The Handmaids Tale illustrates that dictatorship can be established by creating a state of fear once language controls are instituted. As a tradition to dystopian novels, Atwood has drawn much attention
Discuss Atwood's attention to words and names. Why does the novel draw so much attention to the meaning of words and the significance of names, and what statement does the novelist seem to be making via this attention? The Handmaids Tale illustrates that dictatorship can be established by creating a state of fear once language controls are instituted. As a tradition to dystopian novels, Atwood has drawn much attention to the meaning of words and the significance of names, as well as the prohibition for women to read or write, in order to portray Gilead as a successful totalitarian state. Atwood is trying to make the point that in a dystopian world, language can be the power. The meaning of names is a central focus of the novel, because names define people. Their worth and functions are summarized by the names. To some extent, the names also discourage originality. This occurs especially to the Handmaids, whose names all begin with the prefix "Of", plus their commanders names, forming names such as Offred, Ofglen, and Ofwarren. This act taken by the Gileadian state totally objectifies the Handmaids. They no longer have a status in the society, and instead they become possessive items of the commanders. In the case of Offred, she does not mention her real name throughout the entire novel. In fact, Offred is probably numbed by the reality that she doesn't even want to mention
How Far is The Handmaids Tale a Dystopian Text, Specifically at the Regime of Gilead and its Successes and Flaws?
How Far is The Handmaids Tale a Dystopian Text, Specifically at the Regime of Gilead and its Successes and Flaws? 'The Handmaids Tale' is set in a society where everything is wrong, which would usually suggest that it was a dystopian novel, yet while a 'dystopia' is generally defined as a society 'in which the conditions of life are extremely bad as from deprivation or oppression or terror' this is clearly not the whole case when it comes to Gilead. This is because while there are many aspects of the regime which are unjust and morally wrong compared to modern values, there are certain parts of the society which are improved. This is shown quite clearly in Atwood's depiction of freedom and imprisonment. One of the main expressions used within the novel is 'Freedom to' and 'freedom from'. We are told that in Gilead you are given freedom from, as opposed to in our modern 'days of anarchy' where we have freedom to do as we please. It is this difference that affects the Gileadean society, and through this the whole of Atwood's novel, and what ultimately makes it a dystopia. Despite being obviously morally wrong (for instance, Handmaids are practically raped weekly in order to bear a child for their 'commander', and that only heterosexual white people are allowed in the regime) many of the people in Gilead do not rebel. This is because they are scared of what might happen if they
In 'The Handmaid's Tale' how does Atwood use the first chapter of the novel to establish setting, themes, character?
In 'The Handmaid's Tale' how does Atwood use the first chapter of the novel to establish setting, themes, character? Through language and symbolism, Atwood has utilised the first chapter to sufficiently establish the major themes of the play and set the reader into the dislocated scenario Offred is in now. The phrase "what had once been the gymnasium" seems to suggest and symbolise quite a lot about the society of Gilead in respect that what it "had once been". Although this is not clear due to the mysterious confusion, shrouding the reader in the first chapter, in hindsight, this disfigurement of the gymnasium - a place of fun for the "the games", "dances", "music", or more accurately, social freedom - into something that cannot even be named, but only put in relation to what it "had once been" suggests that the society of Gilead to be just as indescribably horrendous. Moreover, Atwood's revealing that the U.S. being no longer in existence through her description army-issue blankets which were "old ones that still said U.S" further conveys Gilead's oppressive nature; Atwood seems to suggest that the society of Gilead is a deviation from U.S.A which was a representation of democracy and justice for all. Gilead's rejection of democracy and social freedom is exemplified through the structure of the army cots which are "set up in rows, with spaces between" so that the women
Examine how Atwood presents Offred's sense of self in "The Handmaid's Tale"
