The Handmaid’s Tale

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Central Themes

Feminism : Explores the oppression of women and the consequences of a

patriarchal society.
Totalitarianism : Examines the dangers of extreme political ideologies and the
loss of individual freedoms.
Identity and Memory : Highlights the importance of personal history and the
struggle to maintain one's identity in oppressive circumstances.

2. Significance of the Title

The title references the biblical story of Rachel and Leah, emphasizing themes of
fertility and women's roles in society.
In The Handmaid's Tale, the connection to the story of Rachel and Leah is
reflected in the rivalry between women for fertility and the attention of the
patriarch. Similar to the biblical story, women in Gilead are forced to compete for
bearing children and gaining the affection of the man in power.
It serves as a critique of how religious texts can be manipulated to justify
oppression.

3. Narrative Style

The story is told from the first-person limited perspective of Offred, allowing
readers to experience her internal struggles and emotional turmoil.
The use of flashbacks provides depth to Offred's character and highlights the
contrast between her past and present.

Contextual Background

1. Author's biography
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author, best known for her work in science fiction and
dystopian literature. She is often regarded as one of the most important writers of
contemporary literature.

The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) is one of her most famous works, known for its feminist
themes and its exploration of power structures.
2. Author's Intent

Margaret Atwood wrote The Handmaid's Tale as a response to the socio-political

climate of the 1980s, particularly the rise of the religious right and anti-feminist
movements.
The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of
complacency in the face of political and social changes.

3. Reception and Impact

The Handmaid's Tale has received critical acclaim and has been adapted into
various media, including a successful television series.
Its themes remain relevant, resonating with contemporary discussions about
women's rights and authoritarianism.

II. HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Puritan Influence

1. 17th-century American Puritans

The Puritans established a strict moral code and societal structure in early
America.
Their beliefs emphasized religious conformity and the importance of
community over individual freedoms.

2. Creation of a theocracy

The Puritans created a theocratic society where church and state were
intertwined.
This model influenced the Republic of Gilead , which mirrors Puritanical values
in its governance.

3. Biblical selections influencing Gilead

Gilead's laws are based on selective interpretations of the Bible , particularly

the Old Testament.
The regime uses these interpretations to justify the oppression of women and
theocratic rule.

Political Climate

1. Rise of the religious right

The religious right gained prominence in the late 20th century, advocating for
a return to traditional values.
 This movement sought to influence politics, particularly in opposition to liberal
social changes.

2. Backlash against feminist movements

The rise of the religious right was partly a reaction to the feminist movements
of the 1960s and 1970s.
Feminism challenged traditional gender roles, leading to a conservative
pushback that sought to reinforce patriarchal structures.

Themes of Religion and Women

1. Religion as a tool for oppression

In Gilead, religion is manipulated to enforce patriarchy and control women's

bodies and rights.
The regime uses religious rhetoric to justify its oppressive practices, framing
them as divinely ordained.

2. Reduction of women’s rights

The novel illustrates how religious ideologies can lead to the diminishment of
women's rights and freedoms.
Women are stripped of autonomy, reduced to their reproductive capabilities,
and denied basic human rights.

3. Contemporary relevance

The themes in The Handmaid's Tale resonate with ongoing debates about
women's rights and religious influence in politics.
The narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of
allowing religious extremism to dictate societal norms.

III. CHARACTERS

Offred

Narrator and protagonist

Offred is the central character and first-person narrator of the story.

Her name signifies her status as a Handmaid, indicating possession by the
Commander (Fred).

Memories of her past life

 Offred frequently reflects on her life before Gilead, including her relationship
with Luke and her daughter.
She recalls moments of freedom, love, and the stark contrast to her current
oppressive existence.

Struggles with identity and oppression

Offred grapples with her identity as a Handmaid, feeling reduced to her

reproductive capabilities.
She experiences a profound sense of loss and disconnection from her former
self and loved ones.

