Analysis of The Handmaids Tale - 1143 Words

The Handmaids Tale is a distopian novel of tightly wound truths and links to our society today. It is so tightly wound, like a thorn bush, that gaining any meaning from it at all proves to be a very arduous task indeed for those who are not predisposed to do so. Nevertheless, some meaning did present itself during the text, as follows. The truth that is privileged in The Handmaids Tale is that societies/regimes based on totalitarianism and extremism are not satisfactory for anyone involved. Even though they may in theory be an improvement, in practice they fall dismally short of the mark. This truth is apparent in every aspect of The Handmaids tale. The commander, for instance one of those key men responsible for the creation of†¦show more content†¦Whereas a responder who has some knowledge of the Sufi would be able to identify that it is an Arabian proverb and may be able to decipher what the quotation is trying to say which is that ‘….Extreme circumstances prompt extreme remedies (Perry.S.1996). This warns the learned responder that The Handmaids Tale is in some ways at least about extreme measures being taken to counter for extreme circumstances, thus helping them to gain meaning from the text. Narrative viewpoint both assists and hinders responders in making meaning from the text. The narrative of the text is the view point chosen by the composer/s: Offred composes (I use ‘composes rather than ‘writes as in the historical notes at the rear of the book, it is stated that the text had been originally recorded speech found on some cassettes, later transcribed onto paper) the text in the present tense, as though she is keeping an audio journal of events as each day happens, when in fact the tapes were not made until she had already escaped from her services a handmaid as such devices would not have been audible to her while in servitude. The journal assists responders in gaining an idea of what Gilead was like from day to day, but the responders are also hindered as they only gain one perspective,- Offreds. Even Offreds point of view can not be taken entirely truthful, as it is already known that she is composing the text inShow MoreRelatedA Critical Analysis Of The Ha ndmaids Tale1340 Words   |  6 PagesA Critical Analysis of â€Å"The Handmaid’s Tale.† In this dystopia novel, it reveals a remarkable new world called Gilead. â€Å"The Handmaid’s Tale,† by Margaret Atwood, explores all these themes about women who are being subjugated to misogyny to a patriarchal society and had many means by which women tried to gain not only their individualism and their own independence. Her purpose of writing this novel is to warn of the price of an overly zealous religious philosophy, one that places women in such a submissiveRead MoreAnalysis Of The Handmaids Tale1203 Words   |  5 PagesThe Handmaid’s Tale is a highly acclaimed dystopian novel that is based on the premise of a world in which a totalitarian theocracy has replaced the United States of America, turning it into the Republic of Gilead. In this tyrannical new society, the population is rapidly decreasing due to the toxic environment, and consequentially, th e ability to produce viable babies has become a coveted ability. Women that are able to bear children are indoctrinated into becoming Handmaids, and are assigned toRead MoreThe Crucible And The Handmaids Tale Analysis1176 Words   |  5 PagesIn the books The Crucible by Arthur Miller and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood truth is large concept. Throughout the books truth is used to define the perception and the reality through key symbols that go above and beyond an object. In The Crucible The Bible plays an immense part in shaping characters characteristics, also in The Handmaid’s Tale it shapes one of the main motifs of the story. Throughout the two books, flowers are a meaningful symbol which is compared to a real relationshipRead MoreCritical Analysis Of The Handmaids Tale1229 Words   |  5 PagesPaula Hawkins, a well known British author, once said, â€Å"I have lost control over everything, even the places in my head.† In Margaret Atwood’s futuristic dystopia The Handmaid’s Tale, a woman named Offred feels she is losing control over everything in her life. Offred lives in the Republic of Gilead. A group of fundamentalists create the Republic of Gilead after they murder the President of the United States and members of Congress. The fundamentalists use the power to their advantage and restrictRead MoreLiterary Analysis of the Handmaids Tale1068 Words   |  5 PagesOffred, in Margaret Atwood’s disturbing novel The Handmaid’s Tale says, â€Å"But who can remember pain once it’s over? All that remains of it is a shadow, not in the mind even, in the flesh. Pain marks you, but too deep to see. Out of sight, out of mind.† The society of Gilead causes the aforementioned pain and demoralization by using women’s bodies as political instruments. Similar to Atwood’s novel, today’s men put immense pressure on women to be a certain way, give them children, and take care ofRe ad MoreEssay about Character Analysis of The Handmaids Tale752 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis of The Handmaids Tale Moira ===== We first meet Moira breezing into (P65) Offreds room at college. She is the breath of fresh air. As Offred says, She always made me laugh (P66). One of her roles is to bring humour to the reader, to lighten the situation and contrast with the horror of the Gileadean regime. An example of this is when Moira changes the hymn There is a Balm in Gilead to There is a Bomb in Gilead (P230). Margaret Atwood Read MoreCharacter Analysis OfThe Handmaids Tale911 Words   |  4 Pages The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian society, and it takes place in the Republic of Gilead. Most women here have trouble getting pregnant due to unexplained causes. Although unknown, the most likely causes are pollution and radiation. In The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood creates Offred, The Commander Fred, and Nick through direct description, action, and reaction. Atwood assigns these indicative colors as â€Å"black, for the Commander, blue, for the Commander’s Wife, andRead MoreAnalysis Of The Handmaids Tale Reading Log1232 Words   |  5 PagesReading Log The Handmaid’s Tale Night Summary: The protagonist used the view of the first person to describe her situation in a dystopian society which full of restrictions. Although life is hard and they have no freedom in that unknown world, they still have expectations to the life. They yearn for it and find hope from struggling. In this place, women who have the ability to conceive will be gathered in the special place called the Republic of Gilled, and they will be distributed to differentRead MoreCritical Analysis OfThe Handmaids Tale?1059 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"In a gentle way, you can shake the world.† -Mahatma Gandhi. In The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Offred is offered many chances to do good in her world. She was given the chance to makes friends. She was given the option to release important information to help better the society. And she was given the option to become a symbol of rebellion and hope in her world. With all of said options in mind Offred did nothing. Offred could have done more to help better the situation of many people. FromRead MoreThe Handmaids Tale: Plot Analysis Essay1913 Words   |  8 PagesThe Handmaids Tale is written by Margaret Atwood and was originally published by McClelland and Stewart in 1985. The novel is set in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Handmaids Tale explores themes of a new totalitarian theocratic state society that is terrifying and horrific. Its main concentration is on the subjugation of women in Gilead, and it also explores the plethora of means by which the state and agencies gain control and domination against every aspect of these womens lives. Restrictive