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Examples Of Allusions In The Handmaid's Tale

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In the novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood, Gilead -the republic in which Offred resides- is a theocracy-a government in which there is no separation between church and state. Religious terminology and references are incorporated into everyday life; everything from the titles of civilians, to the names of the shops they frequent, to the automobiles they drive. This uses of biblical phraseology to describe all things in their society, provides an ever-constant insinuation that those who reign are acting with “God’s” warrant. However like in most theocracies, words get warped and taken out of context and used as justification for vile deeds and characteristics; especially those of the Old Testament. In the novel, many of the biblical quotes have been misrepresented. In the “Rachel and Leah Center”, Offred is aware that the prayers the Aunts plays in Handmaid are not the words of the Bible saying: “ I knew they made that up, I knew it was wrong, and they left things out, too, but there was no way of checking.”[p.110-111] The theocracy even go as far as to corrupt essential virtues such as charity, forgiveness and tolerance; torturing nuns in an attempt to pressure them to “renounce their celibacy, sacrifice it to the common good.”[p.276] This …show more content…

For example: The Crusades that destroyed entire societies such as the “First Crusade” of 1099 where its crusaders, an estimate of two thousand men, conquered Jerusalem and massacred its inhabitants; no matter their faith. Another case of their inhumanity was the “Witch Hunt” of the Middle Ages in which over nine million people were persecuted, and then murdered. In spite of the infernal imprint theocracy has left in our past, it still exists today. The Republic of Iran is an Islamic theocracy in which, one man titled the “Supreme Leader”, employs complete control over a system run by clerics who oversee every major function of the

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177 Words | 1 Pages

In the book; Called The Handmaid's Tale It shows a lot about the sexual objectification of women, In which in this chapter states this quotes We are not each others anymore. instead I am his. (pg 182). This Quotes shows about the objectification of women because going back into the book where this scene were taking place, When Offred lost her job, She points out, she felt like she lost her sense of equality in her relationship with Luke, Rather than it’s being a balance where they can both support and depend on each other, She was not entirely dependent on him for support,or comfort and finances, She could no longer take care of herself, or him, which meant that he was entirely in control of her, Margaret Atwood which is the Author of the book

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1288 Words | 6 Pages

Through many dystopias, the argument shown is the theme of power, fear, religion, and education. Books like 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale show a strong government figure or idea by showing an appeal to fear. Both have a problem with propaganda through corrupted education. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, has a strong focus on religion and using it to justify rape. The main character in The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred, is a handmaid for the Republic of Gilead.

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210 Words | 1 Pages

In Gilead, societal norms have become extreme in their modest ways; they call for polite practice, but will punish any misbehaviors with death. One example of this is The Wall. As Offred and Ofglen take their prescribed walk, they seem to continuously find themselves there. While society continues its “perfect” ways, former doctors and scientists are punished with death on The Wall for the rest to see. From the wall there are “bodies hanging, by the necks, their hands tied in front of them, their heads in white bags tipped sideways onto their shoulders” (Atwood 32).

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1108 Words | 5 Pages

In the novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the protagonist, Offred, expresses her wish that her “story [is] different,” that it is “happier,” or at least “more active, less hesitant, less distracted” than it is ultimately portrayed (267). However, as her story is told, these characteristics are evident in the way she talks and acts, especially around those with authority. Hesitant to express her true thoughts and feelings, and distracted by memories from her previous life, Offred attempts to piece together her role in the society that has taken her freedom. The result is a compilation of moments, of memories, both from her present, her past, and even speculation about her future.

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1744 Words | 7 Pages

Scene 1 - Hani Narrator: Once upon a time, in the fair kingdom of Ethiviba (eth-e-ve-baa), there lived a king and his daughter, Ysabel. Now Ysabel, had hair black as a raven and skin so pure as snow. And she was the envy of all women who gazed upon her. Sadly, the king’s wife passed away, God rest her soul. Through this, the king was very sad.

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1684 Words | 7 Pages

The first quotation is taken from the first few chapters of Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. The novel does not seem to be set in a specific time period just before and after a post-apocalyptic catastrophe. At the beginning of this quote, Oryx is talking to Jimmy about the life she lived and how her community was as a child. The second quotation is taken from the first couple of chapters in The Handmaid's tale by Margaret Atwood.

