The Role Of Women In The Handmaid's Tale?

In today’s news we see many disruptions and inconsistencies in society, and, according to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, humankind might be headed in that direction. The deterioration of society is a concept often explored biologically in novels, but less common, is the effect on everyday social constructs such as the position of women as a item that can be distributed and traded-in for a ‘better’ product. The Handmaid’s Tale elaborates the concept that, as societal discrimination towards women intensifies, gender equality deteriorates and certain aspects of societal freedoms are lost. Offred’s experience with serving Gilead demonstrates a victim’s perspective and shows how the occurring changes develope the Republic.

Control dominates all aspects of Gileadian society, from minor, seemingly petty normalities such as the clothes allowed, all the way up to how and who to have sexual relations with. Unimaginable in this day, Atwood represents modern society gone sour, something which is chillingly

The way the authority communicate to them, influences the individual on the way they act upon or believe in things. The authority in the Novel uses this concept of communication to the people so that they will obey them and to scare them. The government uses theocracy language to manipulate and pervade the use of God and the Bible. One of the most common example of phrase that the language of the society in Gilead uses is “Under his eye”. This means that they are being watched by the eye of God or the authority which gives them the feeling of being careful with their about their actions and their speech. Another example that they use in theocracy language is what Aunt Lydia always says. As stated in the book, “She pretended to do all that love-the-sinner, hate-the-sin stuff, but she enjoyed it,” (Atwood 248). Although the tone of the author’s voice indicates irritation and madness. They uses a nice language saying “Love the sinner” or love the person who did something bad. This shows the goodness of god to which it means that they might have done something so terrible, but people should love them, because they know that God will always forgive

After the United States becomes Gilead, many aspects of society change. In a sense the society travels back in time, erasing the strides feminists had fought to obtain. Offred arrives to work as usual and is told that it is against the law for women to work. They now have to

In The Handmaid's Tale by Margret Atwood, the Republic of Gilead was formed on extreme religious views. In Gilead, the laws and regulations set in place, are pulled and manipulated from the Bible. The authority the Bible already had before the reign of Gilead, had become even more powerful. Small, fragmented pieces of Biblical text appear often throughout the novel to help enforce this strict new rule of Gilead.

• POINT : With the use of tropology,in The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood not only demonstrates class conflict between different genders but also within the same gender. • PROOF:“To the left, the double doors to the dining room are folded back, and inside I can see the long table, covered with a white cloth and spread with a buffet: ham, cheese, oranges – they have oranges! -and fresh-baked breads. As for us, we’ll get milk and sandwiches, on a tray, later.”

The strict religious fundamentalist government of Gilead is a shocking resemblance to “the ‘strict theocracy’ of the ‘fundamentalist government’ of the United States’ puritan founding fathers” (Neuman 138). This former operation of government involved white males having a strict grip over the rest of society, particularly women. Society has always functioned in this way, in the sense that men have always ruled women. The Gileadean society is not radically different from the Western world as it once was, and how many places in the world that still are today, specifically in the Middle East. Women as they have always been “are two legged wombs. That’s all” (Atwood 157). Margaret Atwood is widely known as a feminist writer, saying she is “an observer of society? Yes! And no one who observes society can fail to make observations that are feminist. That just is… common sense” (Jamkhandi, 5. Quoted in Neuman 139), and 'if practical, hardline, anti-male feminists took over

Fear is power. Fear is ever-present in Gilead; it is implemented through violence and force. It is through fear that the regime controls the Gileadian society. There is no way Offred, or the other Handmaids can avoid it. What used to be Harvard University, a

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.” With these example one can see how the leaders of Gilead justify the social roles, they have put into place, according to the Bible giving them biblical significance. A perfect passage for explaining what the extremists thought they would be accomplishing through this control “For the generations that come after, Aunt Lydia said, it will be so much better. The women will live in harmony together, all in one family; you will be like daughters to them, and when the population level is up to scratch again we’ll no longer have to transfer you from one house to another because there will be enough to go round. There can be bonds

Its official vocabulary incorporates religious terminology and references to the bible. House servants are Marthas in reference to the woman who helped Jesus in the New Testament; the local police are "Guardians of the Faith", the soldiers are "Angels", and the Commanders are officially "Commanders of the Faithful." The stores have biblical names like All Flesh, Milk and Honey Loaves and Fishes. Even the cars have biblical names like Behemoth, Whirlwind, and Chariot. Using religious terminology to describe people, ranks, and businesses blinds people and makes their society seem holy. It provides a constant reminder that the founders of Gilead insist they act on the authority of the Bible.

