Literary Works That Shape Our World: A Critical Analysis - Sykalo Evgen 2023

Analysis of “The Handmaid's Tale” by Margaret Atwood

Historical context

The historical context of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is complex and multifaceted, but some of the most important factors include:

The rise of the Christian Right in the United States: In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a growing movement of religious conservatives in the United States who were opposed to abortion, same-sex marriage, and other progressive social changes. Atwood has said that she was inspired by the rise of the Christian Right when she wrote The Handmaid's Tale.
The Iranian Revolution: In 1979, the Iranian Revolution overthrew the secular government and established an Islamic theocracy. The new regime imposed strict religious restrictions on women, including mandatory hijab and segregation of the sexes. Atwood has said that she was also inspired by the Iranian Revolution when she wrote The Handmaid's Tale.
The environmental crisis: Atwood has also said that she was concerned about the environmental crisis when she wrote The Handmaid's Tale. The novel is set in a world where pollution has caused widespread infertility. This suggests that Atwood was worried about the potential for environmental degradation to lead to a dystopian future.

In addition to these specific events and trends, Atwood also drew on a broader history of religious extremism, oppression of women, and violence against marginalized groups. She has said that she wanted to write a novel that would warn readers about the dangers of complacency and the importance of fighting for social justice.

It is important to note that The Handmaid's Tale is not a prophecy. Atwood has said that she did not intend to write a prediction of the future. Instead, she wanted to write a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of religious extremism and sexism.

The novel has been praised for its prescience, and it has become a rallying cry for women's rights and other social justice movements. It is a powerful reminder that we must never take our freedoms for granted.

Religious fundamentalism

Religious fundamentalism is a central theme in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. The novel is set in a dystopian future in which a totalitarian regime has taken over the United States and established a new society based on a strict interpretation of the Bible. Women are oppressed and forced into subservient roles, and religious dogma is used to justify the regime's violence and repression.

The regime in The Handmaid's Tale is known as Gilead, and it is ruled by a group of religious zealots known as the Commanders. The Commanders believe that God has punished the world with infertility because of humanity's sins, and they have established a breeding program to repopulate the Earth. Handmaids are fertile women who are forced to bear children for the Commanders and their wives.

Gilead's religious ideology is based on a distorted interpretation of the Bible. The Commanders cherry-pick verses from the Bible to justify their oppression of women and their other crimes against humanity. For example, they use the story of Rachel and Bilhah from the Book of Genesis to justify the Handmaid program.

Religious fundamentalism is a dangerous ideology because it can be used to justify violence and oppression. It is important to remember that no religion teaches hatred or violence. In fact, all major religions teach love, compassion, and respect for all people.

Atwood's novel is a powerful warning about the dangers of religious extremism. It is a reminder that we must be vigilant in defending our freedoms and protecting the rights of all people.

Here are some specific examples of how religious fundamentalism is used to justify oppression and violence in The Handmaid's Tale:

The Commanders use the Bible to justify the Handmaid program, which is a form of reproductive slavery.
Women are forced to wear long red dresses and white bonnets to cover their bodies and hide their faces. This is done to dehumanize women and make them less visible in society.
Women are forbidden to read or write, and they are not allowed to have jobs or own property. This is done to keep women dependent on men and to prevent them from challenging the regime.
Women who disobey the regime are punished severely, and they may even be killed. This is done to create a climate of fear and to deter dissent.

Atwood's novel is a powerful indictment of religious extremism and its negative consequences. It is a reminder that we must be vigilant in defending our freedoms and protecting the rights of all people.

Women's rights

Women's rights are a central theme in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. The novel is set in a dystopian future in which a totalitarian regime has taken over the United States and established a new society based on a strict interpretation of the Bible. Women are oppressed and forced into subservient roles, and religious dogma is used to justify the regime's violence and repression.
One of the most striking ways in which women's rights are violated in The Handmaid's Tale is through the Handmaid program. Handmaids are fertile women who are forced to bear children for the Commanders and their wives. They are stripped of their identities and treated as property.
Women in Gilead are also denied basic human rights, such as the right to read, write, own property, or have jobs. They are also forbidden to gather in groups or to speak to men who are not their relatives.
The regime in Gilead uses violence and intimidation to keep women in line. Women who disobey the regime are punished severely, and they may even be killed.
Despite the oppression they face, the Handmaids in The Handmaid's Tale are not without hope. They form a secret resistance movement and work to overthrow the regime.
Atwood's novel is a powerful reminder of the importance of women's rights. It is a cautionary tale about what can happen when women's rights are taken away.

