The Handmaid's Tale- A Critical Analysis

The Handmaid's Tale

Thesis Statement

“Should the authors share their emotions with the readers or should they remain consistent and hopeful about their beliefs?”

“How did Offred (the narrator) manage to avoid becoming brainwashed by the rules of theocracy?”

Introduction

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's tale uncovers the basic issues of women in the society. Atwood has successfully established the idea of forced submission of women in a male dominated society. The novel is still famous among readers and critics alike. The Handmaid's Tale is regarded as the most famous novel by Margaret Atwood. The novel was published in 1985and became an instant bestseller. The Handmaid's tale is considered to be a work of science fiction or speculative fiction to say the least. The novel revolves around the ideas of “totalitarian theocracy” and how it affects the United States Government and its citizens (Stanners, 2004).

The basic plot of the novel revolves around historical events and the continuous objectification of women in modern society. It also covers the severe issues of extremism in ideologies among people. The novel is set in the future and hence presents the author with an opportunity to point out the various contradictions and ill practices evident in the society (Adami, 2011).

All in all, the Handmaid's Tale highlights the vital issues that remain unattended and are deliberately neglected by the society. Atwood points out the potential dangers that could arise due to growing sexism and religious fanaticism. The author also narrates how people interpret and use the Holy Bible for coercion, subjugation and limiting the rights of women. Atwood is convinced that a women's role in society has been confined to its biological features and nothing else. The biblical foundation between the Evangelical Christianity and New England Puritan's is believed to be parallel by the author (Miner, 1991).

Discussion

In the book, Atwood has pointed out various examples of the ongoing repression in the society. In her futuristic view, she believes that people could be under a constant surveillance and social control in the near future. She also talks about how society will be transformed and external control would regularize people's lives. Atwood has used elements of satire for social criticism (Bloom, 2001).

Although, in her view, men are also victims of the tyranny of the Gileadean order, her focuses continues to remain on the sufferings and persecution of women and the quality of their lives in a male dominant set up. It also gives an insight on the possible ways to resist male dominance i.e. acceptance, storytelling, flight, suicide etc. Hence, the use of language for the affirmation and manipulation is quite evident in the novel.

The Republic of Gilead is a fictional country; used by Atwood for the depiction of her thoughts and ideas. The imagined country is believed to be in the United States. Atwood has referred to the opposing religious groups as “guerillas”. They are the followers of the “New Testament”. The plot also includes a supposed catastrophe i.e. environmental condition, nuclear or biological ...