What light do the Historical Notes shed upon The Handmaid's Tale?

The Historical Notes The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood Question: What light do the Historical Notes shed upon The Handmaid's Tale? Aim to write about 1000 words. Response: The Historical Notes section is Atwood's epilogue to The Handmaid's Tale. Although confusing at first, one quickly notices that this section illuminates many issues in the text. The reader is told that, for the purposes of Atwood's novel, the era of Gilead, and therefore Offred's story, is historical fact. This makes the protagonist's story, in a sense, more real to the responder. This complements the deeply personal nature of Offred's work, and allows the reader to empathise with her. Pieixoto is insensitive to the plight of Offred and trivialises many complex themes. The reader is then forced to confront these matters more rigorously and is thus brought to a clearer understanding of the characterisation. Atwood also utilises the last section of the text to include a formal history of Gilead, which contrasts sharply Offred's personal history. Pieixoto's discourse often mocks the Handmaid's poor reporting, whereas Offred tells the same story in more personal terms. Therefore, the novel's epilogue supplements the main text; it is not inconsistent with it. Margaret Atwood suddenly changes the focus of her writing at the end of the novel. The climax built up in section fifteen turns abruptly into

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Handmaid's Tale - Consider the ways in which Margaret Atwood creates interest in the society of Gilead in the opening 5 sections of the novel.

The Handmaid's Tale Consider the ways in which Margaret Atwood creates interest in the society of Gilead in the opening 5 sections of the novel Atwood is clearly an author who enjoys playing with her readers; taunting and teasing, suggesting rather than explaining and describing amazing situations without emotion but in a most moving manner, this is no more true than in "The Handmaid's Tale". During the first five chapters Atwood describes the society of Gilead through her main character Offred. This brief but informative insight contains some incredibly fascinating and provoking passages as Atwood describes a society spine chillingly close to our own but with a terrible control over those it contains. Offred herself is a Handmaid and is therefore expected to conceive with her given Commander. The many other segregated members of the society are also given single names such as the Angels, Guardians and Aunts. By using familiar names Atwood encourages the reader to expect certain actions from these characters, the irony is then expressed by the way in which the society actually expects them to behave. This contrast between the reader's expectation and the actual behaviour raises curiosity into the reasons for their naming and as the novel continues the reader begins to understand the necessity for the members of Gilead to feel as though this control is advantageous rather

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Compare and contrast their representation of the different social and cultural forces which contribute to the repressive state.

Both authors are concerned with the repression of individuality. Compare and contrast their representation of the different social and cultural forces which contribute to the repressive state. "Masses of labourers, organised like soldiers, are daily and hourly enslaved by the machine, by the over-looker and above all by the individual bourgeois manufacturer himself", Karl Marx in his Manifesto of the Communist Party 1848 here highlights the state portrayed through Charles Dickens's 'Hard Times'. Margaret Atwood highlights the similarity with her book saying "it is a study of power, and how it operated and how it deforms or shapes the people who are living within that kind of regime". Defined as an act that prevents the natural or normal expression, activity or development; repression is undoubtedly a common theme between two similar yet very different novels. Louis Althusser, as a 20th.Century Professor of Philosophy considers the implementation of repression through two distinct methods; the 'Repressive State Apparatuses' (RSA's), which are an implementation of force, most strongly envisaged through the law, backed up by the police force and other confrontational measures of repression. The second method, 'Ideological State Apparatuses' (ISA's), are systems of repression that work on a subtler scale, the effects of which verge on the subconscious, ultimately however

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A Detailed analysis of chapter 16 focusing on typical characteristics of the novel in subject matter and treatment.