Here are some specific examples of how women's rights are violated in The Handmaid's Tale:

Handmaids are forced to wear long red dresses and white bonnets to cover their bodies and hide their faces. This is done to dehumanize women and make them less visible in society.
Women are forbidden to read or write, and they are not allowed to have jobs or own property. This is done to keep women dependent on men and to prevent them from challenging the regime.
Women who disobey the regime are punished severely, and they may even be killed. This is done to create a climate of fear and to deter dissent.

Atwood's novel is a powerful indictment of sexism and misogyny. It is a reminder that we must never take our freedoms for granted.

Dystopian fiction

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is a classic example of dystopian fiction. A dystopia is a society that is characterized by oppression, inequality, and suffering. Dystopian fiction often explores the potential consequences of social and technological trends, and it can serve as a warning about the dangers of complacency.

The Handmaid's Tale is set in a dystopian future in which a totalitarian regime has taken over the United States and established a new society based on a strict interpretation of the Bible. Women are oppressed and forced into subservient roles, and religious dogma is used to justify the regime's violence and repression.

Atwood uses a variety of dystopian elements in The Handmaid's Tale, including:

Totalitarianism: The regime in The Handmaid's Tale is totalitarian, meaning that it controls all aspects of people's lives. The government dictates what people can read, write, say, and do.
Religious extremism: The regime in The Handmaid's Tale is based on a strict interpretation of the Bible. Religious dogma is used to justify the regime's oppression of women and its other crimes against humanity.
Gender inequality: Women in The Handmaid's Tale are oppressed and denied basic human rights. They are treated as property and are forced to submit to the will of men.
Violence and repression: The regime in The Handmaid's Tale uses violence and repression to maintain control. Women who disobey the regime are punished severely, and they may even be killed.

Atwood's novel is a powerful warning about the dangers of totalitarianism, religious extremism, gender inequality, and violence. It is a reminder that we must never take our freedoms for granted.

The Handmaid's Tale has been praised for its prescience, and it has become a rallying cry for women's rights and other social justice movements. It is a powerful reminder that we must never take our freedoms for granted.

Margaret Atwood's other works

Margaret Atwood is a prolific writer, and her work often explores similar themes of gender, power, and oppression. Some of her other works that you may want to read include:

Oryx and Crake (2003): A dystopian novel about a world ravaged by environmental destruction and genetic engineering.
The Blind Assassin (2000): A complex and multi-layered novel that tells the story of two sisters growing up in Canada during World War II.
Alias Grace (1996): A historical novel based on the true story of a young woman who was convicted of murder in 1843.
Cat's Eye (1988): A coming-of-age novel about a young girl growing up in Toronto in the 1950s and 1960s.
Surfacing (1972): A novel about a woman who returns to her childhood home in the Canadian wilderness to confront her past.

In addition to novels, Atwood has also written short stories, poetry, and non-fiction. She is one of the most important and influential writers of our time.

If you are interested in reading more of Atwood's work, I recommend starting with one of the novels listed above. They are all excellent examples of her writing and her ability to explore complex themes in a compelling and thought-provoking way.

The role of language in the novel

Language plays a complex and important role in Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale. The novel is set in a dystopian future where a totalitarian regime has taken over the United States and imposed a strict interpretation of the Bible on society. Women are oppressed and denied basic human rights, and language is used as a tool to control and dehumanize them.

One of the most striking ways in which language is used to control women in The Handmaid's Tale is through the use of euphemisms. The regime uses euphemisms to disguise the true nature of its oppressive policies. For example, Handmaids are not called "slaves" or "breeding stock." Instead, they are called "Gilead's women" or "vessels." This use of euphemisms is designed to make the regime's oppression seem more palatable and less severe.

Language is also used to dehumanize women in The Handmaid's Tale. For example, Handmaids are not allowed to have names. Instead, they are referred to by the name of their Commander, followed by the prefix "Of." This is done to reduce Handmaids to their reproductive function and to make them less visible as individuals.

Despite the regime's attempts to control and dehumanize them, the Handmaids in The Handmaid's Tale use language to resist and to connect with each other. For example, the Handmaids have a secret language that they use to communicate with each other without being understood by the men. This secret language is a way for the Handmaids to maintain their sense of identity and to build solidarity with each other.

