“Examine various methods of social control implemented by Gileadean society”
In Margaret Atwood’s futuristic novel The Handmaid’s Tale, the Gileadean society has implemented various methods of social control. These methods are no different from the methods used by many democratic governments today. Uniforms to reflect occupation, names and titles to indicate status and censorship to keep the intellectuals controlled are all used as forms of social control in both the Gileadean and our society.
The handmaids play an important part in the Gileadean society. They have to wear long red dresses with hoods that cover their bodies. All handmaids dress the same way, just like nowadays certain jobs require a certain way of dressing; people have to dress in a specific way in order to get that job. One of the reasons for the strict dress code in the Gileadean society is that people can be observed easily; for example since all handmaids dress in the same way, it is easier for the guards to keep and eye on them and restrict their movement. The guards have to wear a uniform as well so that they can be distinguished from other people. Then there are groups of people who do not wear uniforms, such as the Eyes who are the Gileadean secret service. The handmaids, especially Offred, fear the Eyes because they don’t know when one is watching them. It is an interesting point because Offred feels relatively safe around normal guards even thought they follow exactly the same laws as the Eyes. Not being able to physically feel the presence of the Eyes but knowing that they are watching you is what differentiates the Eyes from ordinary guards.
