Annotated Bibliography
Atwood, M. (2017) Margaret Atwood on What ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Means in the Age of Trump . The New York Times, Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/books/review/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-age-of-trump.html
The above article is written by the Margaret Atwood as she tries to provide an explanation of her thoughts in the writing of the novel “ The Handmaid’s Tale ”. The description shows that the author greatly believed that natural order could be completely erased based on her experience of the World War II. In this regard, democracy could become nonexistent while dictatorship came to the fore, there was no separation between the state and the church, people were merely surviving in society, and the rights of women could be eradicated at a moment’s notice. The premise was to ensure the novel provides a prediction of the future in a dystopian society that had little consideration of major historical events or technological changes. The recent American elections have called upon the coming of age of this novel which seems to demonstrate possibility that basic civil liberties are threatened among them the rights of women. The divisive climate of the society is what the author believes could have been the cause of a dystopian society as depicted in the novel.
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Dopp, J. (1994). Subject-Position as Victim-Position in The Handmaid's Tale. Studies in Canadian Literature, 19 (1).
The above article is another review of the novel “ The Handmaid’s Tale ” as Dopp attempts to identify the thematic construct evidence in the text. The author notes that the novel takes a feminist approach in depicting the struggles of women in society as they have been excluded in history. As a result, the failure to address gender differences in the society would lead to potential reverting to the historical times where a patriarchal system of governance and complete dictatorship as the constitution and democratic rules are eradicated. The article analyzes the victim position of the main character who identifies this as an effect of fate, will of God, decree of history, biology, or any other powerful idea of influence. There are an additional four victim positions presented that in the novel whereby resistance seems to non existent in the dystopian society.
Hammer, S. B. (1990). The World as It will Be? Female Satire and the Technology of Power in" The Handmaid's Tale". Modern Language Studies, 20 (2): 39-49.
The above review of the novel indicates the satirical nature of the novel in its use of a dystopian setting. There are numerous thematic features that highlight the traditional satire as used in the novel. The author recognizes the gender struggles of women as a significant indicator where the patriarchal society seems to take over everything that women can do even with their bodies. The use of a static or non-progressive plot is another indicator of satire where the society in the novel barely experiences significant change as though members are in a mode of survival. The political target is also evident in the story as the evangelical Christian fundamentalism is used as a measure of enforcing the oppressive rules in the society.
Miner, M. (1991). " Trust Me": Reading the Romance Plot in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Twentieth Century Literature, 37 (2), 148-168.
Miner’s review of “ The Handmaid’s Tale ” is a clear focus on the romantic aspect of the story as it affects women in the society. It is evident that women engage in romantic relationships in the story at an earlier period prior to the establishment of the Gilead society. After this dictatorial society is formed, it is evident that the men are above the law as they can have their way with women as seen where Offred anticipates every summoning by the Commander to be an invitation to engage in some kind of forbidden sexual activity. It is forbidden as the new society is ruled by biblical which the men continue to disobey. The intention the Gilead is to ensure a low birthrate meaning that the men have control over the reproductive capability of the women. Inability of a woman to conceive is depicted as “unwomanly” and results in being sent to clean up toxic waste and radiation spills.
Introduction
Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale published in 1986 discussed a dystopian society of the future that has taken over the US democratic government and is now referred to as Gilead. The nation is run by totalitarian leaders who claim to have taken over power only temporarily and use the Christian bible to establish their laws and regulations. Scholars have taken different perspectives on the novel since it was first published. However, my research takes primary focus on the issues surrounding the control of women as evidenced by many world governments. By illuminating the thematic evidence of the tyrannical rules the Gilead imposed on a fallen United States that the protagonist, Offred, undergoes, Atwood emphasizes the horrifying nature of religious language, gender roles, identity, and complacency has on dehumanizing all women by dictating what she can or cannot do.