Overall, language plays a complex and important role in Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale. The regime uses language to control and dehumanize women, but the Handmaids also use language to resist and to connect with each other.

Here are some specific examples of the role of language in The Handmaid's Tale:

The regime uses euphemisms to disguise the true nature of its oppressive policies. For example, Handmaids are not called "slaves" or "breeding stock." Instead, they are called "Gilead's women" or "vessels."
Language is also used to dehumanize women in The Handmaid's Tale. For example, Handmaids are not allowed to have names. Instead, they are referred to by the name of their Commander, followed by the prefix "Of."
The Handmaids have a secret language that they use to communicate with each other without being understood by the men. This secret language is a way for the Handmaids to maintain their sense of identity and to build solidarity with each other.
Offred, the protagonist of the novel, uses language to reflect on her experiences and to try to make sense of the world around her. Her narration is often poetic and evocative, and it reveals her deep intelligence and sensitivity.

Atwood's use of language in The Handmaid's Tale is one of the things that makes the novel so powerful and thought-provoking. It is a reminder that language can be used to both oppress and liberate.

The use of symbolism and imagery

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is a novel that is rich in symbolism and imagery. Atwood uses these literary devices to create a vivid and unsettling portrait of a dystopian future where women are oppressed and dehumanized.

One of the most important symbols in the novel is the color red. Red is the color of the Handmaids' dresses, and it represents a variety of things, including fertility, menstruation, and blood. Red can also be seen as a symbol of oppression and violence.

Another important symbol in the novel is the eye. The eye is the symbol of the Eyes, the secret police of Gilead. The Eyes are everywhere, and they watch everyone. This creates a climate of fear and paranoia in society.

Other symbols in the novel include:

The white wings that the Handmaids wear on their heads: These wings symbolize the Handmaids' purity and their subservience to men.
The black wings that the Aunts wear on their heads: These wings symbolize the Aunts' authority and their role in enforcing the regime's oppressive policies.
The Wall: The Wall is a physical and symbolic barrier that separates Gilead from the rest of the world. It represents the regime's isolationism and its desire to control all aspects of people's lives.

Atwood also uses imagery to create a vivid and unsettling portrait of Gilead. For example, she describes the Handmaids' dresses as being "the color of blood, whether arterial, venous, or menstrual." This imagery is both shocking and disturbing, and it conveys the violence and oppression that the Handmaids are subjected to.

Another example of Atwood's use of imagery is her description of the Eyes. She describes them as having "eyes like fish" and as being "everywhere." This imagery creates a sense of unease and paranoia, and it conveys the ever-present threat of surveillance and punishment in Gilead.

Atwood's use of symbolism and imagery in The Handmaid's Tale is one of the things that makes the novel so powerful and thought-provoking. These literary devices help to create a vivid and unsettling portrait of a dystopian future where women are oppressed and dehumanized.

Here are some additional thoughts on the use of symbolism and imagery in The Handmaid's Tale:

Atwood often uses contrasting imagery to highlight the hypocrisy and injustice of Gilead's society. For example, she contrasts the beauty of nature with the ugliness of the regime's violence and oppression.
Atwood also uses symbolism to explore the themes of identity, resistance, and hope. For example, the Handmaids' red dresses can be seen as a symbol of both their oppression and their resistance.
Atwood's use of symbolism and imagery in The Handmaid's Tale is both complex and nuanced. She uses these literary devices to create a vivid and thought-provoking portrait of a dystopian future.

The development of the protagonist, Offred

Offred, the protagonist of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, undergoes a significant development throughout the course of the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Offred is a passive and obedient Handmaid. She has been stripped of her identity and her humanity, and she has learned to submit to the will of the regime.

However, as the novel progresses, Offred begins to rebel against the regime. She develops a sense of self-awareness and a desire for freedom. She also begins to form relationships with other Handmaids, and she learns to trust and rely on them.

One of the key factors in Offred's development is her relationship with Moira, another Handmaid. Moira is a rebellious and independent woman, and she challenges Offred to think for herself and to question the regime. Moira also helps Offred to see that she is not alone, and that there are other people who are resisting the regime.

