Margaret Atwood's, The Handmaids Tale is a dystopian style novel published originally in 1985. Set in a city in what used to be in the United States, now called the Republic of Gilead, this alternative future state had the democratic government overthrown and replaced by a theocratic fundamentalist governing force. In this society of declining fertility rates, fertile women are elected to become Handmaids; 'ambulatory wombs' that reproduce for the 'infertile' wives of privileged couples that fail to conceive. This society relies upon fundamental theological philosophies in order to justify inhumane sexist laws and ethics including obliterating the freedom of women. Through the perspective of the protagonist OffRed, Atwood explores the theme
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She suggests individuals have a natural tendency to control one another and to also follow trends. Through the manipulation of language, she was able to emphasise the power of language and its ability to act as propaganda that can eventually help control individuals as it evokes fear and unquestionable obedience. Atwood discusses the way in which setting; public brutality and surveillance can be used to effectively sustain control over individuals, and alludes to the governments like communist Russia and Hitler’s regime through the use of “Shock troops (pg.144).” Ultimately, this fictitious criticism of dystopian communities emphasizes the novel's dystopian nature and it consequent satire towards modern-day morals and ethics. Through the perspective of Offred, Atwood is calls for political action through this novel as it tells readers to "contribute to . . . (their) favorite liberal cause (pg.165)." Despite Atwood conveying her message through a fictional story, the novel is an influential treatise compared to a work of futile imaginative prose. Overall, Atwood suggests humans have a natural tendency to pursue and practice control over each other in all levels and aspects of
She suggests individuals have a natural tendency to control one another and to also follow trends. Through the manipulation of language, she was able to emphasise the power of language and its ability to act as propaganda that can eventually help control individuals as it evokes fear and unquestionable obedience. Atwood discusses the way in which setting; public brutality and surveillance can be used to effectively sustain control over individuals, and alludes to the governments like communist Russia and Hitler’s regime through the use of “Shock troops (pg.144).” Ultimately, this fictitious criticism of dystopian communities emphasizes the novel's dystopian nature and it consequent satire towards modern-day morals and ethics. Through the perspective of Offred, Atwood is calls for political action through this novel as it tells readers to "contribute to . . . (their) favorite liberal cause (pg.165)." Despite Atwood conveying her message through a fictional story, the novel is an influential treatise compared to a work of futile imaginative prose. Overall, Atwood suggests humans have a natural tendency to pursue and practice control over each other in all levels and aspects of