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Summary The Handmaids Tale Themes
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Themes of The Handmaids Tale for IEB final
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By: katlegosokopo • 1 year ago
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The Handmaids tale:Themes:
Toxic masculinity
- Men think that they are better
- Women are marginalized and under valued
- Gilead society is a patriarchy
- Theocratic society (government says their ruling is under the name of God) –
selective use of the bible
- Men control everything
- Jezebels – prostitutes to service the men
- Ceremony – preparing handmaid for him – served to him like a dish
- Interactions are all about the men
- Males run and enforce the laws of Gilead
- Women can't interact with other women, must wear white wings, can't speak to
other women, forced into defined roles (Martha’s, handmaids, econowives,
commander’s wife)
o Black – commanders
o Blue – commanders’ wife
o Red – handmaid
o Brown – aunts
o White – young girls
- Don’t speak unless spoken to
- Women belong to the men – their names (Offred = Of Fred)
- Child is removed immediately after birth and given to the wife
Quotes:
- “Sterile, there is no such thing as a sterile man anymore, not officially. There are only
women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that’s the law.” (Chapter 11)
- “A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays in the maze.” (Chapter 27)
- “I’m a piece of furniture” – Offred
Dystopia
- Everything that is wrong
- Same as toxic masculinity
- Dystopian novel looking at a distorted view of a future world in which men
dominate. Many would argue that the role of the men in Gilead represents very
powerfully toxic masculinity
Gender roles
- One dimensional woman
- Defined roles
- Men – father, punish, guard and discipline
- Males:
o Commander
o Angels (fighting – keeping the world away)
o Guardians (bodyguards – eyes)
o Ordinary men – nick (can have wives – econo wives
- Women:
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