Nick

The Commander's driver

Nick is the chauffeur for the Commander and plays a significant role in Offred's
life.
He is portrayed as a mysterious figure with ambiguous motives

Complex relationship with Offred

Offred develops a romantic and sexual relationship with Nick, which offers her a
sense of agency and intimacy.
Their connection contrasts sharply with her impersonal relationship with the
Commander.

Ambiguous loyalties

Nick's true allegiances are unclear; he may be involved with the Resistance.
His actions raise questions about loyalty, survival, and complicity within the
oppressive regime.

Luke

Offred's husband

Luke is Offred's husband from her life before Gilead, representing lost love and
freedom.
Their relationship is characterized by passion and a shared desire for a family.

Father of her daughter

Luke is the father of Offred's daughter, whose fate remains uncertain throughout
the novel.
 His absence is a source of deep emotional pain for Offred, highlighting the
personal costs of Gilead's regime.

Symbol of lost freedom

Luke embodies the freedom and choices that Offred has lost in Gilead.
His character serves as a reminder of the past and the life that Offred yearns
to reclaim.

Moira

Offred's best friend

Moira is Offred's college friend and a symbol of rebellion against Gilead's

oppressive structures.
She is characterized by her strong will and defiance.

Symbol of rebellion

Moira's attempts to escape and her bold actions represent resistance to

the regime.
Her character illustrates the struggle for autonomy and the fight against
systemic oppression.

Escape attempts

Moira successfully escapes from the Rachel and Leah Center but ultimately
faces severe consequences.
Her fate serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of rebellion in Gilead.

Serena Joy

The Commander's wife

Serena Joy is the wife of the Commander and embodies the complexities
of women's roles in Gilead.
She is initially portrayed as antagonistic towards Offred but reveals deeper
layers of her character.

Complexity of her character

Serena Joy experiences her own oppression despite her status, feeling
trapped in her marriage and societal expectations.
Her actions towards Offred, including facilitating her relationship with Nick,
reflect her desperation for a child.
Role in Offred's life

Serena Joy's relationship with Offred is fraught with tension, jealousy, and
moments of unexpected solidarity.
She represents the internal conflicts women face in a patriarchal society,
navigating power dynamics and personal desires.

Minor Characters

Offred's mother

Offred's mother is a radical feminist who fought for women's rights before Gilead's
rise.
Her character serves as a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices made by
previous generations.

Offred's daughter

Offred's daughter is taken away from her during the regime's enforcement of family
separations.
Her fate remains a haunting mystery for Offred, symbolizing the loss of innocence
and familial bonds.

Aunts and their roles

The Aunts are responsible for indoctrinating Handmaids and enforcing Gilead's rules.
They represent the internalized oppression of women, as they uphold the regime's
values while also exerting control over their peers.

IV. THEMES

Gender Roles

Strict hierarchy in Gilead

Gilead enforces a strictly hierarchical society where men hold power over
women.
Roles are rigidly defined, with Handmaids , Wives , and Marthas occupying
different levels of status.

Oppression of women

Women are stripped of their rights, reduced to their reproductive capabilities.

The regime uses fear and violence to maintain control over women, exemplified
by public executions and the threat of punishment.
Biblical justifications for control

Theocracy in Gilead uses twisted interpretations of the Bible to justify the

oppression of women.
The roles of Handmaids are based on the biblical story of Rachel and Leah,
which is manipulated to serve the regime's purposes.

Fertility

Central to Gilead's society

Fertility is the primary value in Gilead, with Handmaids valued solely for their
ability to bear children.
The societal structure revolves around the reproductive capabilities of women.

Offred's power and vulnerability

Offred's identity is tied to her fertility, granting her a form of power but also
exposing her to extreme vulnerability.
The pressure to conceive creates a paradox of power , where her worth is
contingent on her ability to produce offspring.

