The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood is a terrifying story indeed, to anyone even with just a mere fondness for equality. A beautiful one in its language. And a powerful one in its existence. Atwood really focuses on identifying the unique aspects of each individual social group that lies in this dystopian society. They are all seen differently throughout the story. Some are marginalised, many are excluded, and others even silenced. Handmaids and men are the major social groups that stands out when focusing on these aspects. In Atwood’s novel, Handmaids are silenced, as they are prohibited from communicating, they are also marginalized as the men are too, but too different extend which results both groups to become dehumanized.
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Within this story, the Handmaids represent a major group of women in the Republic of Gilead; they are female servants. The Gilead regime, a totalitarian state, and religious autocracy, takes full power and completely forbids them to communicate, making them silenced. Whispering becomes the language which they use, whereby Offred is often seen claiming that they “learn to whisper almost without sound” (Atwood 14). Thus, that shows that even when they get a chance to speak they are fearful of the precautions. The whispering and the fear gives a good image on how Handmaids are silenced within what they want to say. Handmaid's don’t speak much, but when they do they are forced into speaking a certain way; usually a religious language. Phrases like “Praise be,” (29) is a way Handmaid's have to speak. Thus, by silencing a human's major trait, and the freedom of their vocabulary is a way they are being dehumanised. As this society is dystopian the characteristics of information, and independent thought being restricted lies perfectly with silence. The information about Gilead is private. Handmaids have no clue what has happened, they live their daily routine with little consciousness. Asking them “are you happy?” the reply would instantly be “yes very happy!” (21) as they are forced to act like a perfect society. Since they are silenced from what is happening around, this results to dehumanizing them since they can’t act like themselves. The very fact that the Handmaids resort to voicing their thoughts and opinions internally, demonstrates how they are silenced. For fear of disobeying against the rules of Gilead's regime, they are unable to speak aloud. Handmaid’s are strictly restricted to say much, making them silence to a point where they are
Within this story, the Handmaids represent a major group of women in the Republic of Gilead; they are female servants. The Gilead regime, a totalitarian state, and religious autocracy, takes full power and completely forbids them to communicate, making them silenced. Whispering becomes the language which they use, whereby Offred is often seen claiming that they “learn to whisper almost without sound” (Atwood 14). Thus, that shows that even when they get a chance to speak they are fearful of the precautions. The whispering and the fear gives a good image on how Handmaids are silenced within what they want to say. Handmaid's don’t speak much, but when they do they are forced into speaking a certain way; usually a religious language. Phrases like “Praise be,” (29) is a way Handmaid's have to speak. Thus, by silencing a human's major trait, and the freedom of their vocabulary is a way they are being dehumanised. As this society is dystopian the characteristics of information, and independent thought being restricted lies perfectly with silence. The information about Gilead is private. Handmaids have no clue what has happened, they live their daily routine with little consciousness. Asking them “are you happy?” the reply would instantly be “yes very happy!” (21) as they are forced to act like a perfect society. Since they are silenced from what is happening around, this results to dehumanizing them since they can’t act like themselves. The very fact that the Handmaids resort to voicing their thoughts and opinions internally, demonstrates how they are silenced. For fear of disobeying against the rules of Gilead's regime, they are unable to speak aloud. Handmaid’s are strictly restricted to say much, making them silence to a point where they are