to steal”(Atwood 186). The inability for women to educate themselves and the dehumanization of women in the novel allow men to continue their subordination of women and obstruct their growth economically, socially, psychologically, and politically. Feminist texts, along with exploring the objectification of women and their social and economic exploitation, usually propose sisterhood as a mode of resisting patriarchy(Purdue 2).
This idea is conveyed through the female interactions featured in The Handmaid's Tale. The novel not only criticizes male and female interactions but also explores how women support the subjugation of other women. Alanna Callaway contends, “In other words, the male- dominated power structure relies on women to regulate one another and enforce social standards… the focus of The Handmaid's Tale from… ‘traditional’ misogyny, to the matriarchal network, and a new form of misogyny: women's hatred of women”(Callaway 6). The male dominated society described in the novel requires women to monitor and deceive other women. Women are required to walk in pairs for protection, and Offred understands that it is risky to say anything unorthodox to her partner, "the truth is that she is my spy, as I am hers"( Atwood 19). This “culture of female treachery” is exemplified by Serena Joy, the Commander’s wife. In the time before the establishment of the patriarchal Gilead society, Serena Joy was a gospel singer and activist for anti-feminist traditional values. Offred reflects on Serena Joy’s contribution to the rise of the Republic of Gilead and remarks, “She stays in her home, but it doesn't seem to agree with her. How furious she must be, now that she's been taken at her word"(Atwood 46). By allowing the destruction and oppression of other women, and making no attempt to resist the rise of this oppressive society, women are duplicitous in their own
undoing. Atwood contends "Literature can be a mirror, and people can recognize themselves in it and this may lead to change." The novel is arguably more relevant than ever, with some drawing connections between President Donald Trump's America and the dystopian society featured in the novel. Although The Handmaid’s Tale is an exaggeration and consists of unrealistic events, certain aspects of the novel are mirrored in other societies around the world. In countries such as Pakistan and Iran, women live in a theocratic society similar to Atwood’s dystopia; they must cover themselves from head to toe, rape is not regulated or criminalized, and these women belong to their husbands as well. Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale shows how citizens of the world should address oppression everywhere, and how a strong piece of literature can be a catalyst for that change.
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
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
In The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, there is an apparent power struggle between Offred and the Commander. The Gilead Society’s structure is based off of order and command. This is what creates a divide between genders and specifies gender roles in this novel. Without this categorization of the roles and expectations of women, the society would fall apart at the base. Thus, the Commander, being the dominant gender set forth by the society, has control over Offred.
Many texts that were published from different authors have introduced topics that can be related in today’s society, but Margaret Atwood’s creation called, “The Handmaid’s Tale”, gives voice to the thoughts and revolves around the narrator Offred, a woman whose rights have been deprived due to political issues. However, the information shared by Offred to the reader to the text is not reliable for the reason that she only touches upon her own perspective. Through the text, Atwood depicted what the United States of America would be in the future based on the actions of humanity during 1980’s. The text is set up in an androcentric and totalitarian country called Gilead, where the government attempts to create a utopian society. Thus, in order to attain this society, the authorities generated their legislation from the teachings of the Holy Bible in an attempt to control humanity. The governing
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.
As the saying goes, 'history repeats itself.' If one of the goals of Margaret Atwood was to prove this particular point, she certainly succeeded in her novel A Handmaid's Tale. In her Note to the Reader, she writes, " The thing to remember is that there is nothing new about the society depicted in The Handmaiden's Tale except the time and place. All of the things I have written about ...have been done before, more than once..." (316). Atwood seems to choose only the most threatening, frightening, and atrocious events in history to parallel her book by--specifically the enslavement of African Americans in the United States. She traces the development of this institution, but from the perspective of a different group of oppressed people: women.
Thanks to the commander, she also meets Moira, her long time friend from Gilead. This act of resistance from the commander brings Offred a lot and if he were caught, would face serious charges. Both men and women are severely controlled throughout everyday life in "The Handmaid's Tale. " Recreation is minimal, sexual intercourse is purely for creation, and the nuclear family is a thing of the past. Elizabeth Atwood provides a dystopian world full of wrongdoing, manipulation and emotional numbness stemming from a government in Gilead that controls all aspects of life for its people.
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 Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, social turmoil after a staged terrorist attack has led to a totalitarian Christian regime. In this dystopian future, the roles of men and women are much different than in today’s society. In The Handmaid’s Tale, women are unequal because they have no choice about their bodies, their dress, or their relationships.
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.
In Night, the Jews were confined and imprisoned in the concentration camps because they were destined to be murdered in a systematic manner by the Nazis. An example of the systematic murdering tactic used is the selection process. This was the process in which the Jews had their age and fitness checked to determine who was old and fit enough to work, and who was to be murdered. An example of this is when Elie and his father first arrived to Birkenau an inmate said, “Not fifty. You're forty. Do you hear? Eighteen and forty”(Wiesel 30). The inmate said this so the father and son could avoid death upon entry. In Night, The Jews represented resentfulness and disgust in the eyes of the Nazis. However in The Handmaid’s Tale the Handmaids are
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
Though Offred is developed as a character through her opinions on female sexuality, she is further characterized by her individuality and willingness to defy her social expectations as a female, assigned to her by her government. In Atwood’s work, the narrative is told by an intelligent individual named Offred who is oppressed by Gilead’s female expectations but is not afraid to defy these assigned roles despite not being a traditional heroine (Nakamura). Even as Offred’s previous identity is stripped away from her, she retains small pieces of her womenhood and individuality through defiant actions such as manipulating men with her feminity from swaying her hips slighty in their line of sight to making direct eye contact with certain men, which she is forbidden from. On the other hand, a major act of rebellion from
The hierarchy of women goes as such: Commander’s Wives, Aunts, Marthas, Handmaids, Econowives, and Unwomen. Commanders are at the head of their household. Every woman within these ranks has settled into their roles as part of the Republic except for the Unwomen, those who refused to become a part of their society under any circumstances--those who are sent to work camps and separated from the rest of the world. Aside from them, the rest of the Republic's women all serve men in one way or another. Women are made to believe that the roles assigned to them are to be seen as a great honor. Outwardly, women accept these roles with little to no retaliation, but inwardly and amongst each other, many perform small acts of rebellion against their overseers. One woman who partook in many of these acts is referred to as Offred throughout the story; however, her real name is never revealed.