Another key factor in Offred's development is her relationship with Nick, the Commander's driver. Nick is a kind and compassionate man, and he helps Offred to feel like a human being again. He also helps her to see that there is still hope in the world, even in the face of oppression.

By the end of the novel, Offred has become a strong and independent woman. She has learned to resist the regime and to fight for her freedom. She has also learned to love and trust others.

Here are some specific examples of Offred's development throughout the novel:

In the beginning of the novel, Offred is passive and obedient. She does not question the regime or its policies. For example, she accepts the fact that she is not allowed to read or write, and she does not resist when she is forced to participate in the Ceremony.
However, as the novel progresses, Offred begins to rebel against the regime. For example, she starts to read the Bible in secret, and she begins to form a relationship with Nick.
Offred also begins to develop a sense of self-awareness and a desire for freedom. She starts to think about her past and her family, and she begins to imagine a future where she is free.
By the end of the novel, Offred has become a strong and independent woman. She has learned to resist the regime and to fight for her freedom. She has also learned to love and trust others.

Offred's development is one of the most important and inspiring aspects of The Handmaid's Tale. She is a woman who refuses to be broken by oppression. She is a symbol of hope and resilience.

The relationship between Offred and the other Handmaids
The relationship between Offred and the other Handmaids in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, the Handmaids are united by their shared experiences of oppression and trauma. They are all victims of the Gilead regime, and they all face the same dangers and challenges.

On the other hand, the Handmaids are also individuals, and they have different personalities, experiences, and motivations. This can lead to conflict and tension within the group. For example, some of the Handmaids are more submissive and obedient than others, and some are more rebellious and defiant.

Despite their differences, the Handmaids are ultimately bound together by their shared humanity and their desire for freedom. They learn to trust and rely on each other, and they form strong bonds of friendship and solidarity.

Here are some specific examples of the relationship between Offred and the other Handmaids:

Offred's relationship with Moira is one of the most important relationships in the novel. Moira is a rebellious and independent woman, and she challenges Offred to think for herself and to question the regime. Moira also helps Offred to see that she is not alone, and that there are other people who are resisting the regime.
Offred also has close relationships with other Handmaids, such as Ofglen and Janine. These relationships provide Offred with emotional support and companionship. They also help her to learn more about the regime and its inner workings.
The Handmaids also form a secret resistance movement. This movement is designed to undermine the regime and to help the Handmaids to escape. The resistance movement shows the power of solidarity and the importance of working together to achieve common goals.

The relationship between Offred and the other Handmaids is one of the most important themes in The Handmaid's Tale. It shows the importance of community and solidarity in the face of oppression. It also shows the power of the human spirit to resist and overcome even the most difficult circumstances.

The ways in which the novel can be read as a feminist critique of society

Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful feminist critique of society. The novel is set in a dystopian future where women are oppressed and dehumanized. This oppression is justified by religious dogma, but it is clear that the novel is a warning about the dangers of sexism and misogyny.

Here are some of the ways in which The Handmaid's Tale can be read as a feminist critique of society:

The novel shows how sexism and misogyny can lead to violence and oppression. The Handmaids are subjected to physical and emotional abuse, and they are denied basic human rights.
The novel also shows how sexism and misogyny can be used to control women's bodies and their fertility. The Handmaids are forced to bear children for the Commanders and their wives, even if they do not want to.
The novel also explores the ways in which sexism and misogyny can be used to silence and marginalize women. The Handmaids are not allowed to speak out against their oppression, and they are constantly monitored and controlled.

Atwood's novel is a powerful reminder that sexism and misogyny are still serious problems in our society. It is a warning about the dangers of complacency and the importance of fighting for women's rights.

In addition to the above, here are some specific examples of how The Handmaid's Tale can be read as a feminist critique of society:

The novel's use of language is highly symbolic and often highlights the ways in which women are objectified and dehumanized in a patriarchal society. For example, the Handmaids are referred to by their Commander's name, followed by the prefix "Of," which reduces them to their reproductive function.
The novel also explores the ways in which women are often pitted against each other in a patriarchal society. For example, the Handmaids are forced to compete for the Commander's attention, and they are often jealous and suspicious of each other.
However, the novel also shows the power of female solidarity. The Handmaids form a secret resistance movement, and they support each other through their shared experiences of oppression.

The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful feminist critique of society that remains relevant today. It is a warning about the dangers of sexism and misogyny, and it is a reminder of the importance of fighting for women's rights.