Examine how Atwood presents Offred's sense of self in "The Handmaid's Tale" Sense of self can be defined by the "roles, attributes, behaviours, and associations that we consider most important about our selves".1 Atwood wrote "The Handmaid's Tale" during the 80s; (1986 to be precise) an era of 'power-dressing'. A key icon of the 'power-dressing' was the wife of the American president, Nancy Reagan, who wore outfits with huge shoulder pads, making her look more masculine. Famous women like her encapsulated what the women of the time aspired to be: rich, beautiful, intelligent and powerful.2 In "The Handmaid's Tale", Offred constantly refers back to her old life and the way she used to style herself in comparison to the way she looks now. She remembers, "Makeup"3 and "bathing suits and platform shoes"4, "sheer pantyhose against the skin"5, and "the smell of nail paint"6. All these things relate to the image that she once aspired to obtain, and this constant regression shows how she longs to return to her life before the regime, when she was secure in her identity. The air of desirability Atwood gives these things reflects how Offred desires them. However, this does not mean that Offred needs these things to regain her sense of self; Atwood simply uses them as symbols of Offred's true identity which she attributes to herself and her life before the regime. In contrast, Atwood
Analyse Atwood's narrative & linguistic approaches and how chapter 9 contributes to the novel as a whole
Analyse Atwood's narrative & linguistic approaches and how chapter 9 contributes to the novel as a whole. Chapter nine opening section two of the novel is mainly recalling the last chapters and about the narrator rediscovering herself, surfacing the truth. In section one we see the narrator talking in the present tense in a very descriptive form, outlining the novel. However in section two we see her talking in the past tense demonstrating the stories she is telling. The separation between the human and the natural world and the narrator's struggle with language most directly portrays the novel's dualities. In chapter nine there are many areas's in which specific linguistics are used to tell the story. This is evident in the very opening paragraph of chapter nine, when the narrator says "The trouble is all in the knob at the top of our bodies". The noun euphemism 'knob' for the head has connotations of a mechanical device which links in to the "illusion that they are separate". This creates a binary opposition between emotion versus reason (heart versus brain), creating the idea that the narrator is dislocated form herself. The narrator is sceptical about language as she blames words and makes it the culprit just like when the 'husband' kept saying he loved her on page 28. Another area where we see the narrator's distrust in words is when she clearly states "I'll
how does margret atwood use language as a tool of oppression
How does Margret Atwood use language as a tool of oppression in the novel 'the Handmaid's Tale'? Language is an extremely powerful factor in our culture and society. It can be a key into our community and as a form of communication to our peers and acquaintances. However in Margret Atwood's novel 'The Handmaid's Tale' we see a society which has no equal communication, let alone any equality in gender or a consensus of democracy. Atwood has created an oppressed society which displays corporal and capital punishment as a norm to its citizens who are kept alike to prisoners in a concentration camp, yet there are no gas chambers and barbed wire gates, but high walls and categories not of choice but for exploitation. It is a patriarchal society which presents women in a state of subjugation who are socially controlled by either a woman in a higher status of by a man. In this essay I intend to explain how Atwood uses language as a tool of oppression in the novel. Oppression can be explained in many ways. These can include systematic oppression, hierarchy oppression, internalized oppression and indirect oppression. The term oppression is primarily used to describe how a certain group is being subordinated by unjust use of force, authority, or societal norms. In Handmaid's Tale we see the character Offred by which she is called, forced into a parallel life which she resents, the
'There is more than one type of freedom, freedom to and freedom from...' How does Atwood's presentation of oppression influence your understanding of the novel?
'There is more than one type of freedom, freedom to and freedom from...' How does Atwood's presentation of oppression influence your understanding of the novel? In The Handmaid's Tale, a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, freedom and oppression are juxtaposing themes designed to warn the reader of the dangers of the country being governed according to religious ideology. The novel takes place in Gilead, a Christian totalitarian and theocratic state, governed by martial law which has replaced the United States of America. Aunt Lydia's statement, 'There is more than one type of freedom, freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don't underrate it' is typical of the way in which the new world controls society under the pretence of protection. Society has been divided and everyone is identified by their title, their military rank, if male, or their gender role as Wife, Martha or Handmaid if they are female. The main character and narrator, Offred, is a Handmaid, and her purpose is to produce offspring for the Commander and his wife, Serena Joy, who previously campaigned for traditional female roles. Gilead is governed by a group of male elite known as the Commanders, who enforce their rule through paramilitary groups known as "Guardians of the Faith", and secret police called "Eyes". Every aspect of Offred's
Compare and contrast how far the authors of The handmaids Tale and Stepford Wives draw on the issues of the society in which they are writing to create a disturbing vision of the future.