A Detailed analysis of chapter 16 focusing on typical characteristics of the novel in subject matter and treatment. "The Ceremony" is the main content in Chapter Sixteen and the most important role of a handmaiden. This ritual like process takes place once a month in the effort to impregnate the maidhand. The wife of the commander also has to be present in order to accept the baby as her own when it is born. Serena Joy, the Commander's wife, lies with Offred between her legs to represent that they are one body. However the baby's mother is considered to be Serena as she will take care and care for it. Offred is only considered to be lending her womb to the couple in order to provide them with a family. Chapter Sixteen begins as every other chapter, with a very short blunt sentence, "The Ceremony goes as usual." One of the most intimate actions between a man and a woman is considered very every-day to Offred. This is because she does not want to take part and therefore detaches herself from reality in order to keep her sanity. She does this by remembering what she had before Gilead came to form, for example things like Luke and her daughter bring her happiness. This remembrance of the past also, I feel, causes her great pain as she considers what she is missing. Also the fact that this is a regular process in her life makes it mundane to her and those involved. She even tries

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Handmaid's Tale - Character Study - Aunt Lydia.

The Handmaid's Tale Character Study - Aunt Lydia In the Republic of Gilead, Aunt Lydia works in the Red Centre as one of the crack female control agents known as the "Aunts". There, she works as a propaganda minister, brainwashing the potential Handmaids to be content with their roles within Gilead. Entrusted with such a prestigious job it's easy to imagine Aunt Lydia to have unequivocal devotion to the Gilead regime - but upon closer inspection, Aunt Lydia's faith may not be so clear-cut. For the initial chapters, Aunt Lydia is a hazy character - Offred offers a few of her quotes occasionally in relevant situations, but no description of her appearance or demeanour. The most famous of these quotes is "There is more than one kind of freedom - freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are given freedom from. Don't underrate it." Taken at face value, Aunt Lydia means that before Gilead women had the freedom to have promiscuous sex, have abortions, smoke, drink, etcetera, and in Gilead they are given 'freedom' from rape, mugging, assault and so on. But could she mean that in the days before Gilead women were given freedom to speak their minds, freedom to express themselves, and so on? At this stage it's unclear. In Chapter Five, Offred recalls Aunt Lydia's quote "To be seen - to be seen - is to be penetrated. What you must be, girls, is

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What specific aspects of society do you think Atwood comments on in The Handmaid's Tale and how does she do this?

Jane Stollery Many novels set in the future, in situations supposedly removed from the present, in fact offer critiques of today's society. What specific aspects of society do you think Atwood comments on in The Handmaid's Tale and how does she do this? "Atwood's feminism is an integral part of her critical approach, just as her concept of criticism is inseparable from her creative work" Walter Pache (1). A dystopia is a fictional society, usually existing in a future time period, in which the condition of life is extremely difficult due to deprivation, oppression or terror. In most dystopian fiction, a corrupt government creates or sustains the poor quality of life, often conditioning the masses to believe the society is proper and just, even perfect. Most dystopian fiction takes place in the future but purposely incorporates contemporary social trends taken to horrendous extremes. The novel, 'The Handmaid's Tale', by Margaret Atwood focuses on the choices made by those controlling the society of Gilead in which increasing the population and preservation of mankind is the main objective, instead of freedom or happiness. The society has undergone many physical changes that have extreme psychological consequences. I believe Atwood sees Gilead as the result of attitudes and events in the early 1980s, which have spiralled out of control. 'The Handmaid's Tale' reflects

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does Atwood show that the Gilead regime abuses religion?

The Handmaid's Tale How does Atwood show that the Gilead regime abuses religion? Gilead is a society where religion is used to control people. Atwood has included many Biblical references and religious suggestions throughout 'The Handmaid's Tale' to demonstrate this. The name 'Gilead' is a place in the Old Testament which is named after a mountainous region East of Jordan which means 'heap of stones'. This links in with patriarch Jacob and the prophet Jeremiah. It was a frontier land and a place where a country was at war so protected its boarders. This can relate to Gilead in the way that it took those ideas and heaped them together. They set up so many boundaries and rules so that they could illuminate the bad things like rape from the time before. However, they abuse this because women in Gilead have lost their freedom and are treated inferior to men. For example, when the handmaid's were being trained they were shown films of women being raped and murdered to try and convince them that they are better off in Gilead's regime. But, illuminating these things meant that they would loose their freedom and self respect. The Aunts say things like, "You see what things used to be like? That was what they thought of women, then". They give the women no other choice into what to believe. Moira, who represents Offred's guidance and hope tells her the film is probably a fraud so

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Handmaid's Tale. Chapter 10 - Textual Analysis.

