It is necessary for the government to impose a certain amount of power and control on its citizens in order for a society to function properly. However, too much power and control in a society eliminates the freedom of the residents, forbidding them to live an ordinary life. In the dystopic futuristic novel, The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood demonstrates the theme of power and control through an oppressive society called the Republic of Gilead. The government establishes power and control through the use of the Wall, military control, the Salvaging, and the Particicution. The Aunts indoctrinate the Handmaids and control them by using fear and intimidation. The Patriarchal society allows the Commanders to hold immense power over the citizens,
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The Salvaging is a punishment for severe offenses against the government. Offred explains reasons for getting Salvaged when she states, "It could be adultery, of course. It would always be that. Or attempted escape" (Atwood 344). The purpose of the Salvaging is to "show [the Handmaids] what they may be capable of" (Atwood 344) by using the crimes of others as an example. The Handmaids are frightened when they witness the Salvaging of those who refuse to abide by the rules. This establishes power and control on the Handmaids because it persuades them to follow the rules to avoid getting Salvaged. Additionally, a mass execution for traitors called the Particicution also demonstrates power and control. The function of the Particicution is to allow the Handmaids to release their feelings of rage and hatred. It lets out their frustration at their repressed life, so they do not hold their emotions bottled up inside. Offred demonstrates this when she says, "A sigh goes up from us; despite myself I feel my hands clench. It is too much, this violation. The baby too, after what we go through. It's true, there is a bloodlust; I want to tear, gouge, rend" (Atwood 348). Evidently, the Particicution establishes power and control because it allows the Handmaids to express their feelings of vengeance during this event instead of projecting them at the government. This allows the society to function in a more controlled and orderly fashion. Overall, the government establishes power and control in the Republic of Gilead with the use of the Wall, military control, and with the Salvaging and the
The Salvaging is a punishment for severe offenses against the government. Offred explains reasons for getting Salvaged when she states, "It could be adultery, of course. It would always be that. Or attempted escape" (Atwood 344). The purpose of the Salvaging is to "show [the Handmaids] what they may be capable of" (Atwood 344) by using the crimes of others as an example. The Handmaids are frightened when they witness the Salvaging of those who refuse to abide by the rules. This establishes power and control on the Handmaids because it persuades them to follow the rules to avoid getting Salvaged. Additionally, a mass execution for traitors called the Particicution also demonstrates power and control. The function of the Particicution is to allow the Handmaids to release their feelings of rage and hatred. It lets out their frustration at their repressed life, so they do not hold their emotions bottled up inside. Offred demonstrates this when she says, "A sigh goes up from us; despite myself I feel my hands clench. It is too much, this violation. The baby too, after what we go through. It's true, there is a bloodlust; I want to tear, gouge, rend" (Atwood 348). Evidently, the Particicution establishes power and control because it allows the Handmaids to express their feelings of vengeance during this event instead of projecting them at the government. This allows the society to function in a more controlled and orderly fashion. Overall, the government establishes power and control in the Republic of Gilead with the use of the Wall, military control, and with the Salvaging and the