Feminism In The Handmaids Tale - 1709 Words

The Republic of Gilead, a dystopian world with a patriarchal society, is displayed in Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale. More specifically, the novel takes place in what used to be considered the United States but is now being called the Republic of Gilead where freedoms and rights have been excluded, especially for women. The society nurtures a â€Å"theocratic, patriarchal, nightmare world created by men, with the complicity of women† (â€Å"Margaret (Eleanor) Atwood†). The separation of the freedoms between the genders created female victimization through â€Å"sexual exploitation, isolation, and compelled ignorance that accompany severe economic and political powerlessness† (Merriman). In Margaret Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, taking place in the†¦show more content†¦Another influence upon Atwood that not only affects her opinions, but also the route of the novel is the Victorian women (Swale 374). Throughout the 1800â€℠¢s, middle class women were contained in homes as purely wives and mothers while also being shielded away from the knowledge of the outside world (Swale 374). The women during this time period were merely seen as objects to the men and took on the roles of caring for the home and children (Swale 374). Offred alludes to this role when she loses her job and after decides to go back to the stereotypical role of Victorian Women in the nineteenth century as she decides to do more baking (Swale 374). Overall, throughout the 1980’s Atwood infuses her views on feminism and influence from the Victorian women to help shape the society and the oppression of women in the novel. In order to show the restriction of women, specifically the handmaids in the novel, Atwood uses irony. The scene in which Ofglen first tries to discretely communicate with Offred by saying, â€Å"It’s a beautiful May Day,† is an example of a broad ironic stance that finally motivates her to action (Atwood 58) (Wagner-Lawlor 84). At first Offred does not pick up on the hidden cue, which she later learns was a test in which the irony of it serves as a crucial tool (Wagner- Lawlor 85). This ironic display in the novel is important becauseShow MoreRelatedFeminism in The Handmaids Tale626 Words   |  3 PagesChoice Novel Paper: Feminism in The Handmaid’s Tale In today’s news we see many disruptions and inconsistencies in society, and, according to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, humankind might be headed in that direction. The deterioration of society is a concept often explored biologically in novels, but less common, is the effect on everyday social constructs such as the position of women as a item that can be distributed and traded-in for a ‘better’ product. The Handmaid’s Tale elaborates theRead MoreFeminism In The Handmaids Tale1422 Words   |  6 PagesThe Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is set in a future time period where the United States is under the control of the Gileadean regime. A terrorist attack leads to the collapse of Congress, the suspension of the Constitution, and the establishment of a theocratic totalitarian government. Men and women are given roles within society; they are Commanders, Eyes, Handmaids, and Marthas. In this novel, Atwood explores a promine nt social issue, feminism. The suppression and power of women are examinedRead More Feminism In The Handmaids Tale Essay1588 Words   |  7 PagesFeminism In The Handmaids Tale      Ã‚  Ã‚   Feminism as we know it began in the mid 1960s as the Womens Liberation Movement. Among its chief tenants is the idea of womens empowerment, the idea that women are capable of doing and should be allowed to do anything men can do. 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Web. 27 Nov. 2012 Dopp believes that Dopp believes that the goal of The Handmaid’s Tale is to work against the oppression of women, While he feels that is actually does theRead MoreFeminism in Top Girls and The Handmaids Tale Essay1635 Words   |  7 PagesBoth Top Girls and The Handmaid’s Tale relate to contemporary political issues and feminism. Top Girls was written by Caryl Churchill, a political feminist playwright, as a response to Thatcher’s election as a first female British Prime Minister. Churchill was a British social feminist in opposition to Thatcherism. Top Girls was regarded as a unique play about the challenges working women face in the contemporary business world and society at large. 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We see the outcome of the reversal of women’s rights and a totalitarian government which is based on reproduction. Not only is the government oppressive, but we see the female roles support and enable the oppression of other female characters. â€Å"This is an open ended text,†¦conscious of the possibilities