Societal issues affecting reproduction

Gilead faces widespread infertility attributed to environmental factors and the

consequences of past societal behaviors.
The regime's oppressive practices contribute to the dehumanization of women,
further complicating the issue of fertility.
Despite the sterile atmosphere, markers of fertility, such as flowers, worms and
oranges, throng in the Commander’s Wife’s carefully tended garden.
For example daffodils : while daffodils evoke fertility and life, their fragile nature
mirrors the precarious situation of the Handmaids, whose value is solely tied to
their ability to conceive. The daffodils' ephemeral beauty contrasts sharply with
the harsh realities of Gilead.

Religion and Theocracy

Integration of church and state

Gilead is a theocracy , where religious doctrine dictates laws and societal norms.
The regime uses religious language and rituals to enforce compliance and control.

Biblical precedents for oppression

The government employs selective biblical teachings to justify the

 subjugation of women and the enforcement of strict gender roles.
The Ceremony , a ritualized act of rape, is framed as a religious obligation.

Critique of religious extremism

Atwood critiques the dangers of religious extremism , illustrating how it can lead to
the erosion of individual rights and freedoms.
The novel serves as a warning against the misuse of religion to justify
oppression

Rebellion

Acts of defiance by characters

Characters like Moira and Offred engage in various forms of rebellion , from small
acts of defiance to organized resistance.
Rebellion is portrayed as a complex and nuanced response to oppression.

Resistance movements

The existence of underground movements, such as Mayday , highlights the

persistent fight against Gilead's regime.
Offred's eventual involvement in resistance efforts underscores the theme of
hope and agency .

Complexity of rebellion in oppressive regimes

The novel illustrates that rebellion can take many forms, including passive
resistance and active defiance .
Characters navigate the risks and moral dilemmas associated with rebellion,
reflecting the difficult choices faced under oppressive regimes.

Love

Offred's relationships

Offred's relationships with Luke, her daughter, and Nick are central to her identity
and survival.
Love serves as both a source of strength and a reminder of her loss and longing .

Impact of love on survival

Love motivates Offred to endure her circumstances, providing a sense of purpose

and connection.
The novel explores how love can be both redemptive and destructive in a
repressive environment.
Contradictions of love in Gilead

Love is complicated by the oppressive structures of Gilead, where relationships are

often transactional or coerced.
The tension between romantic love and the regime's control highlights the
paradox of intimacy in a dehumanizing society.

Storytelling and Memory

Narrative structure

The novel employs a non-linear narrative , weaving together present experiences

and past memories.
Offred's storytelling serves as a means of coping with her traumatic reality.

Role of memory in coping

Memory plays a crucial role in Offred's survival, allowing her to maintain a sense of
identity and connection to her past.
The act of remembering becomes a form of resistance against the erasure of her
history.

Reconstruction of identity through stories

Offred's narrative illustrates the power of storytelling to reconstruct identity and

assert agency.
The blending of personal and collective histories emphasizes the importance of
shared narratives in understanding and resisting oppression.

V. SYMBOLS

The Color Red

1. Symbol of fertility

Red attire : Worn by Handmaids, symbolizing their role as childbearers in Gilead.

Association with life : Represents the potential for new life and motherhood.

2. Association with violence

Blood imagery : Red also evokes the violence and death associated with Gilead's
regime, particularly through executions.
Tulips : The red tulips in Serena Joy's garden symbolize both beauty and the
futility of fertility, as they are cut before they can bear fruit.
3. Contradictory meanings

Duality of red : While it signifies fertility and life, it also serves as a reminder of
oppression and death.
Emotional complexity : Offred's reflections on red highlight the conflicting
emotions tied to her identity and experiences in Gilead.

The Eye

1. Surveillance and paranoia

Symbol of watchfulness : The Eyes represent the constant surveillance that

enforces Gilead's laws and instills fear in its citizens.
Offred's anxiety : She often worries that anyone she encounters could be an Eye,
heightening her sense of paranoia.

2. Representation of Gilead's authority

Enforcers of the regime : The Eyes are the agents of Gilead's oppressive
government, ensuring compliance through fear.
Metaphor for control : Their omnipresence illustrates the extent of Gilead's
control over personal freedoms and privacy.

