Symbolism In The Handmaid's Tale

Gilead : the Symbol of Corruption and Hypocrisy

Gilead government may have established at first by good intension for its society. However, the government’s efforts to make a better society did not work. Gilead is a dictatorship, that was built by abusing people’s fear and dissatisfaction with societal conditions. After the dictatorial controls were established, those in power played the politics of fear to maintain the regime.

In the social background which transformed from a democratic to a despotic government, there were many dissatisfactory conditions. At first, there was environmental deterioration, because the environment had increasingly been polluted, and there was an accident, explosion of nuclear power plants in San Andreas. Also,

a new mutant strain of syphilis emerged, which could not be treated. These situations caused low birth rate and high infant mortality rate among Caucasian population. For instance, Offred remembered that the chance of a healthy baby was only one in four. Almost all the people influenced by radiation, toxicity of air and water, and chemicals in the food they had taken, so it decreased human reproduction. In the novel, of all the Handmaids seen, Ofwarren was the only person who is pregnant. This suggests that the system of Handmaid is not functioning, and the population is keep plummeting. On the other hand, there had been increased objectification of women through pornography. In addition, sexual violence against women had become almost commonplace. These problems had gotten out of hand, so most people were willing to accept constraining their freedom if it meant they would be safer. However, Gilead’s executions show that its people’s surrender of their freedom did not end violence, and instead, the government made violence a tool of controlling people.
For establishing the government of Gilead, a fanatical group took various measures to seize control of the society. It used the media to promote dissatisfaction. For example, Serena Joy, who is the wife of a Commander, used to be the lead soprano on a Sunday morning TV show, but later became a scathing critic of the American way of life who foreshadowed Gilead revolution. In spite of the success of the revolution, her new situation was worse than previous two, because what she only can do was useless pastimes:gardening and knitting. Also, the group seized power in a military coup. The President and the Congress were slaughtered and Islamic terrorists were blamed for it. Then there was “temporary” suspension of the Constitution, newspapers were censored and closed, roadblocks were set up, etc. In addition, all women were dismissed and deprived of their assets. Now women not only lost their jobs, but also were forbidden to go to school. This is not the desirable state for everyone, just a phallocentric society.
After founding Gilead, the new government used fear tactics to maintain control.

The first step was the regimentation of society. The regime segregated the sexes and its social classes not to suit their needs, but to maintain control. The fear and jealousy the different groups feel toward each other prevents the creation of alliances that might threaten the regime. For enforcing this situation, Gilead has become a homogenized society, based upon grouping. The novel describes a uniform for Handmaids in detail. It is an ankle-length red gown and a white, winged headdress that allows women only to see straight ahead and prevents others from seeing them. With these, they wear red gloves and low-heeled red shoes. Also, a uniform for Marthas is a long green gown and white apron. The color and shape of the uniform present the roles of these two classes: in Handmaids’ uniform, the red is sexual coloration to attract men as a womb, and the shape of covering body means they should be protected from outside, but, in Marthas’ uniform, the green is relaxing color, and the shape is also comfortable as a domestic servant. Through a uniform which each one is wearing, people would be reminded of where their primary allegiance should be. Under the strict control, everyone, especially second-class citizens, such as Handmaids and Marthas, are eliminated of any choice in their daily lives, and they have to play their roles according to some fixed schedules. The second step is indoctrination. A representative place is Red Center, which is like a reform school or prison. Women grouped as Handmaid are educated about their roles there. Through living in the group, most women are forced to lose their sense of self, and obey reinforced roles. Also, the government provides misinformation to its people on television, which is the only remaining information medium. Offred’s suspicions that the television news may be fake, and displayed prisoners may be actors, show what can take place when

there is no free press. News becomes so one-sided that it is no longer trustworthy. Also, in Gilead, all universities are closed, and their conversions into barracks and concentration camp bodes ill for Gilead. There remain no more books, magazines, or any signs. The power protesting the injustice comes from knowledge. The government was able to prevent any protest by placing the hurdle of illiteracy in the path of citizens. In addition, hanging up the corpses on the Wall of what was once a university is a Gilead’s way of warning people not to break its laws, but is also a clue of how unpopular the new regime is. The last step is creation of paranoia and fear. All meetings, even conversations, are banned. There is no communication between people, so they always doubt each other, whether anyone is a spy or not. If someone turns out to be a spy or a traitor, they are sent to the Colonies. In addition, AfricanAmericans and Jews, and probably others who do not fit the government’s criteria are exiled to the Colonies, and left to die while cleaning up toxic garbage. It shows that Gilead is a racist regime. Also, societal involvement in the punishment of offenders(Salvagings) such as public display of execution victims are enough to drive people insane. Gilead citizens are always exposed to the danger that the Eyes may watch them.
Notwithstanding the repressive controls, there are organizations of resistance to the government of Gilead. In Ofglen’s talk, a Baptist resistance shows that some people managed to organize themselves against the regime and even armed themselves. Nevertheless the news shows the rebels have been defeated and Quakers of the new underground railroad have been arrested. At the same time, it shows that both of these things exist, and the fight goes on. Moreover, Mayday resistance and Underground Female road unite women and men for a common goal. This means that the Gilead is no more for phallocentrism. In addition, the dictatorial regime is at war with Latin America and various states. Offred’s utterance that Commanders’ homes have real coffee demonstrates that the regime is having some difficulties maintaining the former standard of living. Probably other countries, including coffee-growing ones, are boycotting the new government, or the resistance movements have cut the trade routes or damaged shipping facilities. The disruption of trade due to war and sabotage shows the extent of opposition to the regime.
These facts show that Gilead is beginning to crack from within. Also, these, with the war fronts and the sabotage campaigns, may mean that the end of Gilead is not far away. The Commander’s drinking and wistfulness are further evidence that Gilead is crumbling at the top, and his argument that many outlawed materials would be dangerous in the hands of masses but harmless in the grip of those in power illustrates exactly Gilead’s corruption and hypocrisy. One sign of a totalitarian government is that the leaders tend to exempt themselves from the rules established for the society and to generally mistrust those without power, and Gilead also is no exception to this. Gilead changed the Bible to suit its purpose, also. For a regime that claims the Bible as the foundation of its laws, to lie about the Bible and its contents show that Gilead not only is brutal, but is totally corrupt as well. A regime built upon corruption and hypocrisy by manipulating people cannot last long. That’s why Gilead is bound to fall.