English Literature. The Handmaid's Tale. Chapter 10- Textual Analysis. Atwood begins by establishing a dismal atmosphere, '...something lugubrious, mournful, presbyterian'. Offred explains that the Gileadian regime has outlawed any form of contact with music; singing or listening to. The totalitarian regime sees music as a threat to its existence, '...especially the ones that use words like free. They are considered too dangerous.' Music has immense power; the messages behind the music being of great strength. Gilead has not only outlawed songs about freedom but also songs about love; 'I feel so lonely, baby. I feel so lonely I could die. This too is outlawed'. In prohibiting music, Gilead in essence, has banned feelings of love, compassion and desire, companionship and celebration. Gilead exists to rid the world, or its society at the very least, of such feelings. However, music proves to be much more powerful as, like the narrator, not all abide by the laws set down by the legislators. Evidence is given to show that there is resistance to this regime, minute may be, but resistance nonetheless. 'Such songs are not sung anymore in public...' suggest that they are sung in private. However, interestingly enough, it is not only the handmaids which show this resistance; through Serena Joy we see another form of resistance. 'And sometimes from the sitting room

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  • Subject: English
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Compare and contrast "The Wars" and "The Handmaid's Tale".

Steve Sharpe Ms. Bridgeman ENG 4U1 January 16, 2004 Although "The Wars" and "The Handmaid's Tale" occur during different time periods, the two societies have many similarities, which are criticized in the novels. The high-ranking officers in "The Wars" exploit the soldiers, as the government officials in "The Handmaid's Tale" exploit women and men who do not follow the ideals of the Gileadean society. The families of the soldiers in "The Wars" and all underprivileged citizens in "The Handmaid's Tale" often remain ignorant to the occurrences within their own societies. The ideals and morals of modern society are violated in both novels. Despite taking place in different time periods, similar societal aspects are criticized in "The Wars" and "The Handmaid's Tale". Citizens in "The Wars and 'The Handmaid's Tale" are severely disadvantaged by those in power, be it the high-ranking officers in "The Wars" or the unprivileged individuals in "The Handmaid's Tale". In "The Wars", Soldiers are often put in situations that jeopardize their lives, but better the cause of the government. One such incidence occurs when Robert Ross and his fellow soldiers are told by Captain Leather to put gun beds into a crater close to the German lines. Robert "wanted to say the forward positions were crazy...he wanted to say that the guns would sink in the mud. But he didn't say anything." (Findley

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Handmaid's Tale - short summary

ISU Essay The Handmaid's Tale The novel The Handmaid's Tale written by Margret Atwood is about how the government chose to control the way the community was run and control the lives of men and women. The novel tells the story from the perspective of a middle-aged woman named Offred who questions society's accepted beliefs and conventions. Offred is a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead who is constantly questioning the government beliefs and rules. Her character pushes the limits set out by the government. This is thoroughly illustrated through her defiance of against the social conventions, her methods of challenging them and the final outcome of her challenge. Firstly, Offred challenges many laws within The Handmaid's Tale including socializing with the commander and Nick, and being in the sitting room. Handmaids are a class who are not to socialize with the commander; Offred explains, "It's forbidden for us to be alone with the commanders" (Atwood 128). She spends a large amount of time with the commander although she is well aware of the laws within the community. Being a handmaid Offred is not allowed into the sitting room. One night she wanders down to the sitting room to try something new, she is there to be independent; she likes to be on her own. "I like this. I am doing something, on my own. The active Tense. Tensed. What I would like to steal is a

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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