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

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

The historical and cultural context of the novel

Margaret Atwood began writing The Handmaid's Tale in 1981, and it was published in 1985. The novel is set in a dystopian future in New England, where a group of Christian fundamentalists have overthrown the government and established a totalitarian regime called Gilead. In Gilead, women are stripped of their rights and are forced to conform to strict religious and social roles.

Atwood was inspired to write The Handmaid's Tale by a number of historical and cultural events, including:

The rise of the religious right in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Iranian Revolution of 1979, which led to the establishment of a theocratic regime in Iran.
The Holocaust, which showed the dangers of totalitarianism and genocide.
The history of women's oppression in patriarchal societies.

Atwood has also said that she was influenced by a number of literary works, such as George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.

The historical and cultural context of The Handmaid's Tale is important to understand because it helps us to understand the novel's themes and Atwood's purpose in writing it. The novel is a warning about the dangers of religious extremism, totalitarianism, and the oppression of women.

Here are some specific examples of how the historical and cultural context of The Handmaid's Tale is reflected in the novel:

The religious extremism of Gilead is similar to the religious extremism of the Puritans, who founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century.
The totalitarian regime of Gilead is similar to the totalitarian regimes of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
The oppression of women in Gilead is similar to the oppression of women in many traditional patriarchal societies.

Atwood has said that she wanted to write a novel that would be "believable even though it was horrifying." She wanted to create a dystopian future that was imaginable based on events and trends that were happening in the world at the time.

The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful and disturbing novel that remains relevant today. It is a warning about the dangers of religious extremism, totalitarianism, and the oppression of women.

The novel's religious and political themes

The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel that explores the dangers of religious extremism and totalitarianism. The novel is set in a future New England, where a group of Christian fundamentalists have overthrown the government and established a totalitarian regime called Gilead. In Gilead, women are stripped of their rights and are forced to conform to strict religious and social roles.

The novel's religious and political themes are complex and intertwined. On the one hand, the novel is a critique of religious extremism and the way in which religion can be used to justify violence and oppression. On the other hand, the novel is also a meditation on the power of faith and the role that religion can play in people's lives, even in the darkest of times.

Here are some specific examples of how the novel's religious and political themes are explored:

The Handmaids are forced to wear red dresses and white wings, which are symbolic of their fertility and their role as reproducers. This symbolizes the way in which the Gileadean government views women as property and tools to be used for reproduction.
The Handmaids are forced to participate in a monthly ceremony in which they attempt to conceive a child with the Commander. This ceremony is a perversion of religion and is used to justify the subjugation of women.
The Eyes are a secret police force that enforces the Gileadean government's laws. The Eyes are often shown to be corrupt and brutal, and they use their power to terrorize the population.
The Wall is a literal and symbolic barrier that separates the Gileadean government from the outside world. The Wall symbolizes the isolation and oppression of the Gileadean people.

The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful novel that explores the dangers of religious extremism and totalitarianism. It is also a novel about the power of faith, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of fighting for freedom.

In addition to the themes of religious extremism and totalitarianism, The Handmaid's Tale also explores other political themes, such as:

Theocracy and religious fundamentalism.
The oppression of women and other marginalized groups.
Environmental destruction.
The surveillance state.
The importance of resistance.

The Handmaid's Tale is a complex and thought-provoking novel that remains relevant today. It is a warning about the dangers of religious extremism, totalitarianism, and the oppression of women. It is also a reminder of the importance of fighting for freedom and democracy.

The novel's feminist and gender studies themes

The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful feminist novel that examines the oppression of women in patriarchal societies. The novel is set in a dystopian future New England, where a group of Christian fundamentalists have overthrown the government and established a totalitarian regime called Gilead. In Gilead, women are stripped of their rights and are forced to conform to strict religious and social roles.

The novel's feminist and gender studies themes are complex and multifaceted. Atwood explores a wide range of issues related to women's oppression, including:

The objectification and sexualization of women's bodies.
The denial of women's autonomy and self-determination.
The use of violence and coercion to control women.
The silencing and suppression of women's voices.
The complicity of women in their own oppression.

Atwood also explores the ways in which women resist oppression and find hope in the midst of darkness. Through the character of Offred, Atwood shows that even in the most oppressive societies, women can find ways to assert their agency and fight for their freedom.

Here are some specific examples of how the novel's feminist and gender studies themes are explored:

The Handmaids are forced to wear red dresses and white wings, which are symbolic of their fertility and their role as reproducers. This symbolizes the way in which the Gileadean government views women as property and tools to be used for reproduction.
The Handmaids are forced to participate in a monthly ceremony in which they attempt to conceive a child with the Commander. This ceremony is a perversion of religion and is used to justify the subjugation of women.
The Aunts are women who have been entrusted with the task of training and overseeing the Handmaids. The Aunts are often shown to be cruel and sadistic, and they use their power to terrorize the Handmaids.
The Marthas are women who serve as household servants in the Commander's household. The Marthas are often shown to be resentful and bitter, and they often take their anger out on the Handmaids.
Offred is a Handmaid who is trying to survive in Gilead while also searching for her lost daughter. Offred is a complex and contradictory character, but she is ultimately a symbol of hope and resistance.

