What Is The Significance Of Feminism In The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" is a novel set in a dystopic future where women are used for reproductive purposes and are viewed as a tool. Similar to the society today, women are treated as second-class citizens who are controlled by men. Margaret Atwood demonstrates this throughout the novel by key incidents, narrative techniques and symbolism. Atwood's novel is set in a place called Gilead, which was once known as The United States of America. Gilead was formed due to a crisis of decreasing birth rates, the whole country was formed around the goal of controlling reproduction. The state takes control of women's bodies and strips away all women's democratic rights. The reader understands the status given to women by Gilead and the idea of the world's sexual inequality.

There are various different key incidents which happen in the novel which suggests the role of women given to them by Gilead is a reminder that men have greater …show more content…
Women in green standing suggest that they are of normal status, however, still treated incompetently. Women in red propose the idea of low-status women. The colours red, blue and green also plays a part in how women are treated. Red is the colour of the handmaids, therefore, used to show their fertility consequently its the most dominant symbol used in the novel. The wives are blue which symbolises peace, stability and depression. The blue is also used as a biblical reference to The Virgin Mary which is ironic as the wives do not hold the same quality as Mary. Green is symbolic of the environment, money and envy. The representation of envy is apparent with the Marthas who wear a dull green outfit. They envy the handmaids who are able to bear children while they are not. The reader acknowledges the position and placement of the women which helps convey the idea of women being grouped into section each with their own