Definitions
Definitions
Gilead
A fictional, dystopian society where the events of 'The Handmaid's Tale' take place, characterized by a totalitarian regime and a strong emphasis on traditional values.
Handmaid
A class of women in 'The Handmaid's Tale' whose primary function is to bear children for elite couples who cannot conceive.
Dystopia
An imagined society where there is great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic.
Setting and Society of 'The Handmaid's Tale'
The novel is set in the Republic of Gilead, a theocratic and totalitarian society that has overthrown the United States government. In Gilead, strict social and religious hierarchies control every aspect of life. Women have lost their rights and are subjugated to various roles designed to strip away their autonomy. Fundamentalist beliefs rule both the public and private lives, supposedly to counteract societal ills and preserve humanity.
The Role and Lives of Handmaids
Handmaids are women whose sole duty is to produce children for couples that belong to the higher echelons of Gileadean society. Stripped of their previous identities, they are renamed after the 'Commanders' they serve—losing their personal names is a symbolic suppression of self. Handmaids undergo rigorous control and live under constant surveillance. Their appearance, whereabouts, and interactions are strictly regulated. Offred, the protagonist, provides a window into the harsh realities and inner turmoil faced by the Handmaids.
Major Themes in 'The Handmaid's Tale'
Power and Control
The society of Gilead is structured around the acquisition and retention of power. The government consolidates this power by controlling every facet of life, from the personal to the political. The subjugation of women is a tool to maintain societal order and disguise state failure. This control is enforced through language, legislation, and brute force.
Identity and Autonomy
Throughout 'The Handmaid's Tale,' women's identities are systematically erased by reducing them to mere functional roles. Offred’s struggle to retain her sense of self and her memories highlights the human need for self-determination. The loss of identity underpins the novel's exploration of autonomy as a fundamental human right.
The Narrative Structure and Style
Told through the perspective of Offred, the novel uses a first-person narrative to immerse the reader in her thoughts, emotions, and daily experiences. This narrative style creates an intimate connection between Offred and the reader, emphasizing her isolation and desire for rebellion. Flashbacks interwoven with the present reveal the contrast between her past freedoms and current oppression.
To remember :
In 'The Handmaid's Tale', Margaret Atwood crafts a thought-provoking narrative of power and women’s rights through the oppressive regime of Gilead. By assigning the Handmaids as a central role, the novel addresses issues such as autonomy and identity in a dystopian context. The story emphasizes the use of control, whether by language, identity manipulation, or systemic hierarchy, to maintain a dystopian societal structure. Offred’s account and her struggles bring to light not just the impact of these themes on an individual level, but also serve as a cautionary tale of losing vigilance over personal freedoms. At the core, the novel underscores the resilience of the human spirit amidst tyranny.