Paradise Lost by John Milton thrives off the implicit and explicit aspects of Hell offered by the narrator and the physical and psychological descriptions offered by various characters. Their separate perspectives coincide to expose the intentions of Milton and the purpose Hell serves in this epic poem. Each character adds a new element to the physical and psychological development of this alternative world. The narrator and Satan provide the greatest insight into the dynamics of this underworld by attempting to redress the issues of accommodation.

Through the use of language, Gilead is able to deprive individuals of their humanity through different use of words that strengthen the social assumptions and responsibilities that women are required to accomplish. While Gilead uses the language to allocate the social roles and the identities through their marks, the patriarchal country also influences the literature to apply their beliefs. For instance, the Biblical text is used and built to advocate the order of law-women are not authorized to read. This is disclosed when the Offred recalls how Aunt Lydia once used the Biblical phrase, “Blessed are the meek” to declare the women's position in the community, she also indicate that how Aunt Lydia excludes the residue of the phrase, which says that the submissive shall inherit the earth (Atwood 64). However, because women are not permitted to read, they are not able to perceive for sure the real Biblical quotes from these changed forms, and are forced to obtain the false beliefs applied on them through these pragmatic Biblical

The Christian ties do not cease with the titles and ranks of those within Gilead, but instead seep into every societal existence. All of the stores have biblical names: Loaves and Fishes, All Flesh, Milk and Honey. Even the automobiles have biblical names like Behemoth, Whirlwind, and Chariot. Utilizing religious terminology as descriptors of people, ranks, and businesses, Atwood illustrates the cover-up of political chicanery through reverent language. It provides an omniscient reminder that Gilead’s founders consistently act on the authority of the Bible itself and root all aspects of the Republic deep within Christianity. Politics and religion sleep in the same bed in Gilead making their slogan “God is a National Resource” a clarion call.

Written during a time where women were seen as inferior to men, Milton’s Paradise Lost presents a view of women that could be described as proto-feminist and advanced for its time. During the 17th century, the stereotypical women lived as “either obedient as ‘Milton Mother’ or disobedient and wanton if they neglect[ed] their responsibilities as wife, which [signified] submissiveness and motherhood” (qtd. in Wang 4). Some scholars argue that Milton used this predominant viewpoint of his time in Paradise Lost; Sandra Gilbert (1978) writes that the poem is “satiated with the discourse of male supremacy, which perpetuates the gender stereotypes of women in a society characterized by the practice of male governance”. On initial reading of this epic poem, the concerns of the scholars about Eve’s portrayal appear justified. After all, the main character of Eve reflects the regressive religious views and dogma of Milton’s times n that she appears to represent a patriarchal ideal of womanhood without identity and trained to be obedient to Adam. Yet, on deeper evaluation of the poem, a more complex image of Eve emerges. The reader begins to realize that Milton’s version of Eve actually goes against the prevailing sexist perspectives of his times to describe a proto-feminist version of Eve who is strong, independent, honorable and capable of autonomous action.

The Republic of Gilead is a theocracy: a government in which there is no separation between state and religion. The biblical language is ever present throughout the official language of the government. Domestic servants are called “Martha's” in reference to a domestic character in the New Testament; the local police are “Guardians of the Faith”; soldiers are “Angels”; and the Commanders are officially “Commanders of the Faithful.” Using religious terminology to describe people, ranks, and businesses provides an obvious reminder that the founders of Gilead insist they act on the authority of the Bible itself.