3. Symbol of oppression

Loss of individuality : The Eyes signify the erasure of personal identity and
autonomy in Gilead.
Psychological impact : The fear of being watched contributes to the internalized
oppression experienced by characters like Offred.

Makeup

1. Contradictions of femininity

Symbol of beauty : Makeup traditionally represents femininity and allure, yet in

Gilead, it is forbidden for Handmaids.
Rebellion against norms : The use of makeup becomes a subtle act of defiance
against the oppressive standards imposed on women.

2. Control over appearance

Regulation of beauty : Gilead's restrictions on makeup illustrate the control over

women's bodies and how they present themselves.
Loss of agency : The prohibition of makeup reflects the broader theme of
women's lack of control over their own identities.
3. Symbol of lost freedom

Nostalgia for the past : Offred's memories of using makeup evoke a sense of
longing for the freedom and autonomy she once had.
Connection to individuality : The absence of makeup in Gilead underscores the
loss of personal expression and individuality among women.

VI. QUOTES
“We yearned for the future. How did we learn it that talent for
insatiability?”
Reflects Offred's longing for freedom and the human desire for hope amidst
oppression.
“Nolite bastardes carborundorum.”
A message of defiance from the previous Handmaid, symbolizing resistance
against Gilead's oppressive regime.
“I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe stories
are what make us human.”
Highlights the importance of storytelling as a means of preserving identity and
sanity in a dehumanizing society.
"A rat in a maze is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the
maze."
This metaphor highlights the illusion of choice and autonomy in Gilead,
reflecting the restricted and controlled lives of its citizens, especially women.

VII. HISTORICAL NOTES

1. Professor Pieixoto's analysis

Professor Pieixoto presents a lecture in 2195, discussing the significance of The

Handmaid's Tale within the context of Gilead studies.
He emphasizes the importance of understanding the narrative rather than
passing moral judgment on it.
His analysis highlights the complexities of Offred's experiences and the societal
structures of Gilead.

2. Cultural context of Gilead

Gilead is depicted as a theocratic regime that emerged from a backlash against

feminist movements and social changes in the late 20th century.
The regime's customs and laws are rooted in historical precedents , often drawn
from biblical texts, yet manipulated to serve oppressive purposes.
Pieixoto notes that the cultural context of Gilead reflects ongoing debates about
women's rights and autonomy, making it relevant to contemporary discussions.
3. Implications for understanding Offred's story

Offred's narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of women's

rights and the potential for societal regression.
The story illustrates the dangers of complacency in the face of authoritarianism,
urging readers to remain vigilant against similar threats in their own societies.
Pieixoto's reflections suggest that Offred's experiences are not isolated but resonate
with broader historical patterns of oppression and resistance, emphasizing the need
for empathy and understanding in analyzing such narratives.

VIII. SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

1. Character development

Offred : Transitions from a passive victim to a more complex character who

engages in small acts of rebellion and seeks connection.
Moira : Represents defiance and strength, serving as a contrast to Offred's initial
passivity; her fate underscores the risks of rebellion.
Serena Joy : Initially portrayed as an antagonist, her character reveals the
complexities of women’s roles in Gilead and the shared oppression they face.
The Commander : His character embodies the contradictions of power; he is both
a perpetrator of the regime and a figure seeking connection with Offred.

2. Narrative techniques

First-Person Limited Perspective : Offred's narration provides an intimate

glimpse into her thoughts and feelings, enhancing the emotional impact of her
experiences.
Flashbacks : The use of flashbacks juxtaposes Offred's past and present, illustrating
the stark contrast between her former life and her current reality.
Symbolism : Objects and colors (e.g., the color red, the Eye) serve as powerful
symbols that reinforce themes of oppression, surveillance, and fertility.
Fragmented Structure : The non-linear narrative reflects Offred's fragmented
memories and the chaos of her life under Gilead, emphasizing her psychological
state.