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467 Words | 2 Pages

Satire is often described as the use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize someone or something. The Handmaid’s Tale was written shortly after the beginning of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. With concerns regarding the possibility of reversing everything that feminists have accomplished, Atwood writes of a story that examines and criticizes what a protestant puritanical society would be like. In The Handmaid’s Tale, women are oppressed due to Gilead’s perverted perception of Christianity and the bible which can be seen when Aunt Lydia twists passages of the bible to conform to their agenda. Atwood shows a contemporary society with repressive views when taken to their logical extremes, in this case, extreme right wing ideology.

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1006 Words | 5 Pages

Religion is the basics of what people choose to believe in. It ties in with our morality, to keep us on the correct path and help us distinguish right from wrong. It is what gives us human beings part of our identity. It is what we turn to in times of crisis. However, Margaret Atwood 's novel, The Handmaid 's Tale, demonstrates how the regime uses religion to create authoritarian laws to control the people of Gilead and maintain order within the society.

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1148 Words | 5 Pages

Imagine a nation, in which its government commands by a religion where women are separated into different titles and must conceive children for their commander. Their rights from before this regime, and anything deemed unholy by the government, are a thing of the past. This situation is the one depicted in the Republic of Gilead, where the rules of society and its traditions are not taken lightly if broken. In the novel The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood shows that an oppressive government leads to the inevitable neglect and remiss of the law through Offred’s characterization, irony, and flashbacks. Offred's character development can show that her attitude towards the law changes over the course of her experience in the Republic of Gilead.

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474 Words | 2 Pages

The novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood has a great deal of quotes with strong meanings behind them. The quotes in the novel force you think because they apply to how people live their lives in our own society. One quote that I thought applied to some of my own personal experiences was from chapter 30, and it said “ You can’t help what you feel, Moira once said, but you can help how you behave” (192). In this quote the narrator contemplated her feelings toward Nick. She believes that she may like him, but doesn’t think it would be honorable to replace Luke, her husband from before.

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178 Words | 1 Pages

The Republic of Gilead is ostensibly founded on Christian principles. Cars and shops are named after events, places and people in the Bible and the Aunts apparently quote the Bible frequently to support their ideas. Yet the whole state is founded on hypocrisy: The biblical quotations spouted by the Aunts are twisted, misquoted or selectively incomplete, just like the cushions in Offred's room where only ‘Faith' remains and ‘Hope' and ‘Charity' (love) have been removed The new state's name presents a false idea of its values. It calls itself Gilead, after a mountain mentioned in Genesis 31:22, on which was taken an oath to let God be the judge in human affairs and disputes.

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1837 Words | 8 Pages

This essay will discuss how The Handmaid 's Tale by Margaret Atwood and Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler represent religion. The Handmaid’s tale In the handmaid’s tale, The republic of Gilead is a fundamentalist Christian theocracy, meaning there is no separation between the state and religion. Gilead is built on the biblical idea that men are more important than women. The bible also has an important role in the naming of objects, buildings and people.

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1107 Words | 5 Pages

Often, we see a society’s cultural values reflected in its citizens. For example, the United States values equality, a standard that is shared in all facets including gender. The opposite is true of Gilead, a fictional society in Emily Bronte’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The novel’s main character, Offred, is subjected to degrading treatment simply because she is a woman. It becomes apparent that this repeated degradation has affected the protagonist’s mind.

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711 Words | 3 Pages

Rebellion in The Handmaid’s Tale Imagine not being able to do what you used to do because some actions are forbidden in this new society. In the Handmaid's Tale, Gilead is a dystopian society where people are limited to certain actions. Throughout the story, Offred’s actions are rebellious because she has broken so many rules. Atwood demonstrates that restricted expression leads to rebellion by showing the Commanders and Offred’s affair developing throughout time and the actions of both characters.

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1472 Words | 6 Pages

Satire is used in literature to criticize and point out society’s flaws. The criticism is usually masked in humour. Irony is commonly used in satires to expose flaws, an effective example is John Smith’s A Modest Proposal, he effectively uses irony, to communicate his argument about the poverty in Ireland at the time. Similarly, in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale she criticizes the society that women live in. Atwood uses allusions to the Old Testament, Cultural Revolution, Salem Witch Trials, and the Taliban to satirize the oppression of women in political, religious and social aspects.

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