Puritans in New England and Their Connection to The Handmaid’s Tale
The Puritan movement arose in England in the 1600s. Members either sought reform or complete separation from the Church of England (Campbell).
Puritans believed the Church of England was “a product of political struggles and man-made doctrines”. Puritanism was the attempt to “purify” the Church of England by eliminating the “traditional trappings and formalities” (Kizer).
In The Handmaid’s Tale, Gilead was created as an attempt to simplify American society. Those who overthrew the government created a simple society that contained just the basic necessities because they believed it would be both better and safer that way. “They seem undressed. It has taken so little time to …show more content…
They shared and understood each other's struggles and joy, which created an intense emotional bond among them. This bond was encouraged during important ceremonies like a Birthing and or Salvaging because the outcome of these events typically benefitted Gilead society as a whole. “The chanting goes on, it begins to catch me...Already I can feel slight pains, in my belly, and my breasts are heavy” (Atwood 124).
Puritan society disapproved of individuality and the church regulated the clothing worn by Puritans. Their style of clothes was typically “dark and somber” (“Salem Witch Trials”).
In Gilead society, the government strips people of their individual expression by regulating people’s clothing. The attire provided for each person was modest and its color reflected its owner’s status is society; whether they were a Martha, a Handmaid, a Wife, etc. “There are other women with baskets, some in red, some in the dull green of the Marthas, some in the striped dresses, red and blue and green and cheap and skimpy, that mark the women of the poorer men. Econowives, they’re called” (Atwood 24).
The Salem Witch Trials began in 1692 when two young girls accused three women of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts (“Salem Witch …show more content…
By the time the Witch Trials had ended, a total of nineteen people were “hanged for witchcraft” and “four others died in jail as they awaited trial” (“Salem Witch Trials”).
Puritans believed in predestination, which is the belief that God had already determined who would achieve salvation and who would spend an eternity in hell. The Puritan work ethic was the result of this doctrine as they were “constantly working to do good in this life to be chosen for the next eternal one” (Kizer).
Puritans believed that a “true church” did not have all residents as “full church members”. Instead, only the elect would be granted full church membership and many churches required applications in order to prove their “personal experience of God”
The Puritan movement arose in England in the 1600s. Members either sought reform or complete separation from the Church of England (Campbell).
Puritans believed the Church of England was “a product of political struggles and man-made doctrines”. Puritanism was the attempt to “purify” the Church of England by eliminating the “traditional trappings and formalities” (Kizer).
In The Handmaid’s Tale, Gilead was created as an attempt to simplify American society. Those who overthrew the government created a simple society that contained just the basic necessities because they believed it would be both better and safer that way. “They seem undressed. It has taken so little time to …show more content…
They shared and understood each other's struggles and joy, which created an intense emotional bond among them. This bond was encouraged during important ceremonies like a Birthing and or Salvaging because the outcome of these events typically benefitted Gilead society as a whole. “The chanting goes on, it begins to catch me...Already I can feel slight pains, in my belly, and my breasts are heavy” (Atwood 124).
Puritan society disapproved of individuality and the church regulated the clothing worn by Puritans. Their style of clothes was typically “dark and somber” (“Salem Witch Trials”).
In Gilead society, the government strips people of their individual expression by regulating people’s clothing. The attire provided for each person was modest and its color reflected its owner’s status is society; whether they were a Martha, a Handmaid, a Wife, etc. “There are other women with baskets, some in red, some in the dull green of the Marthas, some in the striped dresses, red and blue and green and cheap and skimpy, that mark the women of the poorer men. Econowives, they’re called” (Atwood 24).
The Salem Witch Trials began in 1692 when two young girls accused three women of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts (“Salem Witch …show more content…
By the time the Witch Trials had ended, a total of nineteen people were “hanged for witchcraft” and “four others died in jail as they awaited trial” (“Salem Witch Trials”).
Puritans believed in predestination, which is the belief that God had already determined who would achieve salvation and who would spend an eternity in hell. The Puritan work ethic was the result of this doctrine as they were “constantly working to do good in this life to be chosen for the next eternal one” (Kizer).
Puritans believed that a “true church” did not have all residents as “full church members”. Instead, only the elect would be granted full church membership and many churches required applications in order to prove their “personal experience of God”