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Handmaid's Tale Oppression

1048 Words5 Pages

Margaret Atwood's novel A Handmaid's Tale depicts a dystopian society called Gilead in which the people face severe oppression. Women face oppression in its most visible aspects. Gileadean women are assigned specific jobs against their will, like handmaids whose primary purpose is reproduction, or Martha’s who are essentially house servants. Women are not permitted to go out in public alone or in scandalous clothing. They are not permitted to read, write, or attend school. As a result, while it may appear that Gilead discriminates heavily against women, this is not the case. Atwood's complex story demonstrates how, in a heavily regulated society like Gilead, both men and women's freedoms are oppressed. This regime only serves the interests …show more content…

The men in position of authority in The Handmaid's Tale are expected to be the primary providers for their households, and any failure to provide for their families can lead to punishment. They are trapped in a system that limits their ability to pursue their own interests and desires, and any deviation from their prescribed roles is seen as a threat to the stability of the regime. The strict gender roles limit men's ability to express their emotions and desires, reducing them to mere providers and protectors. A quote, spoken by the antagonist the commander: "Better never means better for everyone... It always means worse, for some." highlights the idea that the strict gender roles and oppressive society created by men in the novel ultimately harms both men and women (Atwood, 211). The Handmaid system also victimizes the men in power. The Commanders, who are in positions of power and authority, are required to participate in the monthly "ceremony" and are subject to the whims of their Wives, who have complete control over their Handmaid. The Handmaid system reduces men to mere biological functions. They are subject to the same harsh punishments as women for any deviation from the regime's laws. This shows that even the men in positions of authority in The Handmaid's Tale are not immune to the consequences of the oppressive regime they have created. They are subject to the same strict gender roles and limitations that restrict their ability to pursue their own desires and

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These texts demonstrate the societal issues involving oppression of women, women’s sexual role and their status. The Handmaid’s Tale depicts the rigid societal structure whereby women are forced to serve in various aspects and functions in the society. The boundaries of the context set are in Gilead, a totalitarian state dominated by Christian fundamentalists, indicating that Gilead enforces conformity among its citizens. In a simply put manner, one’s social position is fixed. The permanent social statuses are clearly evident from the colour-coding of the women wherein “some [are] in red, some in dull green of

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In this written text, the emphasis will be on Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale and as well as the way Atwood portrays women and how it can be argued to show the oppression of women. The main purpose is to analyze the way women are treated throughout this book and depict why they are represented this way in the society in Gilead. Then, comparatively, observe the men’s domination over women and how they govern this society. In The Handmaid’s Tale, women are stripped of their rights, suffer many inequalities and are objectified, controlled by men and only valued for their reproductive qualities. The Gilead society is divided in multiple social group.

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According to Alanna A. Callaway, Gilead’s entire power structure relies on the disunity of women. Although Gilead’s system oppresses women, it is the few women in power that make the caste system dangerous for Handmaids. The patriarchal power structure of Gilead needs women to regulate each other, suggesting that gynocentric misogyny, or women hating women, is far more dangerous than traditional misogyny (Callaway 2008). This being said, the genuine threat in Gilead is not from the men in power, but the

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In The Handmaid’s Tale, the novel critiques gender inequality and autocratic authority. The hierarchical class of men consists of Commanders, Angels, and Guardians. In particular, the Commanders are the highest-ranking social group in Gileadean society. The Commanders are represented as powerful men. They have leadership roles, autocratic governance, and are oppressors controlling the Gilead regime.

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Atwood connects the political events to show how Gilead gained control and keeps their control by establishing fear into the women. Gilead stays in control by limiting speech to religious references, keeping the women from talking about the oppression they are suffering. Additionally, women are blamed for the social issues that were present in a pre-Gilead society such as rape, abortion and adultery. Women get the blame for the issues and men do not suffer consequences since it is in their nature to cheat. Atwood uses allusions to the Old Testament and historical events to satirize the oppression of women in political, religious and social

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