Gilead is a fundamental Christian state, in which a ruling elite took power via a coup d’etat following a terrorist massacre of a democratic government. Gileadian life is supposedly biblically based, however the reader quickly becomes aware that the bible is misquoted and manipulated, “Blessed are the silent.” Selective use is made of Christian values, “FAITH” as printed on the cushion is cherished, but “HOPE” and “CHARITY” are incongruent with Gileadian ethics and so are ignored.
It is not only biblical quotes that are perverted, Gilead is full of familiar slogans, “From each according to her ability, to each according to his needs.” This is particularly ironic, as Gilead advocates hierarchical, patriarchal structures and the phrase is originally a surmise of Marxism, the two being entirely theoretically opposed. Many societies have manipulated religion to influence people, and Gilead ensures success by prohibiting reading and controlling the media – an uneducated population being easier to control. The repetitive nature of the slogans, and the new vocabulary “prayvaganza” is reminiscent of modern marketing campaigns, the manipulation of profound sentiments as a use of rhetoric conveys a criticism of contemporary marketing and consumerism. This can be seen as a specific critique of American marketing which is often viewed as paicularly ruthless, especially in contrast to Canada, which is where Atwood is from. The reader is told that the regime has not spread as far as Canada, which is significant considering that Canada is a more liberal country. This may be a wider critique of American life suggesting America is full of extremes, which as Gilead proves, can be a very dangerous thing, this provides the undertones of Canadian – American dialogue within the novel.
As one of the most striking differences between Gilead and “the time before” the categorisation of people is also one of the most interesting. People are functionalised, colour coded accordingly, and frequently referred to by their function rather than by individual names. This is reflective of Gilead’s attitude, which does not value individual rights or freedoms, “freedom to”, rather they profess the importance of “freedom from”. However, Atwood reveals that rather than protecting people, women especially, their loss of liberty controls them. Women are not at risk from random rape attacks, rather rape is institutionalised, individual violence has ceased to exist, but the state practises torture. The balance between “freedom from” and “freedom to” is not only heavily weighted, the freedom froms are also illusional and just a masquerade for greater state control. The idea of a loss of identity is reaffirmed by the Handmaid’s names which are a …, women’s autonomy is denied, rather they are seen as the property of men. The premise of Gilead is of a system other than Capitalism, but we see that status is actually regimented in this society, and the definition of possessions has been broadened to include people.
Gilead has manipulated one of the demands of the Women’s movement for a “Woman’s culture” justifying it through its emphasis on motherhood. Greater appreciation of motherhood was an aspiration of the women’s movement although Gilead is in no way a feminist ideal. Thus, Gilead can be recognised as a warning of extreme opinions and the dangers of slogans, which are too easy to pervert. The fragmentation of women’s roles is supposedly in recognition of the many roles women had previously been expected to play. The co – operation between and within the different roles supposedly establishes notions of sisterhood, another feminist ideal, of women appreciating their role and helping each other “along the path of life”. Ironically, the categorisation of women serves to empower the state, as the women are set in statual conflict, for example wives and handmaids. Women are also used as enforcers of the regime, creating enmity between each other, for example the aunts. As a result Gilead rules by the most effective and oldest strategy, “divide and conquer”.
The presentation of Gilead is oppressive, repressive and brutal. The state rules by terror, Aunts wear “electric cattle prods”, deviation from the Gileadean theology is not tolerated. In the quest to deny both the freedom of expression and the right to individuality, unconformers are treated harshly. They are either sent to the Colonies, toxic slave camps reminiscent of those during the Holocaust where death was imminent, or shown as an example on the wall. The wall being an exhibition of those who had been executed by the state, the crimes vary from religious non-conformity to acts of homosexuality.
Gilead is also presented as deeply hypocritical. It dictates that biblical law is state law, and that the bible is to be read literally, but deviates from the bible in it policy. For example, in the biblical story of Mary and martha, it is Mary that Jesus praises but Gilead adopts Martha as the model for its women. Offred’s commander is one of the founding members of the regime, which prohibits publications of all types. However the Commander manages to retain copies of women’s magazines and his study is full of books, “an oasis of the forbidden”. The hypocrisy is highlighted most by the state run brothel, “Jezebels”. Although Gilead condemns promiscuity and preaches of the sanctity of marriage, the founders of the regime are unable to live such a puritanical life and so the elite is allowed “variation”.