The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful and disturbing novel that remains relevant today. It is a warning about the dangers of religious extremism, totalitarianism, and the oppression of women. It is also a novel about the power of faith, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of fighting for freedom.

The novel's feminist and gender studies themes have been widely explored by scholars and critics. Some of the key themes that have been identified include:

The relationship between patriarchy and religious fundamentalism.
The use of language to control and oppress women.
The importance of female solidarity and resistance.
The complex and contradictory nature of womanhood.

The Handmaid's Tale is a complex and thought-provoking novel that continues to challenge and inspire readers today.

The novel's literary and stylistic elements

Margaret Atwood is a master of literary and stylistic elements, and The Handmaid's Tale is no exception. The novel is beautifully written and uses a variety of techniques to create a vivid and immersive world for the reader.

Here are some of the key literary and stylistic elements that Atwood uses in The Handmaid's Tale:

Point of view: The novel is told from the first-person perspective of Offred, a Handmaid in Gilead. This allows the reader to experience the world of Gilead through Offred's eyes and to understand her thoughts and feelings in a deeply personal way.
Symbolism: Atwood uses symbolism extensively throughout the novel. For example, the red dresses worn by the Handmaids symbolize their fertility and their role as reproducers. The white wings worn by the Angels symbolize their purity and their status as enforcers of the Gileadean government's laws.
Imagery: Atwood's imagery is vivid and evocative. She uses sensory details to bring the world of Gilead to life for the reader. For example, she describes the "sour smell of sweat and fear" in the Red Center, where the Handmaids are trained, and the "hot, sweet smell of blood" in the Commander's house.
Language: Atwood's language is precise and controlled. She uses a variety of literary devices, such as alliteration, assonance, and metaphor, to create a unique and memorable style. For example, she describes the Eyes as "the men with eyes that see all" and the Wall as "a wound in the world."

Atwood also uses a number of other literary and stylistic elements in The Handmaid's Tale, such as:

Flashback: Atwood uses flashbacks to reveal Offred's past life and to show how Gilead has changed the world.
Foreshadowing: Atwood uses foreshadowing to hint at future events and to create suspense.
Irony: Atwood uses irony to highlight the absurdity and hypocrisy of Gilead.
Humor: Atwood uses humor sparingly, but to great effect. Her humor is often dark and ironic, and it helps to highlight the absurdity of Gilead.

Atwood's masterful use of literary and stylistic elements makes The Handmaid's Tale a complex and rewarding novel to read. The novel is both challenging and thought-provoking, and it stays with the reader long after they have finished reading it.

The Handmaid's Tale has been praised by critics for its literary and stylistic merits. The novel has won numerous awards, including the Booker Prize and the Arthur C. Clarke Award. It has also been adapted into a successful television series.

The Handmaid's Tale is a classic of modern literature, and it continues to be relevant and resonant today. It is a warning about the dangers of religious extremism, totalitarianism, and the oppression of women. It is also a novel about the power of faith, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of fighting for freedom.

The novel's critical reception and legacy

The Handmaid's Tale was met with critical acclaim upon its publication in 1985. It won the Booker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and the Governor General's Literary Award. It has since been translated into over 40 languages and has sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

The novel has been praised by critics for its powerful and disturbing themes, its complex and well-developed characters, and its masterful use of literary and stylistic elements. Critics have also noted the novel's relevance to contemporary issues such as the rise of religious extremism, the oppression of women, and the surveillance state.

The Handmaid's Tale has also been adapted into a successful television series, which premiered in 2017. The series has won numerous awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series — Drama and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

The novel's legacy is significant. It is considered to be one of the most important and influential feminist novels of all time. It has also been praised as a warning about the dangers of religious extremism, totalitarianism, and the oppression of women.

The Handmaid's Tale continues to be relevant and resonant today. It is a powerful and disturbing novel that stays with the reader long after they have finished reading it.

Here are some examples of the novel's critical reception and legacy:

In a review for The New York Times, John Updike wrote that The Handmaid's Taleis "a novel that haunts the mind."
In a review for The Washington Post, Michiko Kakutani wrote that The Handmaid's Taleis "the most popular and influential feminist novel ever written."
In a review for The Guardian, Ursula K. Le Guin wrote that The Handmaid's Taleis "a novel of great power and importance."
The Handmaid's Talehas been included in numerous lists of the best novels of all time, including Time magazine's list of the 100 Best Novels Written in English Since 1923 and the Modern Library's list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century.
The Handmaid's Talehas been adapted into a successful television series, which has won numerous awards and has been praised for its powerful and disturbing portrayal of the novel's themes.

The Handmaid's Tale is a classic of modern literature that continues to be relevant and resonant today. It is a warning about the dangers of religious extremism, totalitarianism, and the oppression of women. It is also a novel about the power of faith, the resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of fighting for freedom.