Religious Language
Atwood’s depiction of the Gileadean governance demonstrates the use of language that although incorporates religious beliefs ignores the reality to serve the needs of the elite members of society leading to dehumanization and moral compromise. The women in the new society have been forced to leave their husbands to go and serve the rulers as handmaids. Offred the main character is seen to be disgusted by the nature of society created pointing out, “ I don't believe for an instant that what's going on out there is what You meant…. I suppose I should say I forgive whoever did this, and whatever they’re doing now. I’ll try, but it isn’t easy. ” She clearly seems to be bewildered that the new society could enforce such laws that demean women to that extent. Atwood’s essay on the New York times also highlights, “ The modesty costumes worn by the women of Gilead are derived from Western religious iconography — the Wives wear the blue of purity, from the Virgin Mary; the Handmaids wear red, from the blood of parturition, but also from Mary Magdalene. ” This depiction is a clear indicator that the basis of the novel was to utilize religious beliefs as a measure of depriving them of their civil liberties
Gender Roles
Atwood shows the horrifying nature of the gender roles that are a primary part of the totalitarian government that imposes oppressive measures on women. There is a clear difference between the men and women in society. The former are able to enjoy life almost normaly other than the few who are not members of the elite society. The latter are barely capable of controlling their won bodies, whereby Offred wishes she is just telling a storry so that she can control how it ends. She states, “I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it. Those who can believe that such stories are only stories have a better chance. If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending. Then there will be an ending, to the story, and real life will come after it. I can pick up where I left off. ” The primary hope is that the oppression of the female gender is more than one can fathom. Atwood recognizes that even in the previous patriarchal systems of society, “ The control of women and babies has been a feature of every repressive regime on the planet. Napoleon and his “cannon fodder,” slavery and its ever-renewed human merchandise — they both fit in here. Of those promoting enforced childbirth, it should be asked: Cui bono? Who profits by it? Sometimes this sector, sometimes that. Never no one. ” The women are treated like less than humans gravely compromising the moral standing of the society.
Individual Identity
Atwood also shows the dehumanization and moral compromise of the Gileadean rulers by completely eradicating self identity among its women. Throughout the novel readers are actively attempting to identify the name of the protagonist. The one used, Offred, completely eradicates the identity she had prior to her captivity as a handmaid. “I used to think of my body as an instrument, of pleasure, or a means of transportation, or an implement for the accomplishment of my will . . . Now the flesh arranges itself differently. I’m a cloud, congealed around a central object, the shape of a pear, which is hard and more real than I am and glows red within its translucent wrapping. ” The individual woman has lost all form of identity as she no longer has control even over her own body in this society. Furthermor, failure to identify even the negative ills committed by the men in society is a gross indicator of the dehumanization of women as they lose their identity. “ The Handmaids sit in a circle, with the Taser-equipped Aunts forcing them to join in what is now called (but was not, in 1984) the “slut-shaming” of one of their number, Jeanine, who is being made to recount how she was gang-raped as a teenager. Her fault, she led them on — that is the chant of the other Handmaids ” . The practice of “slut-shaming” compromises the moral standing of the society on its religious foundations.
Complacency
Atwood also shows the dehumanization and moral compromise of the society be describing the slow but sure process enabled by the complacency of the people. Members of the society are barely willing to engage in active protests against the new regime. One of the Aunt’s who control the handmaids identify to the new captives, “Ordinary, said Aunt Lydia, is what you are used to. This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary. ” The complacency in the society deprives all members of the civil liberties that were once the case in a democratic United States. Furthermore, “ s ome of the controlling Aunts are true believers, and think they are doing the Handmaids a favor: At least they haven’t been sent to clean up toxic waste, and at least in this brave new world they won’t get raped, not as such, not by strangers. ” Once the members begin to believe that they are helping the people they oppress, it is clear dehumanization of women will continue on for a long time and the society will continue to compromise its moral standing.
Conclusion
“ The Handmaid’s Tale ” by Margaret Atwood is a descriptive novel of a dystopian society that has abolished all forms of democratic governance. It is evident that the major victims of the of the tyrannical rules the Gilead imposed as seen in the narration of the life of the protagonist, Offred, who undergoes the horrific nature of the religion, gender oppression, loss of identity, forced to become a complacent member of society leading to the dehumanization of all women and compromising the moral standing of the society.
References
Atwood, M. (2017) Margaret Atwood on What ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Means in the Age of Trump . The New York Times, Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/books/review/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-age-of-trump.html
Dopp, J. (1994). Subject-Position as Victim-Position in The Handmaid's Tale. Studies in Canadian Literature, 19 (1).
Hammer, S. B. (1990). The World as It will Be? Female Satire and the Technology of Power in" The Handmaid's Tale". Modern Language Studies, 20 (2): 39-49.
Miner, M. (1991). " Trust Me": Reading the Romance Plot in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Twentieth Century Literature, 37 (2), 148-168.