It has been said that Atwood has included nothing in The Handmaid's tale that does not exist in our society already; she has simply taken ideas to their logical conclusion. Compare and contrast how far the authors of The handmaids Tale and Stepford Wives draw on the issues of the society in which they are writing to create a disturbing vision of the future. "There isn't anything in the book not based on something that has already happened in history or in another country, or for which actual supporting documentation is not already available.1" Margaret Atwood tells us herself that she has based the novel 'The Handmaids Tale' on events, regimes and issues that exist in our society today. It is clear from both the narrative of the novel and "The Historical Notes" that she has taken aspects of current society in order to create Gilead. Similarly with Ira Levin's "Stepford Wives" it is evident that he has drawn on past and present feminist issues in society in order to create a disturbing yet arguably accurate vision of the future. In Stepford Wives when Joanna moves in to Stepford and asks her neighbour to have a coffee with her, her neighbour replies "I have to wax the family-room floor". This shows Ira Levin introducing the idea of a typical 1950's domestic housewife. Both of the patriarchal regimes depicted in the novels reflect life for women in the 1950's, when women
By close examination of the themes and narrative technique, show how Margaret Atwood conveys Offreds sense of alienation towards Gilead, in the first six chapters of The Handmaids Tale
“This may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will. It will become ordinary.” By close examination of the themes and narrative technique, show how Margaret Atwood conveys Offred’s sense of alienation towards Gilead, in the first six chapters of “The Handmaid’s Tale” As Offred stands horrified at the sight of the salvaging wall, she strains to push aside her shock and substitute it for an emotional ‘blankness’. Whilst Offred is struggling to repress this emotion, she remembers Aunt Lydia’s words about how ‘this may not seem ordinary to you now, but after a time it will.’ This statement reflects the true power of the patriarchal and totalitarian society of Gilead, in its attempts to suppress a natural reaction of disgust to an execution, and forcing it into a response of blankness and ignorance. This portrays the alienation of the women, including Offred, in Gilead, since Aunt Lydia’s words suggest a cynical mindset – Gilead succeeds not because it makes people believe their ways are right, but because it makes women forget what a different world would be like, and so they have nothing to compare it too. Gilead belittles its inhabitants into believing that persecution and domination are normal, simply because it’s the nature of life in Gilead. Gilead’s dystopian world originates from its theocracy and the way in which religion
Through the analysis of Happy Endings by Margaret Atwood, it can be concluded that one of her many intended lessons was to show the value and the powerful effects of love.
Chase McCullough September 28, 2012 ENG300 Dr. Chamberlain True Love in “Happy Endings” Margaret Atwood's Happy Endings is an illustration of the idea that the ending of a story is always the same, but only the middle matters. This idea is based on the fact that eventually everyone dies, ignoring the fact that a story will not be carrying through to this ultimate conclusion to have importance. Atwood's point is to focus reader on the importance understanding how conclusion is reached and why. The six sketches contained in Happy Endings illustrate vast differences between the beginnings and middles of stories that end the way. Margaret Atwood, through a series of different situations, shows the lives of typical people facing various obstacles in her short story Happy Endings. In spite of their individual differences, the stories of each of the characters eventually ended the same way. In her writing she clearly makes a point of noting on how everybody dies in the same manner, no matter of what their life experiences. Behind the obvious meaning of these pointless stories lies a deeper and more deep meaning. Love plays a central role in each story, and yet it seems that love is the ultimate goal in life. Love is not the only factor that creates and maintains a relationship. Love has the power to bring people together, but can also break them apart. It also can