The character of Offred

Offred is the protagonist and narrator of Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale. She is a Handmaid in the totalitarian regime of Gilead, where women are stripped of their rights and forced to conform to strict religious and social roles.

Offred is a complex and contradictory character. She is intelligent, perceptive, and resourceful. She is also kind, compassionate, and resilient. However, she is also traumatized by her experiences in Gilead, and she often struggles to maintain hope and optimism.

Offred is a symbol of resistance and hope. She refuses to give up her identity or her dignity, even in the face of oppression. She also finds ways to connect with other women in Gilead and to build a sense of community.

Here are some of the key characteristics of Offred:

Intelligent and perceptive: Offred is a keen observer of the world around her. She is able to see through the hypocrisy and propaganda of Gilead.
Resourceful: Offred is resourceful and finds ways to survive in the harsh environment of Gilead. She also finds ways to subvert the system and to resist oppression.
Kind and compassionate: Offred is a kind and compassionate person. She cares about others and tries to help them whenever possible.
Resilient: Offred is a resilient person. She has survived many traumas, but she has not given up hope.

Offred is a complex and well-developed character. She is both a victim and a survivor. She is a symbol of resistance and hope in the face of oppression.

Offred's character has been praised by critics for its complexity and realism. She has been described as "one of the most memorable and important characters in modern literature."

The language of Gilead

The language of Gilead in Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale is a reflection of the totalitarian regime's values and ideology. It is a language that is used to control and oppress women, to promote religious extremism, and to create a sense of fear and paranoia.

Here are some of the key features of the language of Gilead:

Euphemisms: The Gileadean government uses euphemisms to obscure the reality of its oppression. For example, the Handmaids are called "breeders" or "vessels," and the rape that they are subjected to is called "the Ceremony."
Neologisms: The Gileadean government has created new words and phrases to reflect its ideology. For example, the word "unwoman" is used to describe women who are not subservient to men.
Biblical references: The Gileadean government uses biblical references to justify its policies and to create a sense of religious legitimacy. For example, the Handmaids are forced to wear red dresses, which are symbolic of the biblical whore Rahab.

The language of Gilead is also used to create a sense of isolation and division. The Handmaids are forbidden to speak to each other by name, and they are only allowed to speak to men in certain circumstances. This creates a sense of mistrust and suspicion among the Handmaids, and it makes it difficult for them to organize and resist oppression.

The language of Gilead is a powerful tool that the Gileadean government uses to control and oppress its citizens. It is a language that is designed to create a sense of fear and paranoia, and to make it difficult for people to think for themselves.

Atwood's use of the language of Gilead is one of the most striking and memorable aspects of the novel. It helps to create a sense of realism and authenticity, and it also serves to highlight the dangers of religious extremism and totalitarianism.

The language of Gilead has been praised by critics for its realism and its effectiveness in conveying the oppressive nature of the regime. It has also been noted that the language of Gilead is not entirely fictional, and that it has parallels in the language of real-world totalitarian regimes.

The language of Gilead is a reminder of the power of language to be used for good or for evil. It is also a warning about the dangers of allowing language to be used to control and oppress people.

The novel's symbolism

Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale is rich in symbolism. Atwood uses a variety of symbols to explore the novel's themes of religious extremism, totalitarianism, and the oppression of women.

Here are some of the key symbols in the novel:

Red dresses: The red dresses worn by the Handmaids symbolize their fertility and their role as reproducers. They also symbolize the Handmaids' lack of individuality and their status as property of the state.
White wings: The white wings worn by the Angels symbolize their purity and their status as enforcers of the Gileadean government's laws.
The Wall: The Wall that divides Gilead from the outside world symbolizes the regime's isolation and its suppression of dissent.
The Ceremony: The Ceremony is a ritual in which the Handmaids attempt to conceive a child with the Commander. The Ceremony is a perversion of religion and is used to justify the subjugation of women.
The Eyes: The Eyes are the secret police of Gilead. They spy on the citizens and report any signs of dissent. The Eyes symbolize the regime's paranoia and its suppression of freedom.

Atwood also uses a number of other symbols in the novel, such as flowers, food, and colors. For example, the red lilies that Offred sees in the Commander's garden symbolize her forbidden love for Nick. The food that Offred is served at the Commander's table symbolizes the regime's control over the Handmaids' bodies and their reproduction. The colors red, white, and black are used to symbolize the different aspects of Gilead's society.

Atwood's use of symbolism is one of the most striking and memorable aspects of the novel. It helps to create a sense of realism and authenticity, and it also serves to highlight the novel's themes.

The symbolism in The Handmaid's Tale has been praised by critics for its effectiveness in conveying the novel's message. It has also been noted that the symbolism in the novel is not entirely fictional, and that it has parallels in the symbolism of real-world totalitarian regimes.

The symbolism in The Handmaid's Tale is a reminder of the power of symbolism to convey complex ideas and emotions. It is also a warning about the dangers of allowing symbols to be used to control and oppress people.