Literary Techniques Used In The Handmaid's Tale

Literary works have been written by authors, who were inspired by other writers to create their own work, yet, with a twist. Writers read their own work repeatedly, read external sources and can be considered readers. When writers are inspired by what they have read, they usually embed it in their own novel. Or they alter their way of writing, by adhering to the style that has been used in the literary work.

The Handmaid’s Tale, which was originally published in 1985 by Margaret Atwood is one of the many examples available in the literary world.

The novel is characterized as one of prominent novels published in the dystopian tradition, as it consecutively followed up 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, as both novels

As the inhabitants of Gilead are faced with commercial outlets on a habitual basis, to do their shopping, the Biblical principles have been in cooperated into their daily/personal life.

It has been implemented to stop the shrilling temptation for its inhabitants, yet it is highly ironic. The products are not in abundance, as the pollution caused the surplus to plummet.

In short, language is seen as a form of state control, as Biblical allusions are used. The allusions make part of the Gileadean language, which is intertwining with fiction and reality, as the Bible is an existing literary work. The word of God is deemed as correct, yet it has been altered. It foregrounds/foreshadows the idea of living in a repressive society.

The language of the Bible is partially falsified in order to take up control of society. It is denying reality and is shaping the way in which people think. The patriarchal language used in the Old Testament justifies the actions. Yet, the matriarchal language is not taken into context, and

Sexuality is marginalized within the republic of Gilead. The society has been subdivided into several social ‘classes’: the Martha’s, the Handmaid’s, the Wives and the Econowives. Each class is obliged to wear a long dress in a certain colour in the same style, as the Handmaid’s wear red, the Martha’s wear Green and the Wives wear blue. The Econowives, which are the lowest class possible wear a combination of the previous colours mentioned.

The colour unites them, yet it deprives the women of their individuality. As they have been given no individual rights, and are only believed to serve for one thing - procreation - it deprives them of the liberty and the human rights. They are not able to choose who they love - the decision is made for them, by the Commanders. Thus, the women lack the autonomy to choose for themselves. This is not a contemporary subject, as the modern views have not altered, and hence have retained the conservative gender roles.

The modern views on sexuality/themes used within the book do not differ a lot/still resonate with concept present nowadays in comparison to the Giledean values in the book; in modern day advertising and the lack of freedom of women in Middle Eastern countries. A prominent example was one advertisement of Dolce and Gabbana of the spring/summer 2007 campaign, where a single woman was pictured, surrounded by men who push her to the