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How Does Margaret Atwood Use Imagery In The Handmaid's Tale

896 Words4 Pages

In all forms of media, there are an immense amount of techniques an author makes use of to create vivid and meaningful experiences for their readers. Through the use of metaphor and symbolism, writers can evoke emotions, set the tone and convey complex themes and ideas otherwise impossible. Margaret Atwood’s crowning achievement The Handmaid’s Tale has become an iconic piece of feminist literature, exploring the horrors of a totalitarian society where women are reduced to their reproductive capabilities. It is a dark mirror, reflecting at us a distorted version of our world, a warning of the dangers of oppression and the power of resistance. It is evident that Atwood had a clear purpose when writing this novel: to expose the fragility of our …show more content…

It is ever so present in the color red. Handmaids wear red dresses to signify their position in society, or lack thereof. “Everything except the wings around my face is red: the color of blood, which defines us” (Atwood 72). Red is used to represent a woman’s menstrual cycle and the birth of a child, however, it also indicates sin. In this novel, the handmaid’s single purpose is to bear children for their commanders. While this is allowed due to biblical interpretation, it is also perceived as a sin due to this being another form of adultery. The color red shows the fertility of the handmaids, a stark contrast to the blue of Virgin Mary worn by the wives. The author repeatedly uses this color to successfully show the reader the limits set on women and their lack of meaning in this society. In Gilead, everything is monitored and controlled by the government. Atwood employs the symbol of an eye, which is present on the badge of the secret police, known as “The Eyes of God.” The eye embodies the watchfulness of god as well as the government. Margaret Atwood exhibits that under this eye, the people of Gilead are limited and their freedom is stripped. She effectively represents the world where men and women are far from equal, and does so while not straying too far from the

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