One of the greatest paradoxes of the novel is that whilst Gilead is a futuristic state where “computalk” exists, many aspects of Gileadean life are reminiscent of Puritanical societies of the past. In fact, Gilead encourages study of puritanical history, which they believe justifies its claim that it is “ a return to nature’s norm”.
Gilead’s ideology is a backlash to all the civil rights movements that had been fighting for greater equality, it is a regimented and oppressive society in which back people and women find themselves pushed to the bottom of the social ladder. Atwood explicitly refers to totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia, asking the reader to question why such repressive societies are created. By drawing on other historical backlashes she emphasises the circularity of history and the importance of civil rights movements. The references to history remind the reader that whilst Gilead is an imaginary stare, it is not completely unrealistic, “Gilead’s genius was synthesis”. Gilead in a very amplified way also mirrors the backlash in the 80s against the feminist movement.
Gilead is a frightening example of a modern tyrannical regime. What is most interesting is that it exploits tensions present within our society, such as racial conflicts, to gain and maintain power. This is a warning to all of us about the dangers of all extreme ideologies, and the threat of complacency that allows repressive backlashes to occur. As Gilead reduces people to mere functions it is also a very impersonal society in which relationships are dictated and controlled. Atwood paints the deprivation of love as a cold and lonely picture, and so Gilead is also a reminder that the intimate and the domestic, the aspects of Offred's’ old life which she keeps returning to, and which are infinitely valuable.
“There is more than one type of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from.” Examine the quality of life for women in the light of Aunt Lydia’s statement, illustrating the methods used to “protect” women.
.
In this society women do not have great individual freedom, they do not have a lot of choice or control over their lives. That is not to say that there isn’t something valuable about being protected from the dangers of attack or assault. What we deduce about Gilean society is that women are not really protected from these things. Whiost women do not face the danger of being raped on the street by a stranger, women are forced into sex for procreation reasons. As proved by the commanders club and
Offred’s incident with the soldier women are still viewed as sex objects, in fact this may be the only power women have been left with which is contrary to the Gilead ethos.
One has to question many of the new “freedom from”s and ask whether these measures are designed to protect women, or whether they are devised to maintain order, an order which protects the power and control of men, who abuse women, and demean to the value of objects.
“A successful life for her was one that avoided things, excluded things.”
“It was my own fault. I led them on. I deserved the pain.”
Gilead I
The Gilead state is a reactionary and totalitarian regime. It is a backlash to all the gains that we today would consider progreesive. In response to terrorist attacks, Cjristian fundamentalists take power via a coup d’etat, under the guise of “protection” uintil new democratic elections could be held. These elections fail to materialize, and the people of Gilead are subjected to the new order through means of terror, torture and a policy of assasination.
Gilead is a patriachal, hierachial society, in which women find themselves at the bottom of the social ladder. They lose the most control of their lives, which is justified by them gaining safety. Gilead strives to “protect” women from the violence, abuse and rape that was rife in “the time before”.
Women are not allowed to chose what they wear, shapeless robes are prescribed which don’t flatter their figures, and prevent vanity. This is a way of controlling and surpressing women’s sexuality.
Neityer women nor men have sexual freedom within the new system, relationships of all kinds, including friendships are controlled and dictated. Promiscuity is considered a precursor of rape. This puritanical view of relationships bears much resemblance to many religious values from many different religions. Atwood paints the deprivation of love and sex as a cold and lonely picture, she asks the reader to question whether the suppression of such natural, basic emotional needs is healthy or rational. This is highlighted by the beautification of the natural world, namely flowers which are an old and common image of fertility. In Gilead, it is women who are particularly sexually suppressed, as men earn the right to a wife and a handmaid, whereas women are simply the rewards. Through the haunting narrative of loneliness and longiong, Atwood leads us to question why reactionary forces fell it so necessary to try and surpress sexuality. In the end, one concludes that it is only by surpressinng the most fundamental of our desires, the desire to be loved, and that includes the manifestations of that love, sex, that a society can exercise absolute control. In the novel, sexuality is equated with feedom.
Women have very limited movement within Gilead, they are watched everywhere they go, either by Gaurdians, Angels or Aunts. Careers are prohibited from women, they have to perform a function which contributes to the home. This is related to many religious beliefs, which teach that the role of the woman is in the home. It is also about control, if women are permitted independence then they will strive for other freedom as well, One has to sever all independace in order to gain control, and submissiveness.
