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The Handmaid's Tale A Dystopian Society

1736 Words7 Pages

In the novel The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwoods, she creates a dystopian society in order to showcase two very important themes which are freedom and women. In this novel the value of women was degraded and they were only seen for one purpose, and who is to have children. Handmaid’s are women in society who are chosen (if able) to have children for the elite couples in society. Handmaidens are chosen if you have the ability to bear children. If not chosen, women were seen as valuable to the society and you weren’t needed. Gilead was formed due to the decrease in birthrates, and the fact that the structure of the government wasn’t liked. The end result made women a political instrument to be used to carry children and to control the reproduction …show more content…

Women are categorized into The Wives, Aunts, Martha's, Handmaid's, The Econowives, and The Unwomen. This is the order of the hierarchy of women in this society. Each of these women had a very important role and some were seen as more important than others. The Commander’s Wives are the most important group of women in this society. They are seen as elite because they are married to very powerful men. “There are several umbrellas in it: black for the Commander, blue, for the Commander’s wife” (9). They are at the top of the hierarchy and are the most powerful women in Gilead. They are always wearing the color blue, this allows the society to know who is married to the Commander. They are also expected to bear children, and if they can’t they are assigned Handmaidens. “Many of the Wives have such gardens, it’s something for them to order and maintain and care for” (12). The Aunts are the next important in Gilead. They are in charge for enforcing the rules and ways to the Handmaids and are forcing them to accept their job even though they might not want to. These women are the firm believers of Gilead and the values and beliefs that are instituted in the society. The Aunts are always seen in brown clothing. “You have to get your vitamins and minerals, said Aunt Lydia. You must be a worthy vessel”

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