The tasks within the home are divided into three categories; Wives, Marthas and handmaids. Wives are mothers and wives, they have the relationships, with both children and husband. Marthas are designated the housekeeping, specifically the cooking and cleaning. Handmaids are vessels of procreation. This is obviously very similar to more primitive societies where women have been purely housekeepers. Women’s Rights Campaigns still demand recognition of motherhood as a difficult and necessary job, alluded to ironically when Offred silently offers her mother this interpretation of a “women’s culture.” The division of tasks may at first appear more fair, women have a smaller workload, they do not have to play so many roles. However, the categorization of women is really a means to control. It enables the authorities to keep stricter hand in what’s going on. Clothing denotes your role, so people are easily recognisable. This dehumanises women, it makes them like machines,a production line rather than people. Gilead’s theory is that is you narrow people’s life enough, and teach them to think of themselves as machines, then they will no longer want as many human things, and will be happy to be instructed like machines are. Pear
Freedom of self expression is regulated within Gilead, ways of communication including speech and writing are forbidden. This prevents unnecessary communication between people, and is a barrier to the spread of ideas, any forms of seditious organisation and confidence. This lack of communication yet again demeans people to things. Writing is also forbidden because there are no rights to education. This doesn’t protect women in any paticular way, it protects the society which is protecting women. Existing educative tools, such as books are forbidden, the library where the cwntral character |Offred works is shut dow by the Gaurds. These ideas are seen as evil, and corrupting. This return to ignorance is reminiscent of many religions, who previously acted as a “spiritual police” keeping the population ignorant, in order to keep control of people, their values and thus their behaviour.
In the “time before” people chose to be unaware of many of the violent and destructive aspects of their society. However, the information was there, so it was a choice how you responded to it, “Ignoring isn’t the same as Ignorance, you have to work at it.” In the new tyranny people are not given the choice, however they don’t have to work at ignoring it, they are protected form the truth, or hidden from the reality.
Explore Atwood’s presentation of . in the Handmaid’s Tale
“The Handmaid’s Tale” contains many strong female characters, of whom Serena Joy is one. Atwood portrays Serena sometimes with hostility and at other times sympathetically.
Offred remembers that Serena Joy used to be a child gospel star, from which she developed into a media personality advocating ultra-conservative politis and preching about the sanctity of he home, she was a part of the very right wing Christian movement. She is presented as fake, able to cry and laugh at the same time, lacking sincerity and somewhat superficial, which is suggested by Offred’s observation that her hair looks as if it is died. Atwood suggests the hypocracy of her situation, in which she encouraged women to stay home and adhere to traditional roles of wife and mother. She didn’t practise this herself however, preferring to establish a career for herself as a TV personality.
Ironically, under the Gileadean regime whenb all Serena’s ideals are enforced, she is unhappy . Offred says that “She stays in her home, but it doesn’t seem to agree with her”, Serena is unable to live by her own ideas and prefers to spend time stting in her “subversive garden”.
Flowers are a recurring motif in the novel, representing fertility, which Serena lacks. She is unable to conceive and thus cannot fulfil the trditional female roles, and so has to have a Handmaid in her home, which she cleal resents. Her declining physical health is a constnat reminder of her physical inabilities and her fading femininity. This is a stark contrast to the young blond girl, and her bitterness and loneliness creates pathos for her trapped situation.
Despite her declining physical healtg, serena mentally tough, illustrated at the end of the novel when the commander hides behind her as offred leaves, and on Offred’s arrival when Aserena is defiant, her chin “is clenched like a fist”. Her metal strength and deire to rebel parallels many of the other strong female characters in the novel; Moira, Ofgken and Offred’s mother. She is contrasted wit themselves as well, as whilst slogans used by offred’s mother may gave been pervertred to suit the regime, sSerena fundamentall desired the regime until she got it. Serena is also doubled with Offred, both are desperate for a child and attentions rest on the Commander. Tjough these two women both srive for “common aim” concerning children, they are always in conflict because of their differing status. Serena is higher up the hierarchical ladder than Offred and thus has a lot of power over her life, Atwood makes a mockery of the feminist notion of Sisterhood conveyed most clearly n the Birth Day, and is perhaps also commenting on the notion of sisterhood witin our own society when women oppress other women.
Some pathos is created through Serena’s situation in a a love triangle with offred and the Commander. Serena is portrayed as very lonely, and the commander tells offred that “she doesn’t understand me” which suggests Serens is not in love with her husband, however she is very hurt to find out about his illicit affair, “You could have left me something.”
Her character can also be seen as a parody of the Virtuous Woman, which is what she had presented herself as being. She is estranged from her husband, jealous of her handmaid and has nothing to do other than knit and gossip.