Theme Of Religion In The Handmaid's Tale

Throughout the novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, religion is poorly portrayed. The Gilead regime is oppressive and violent which leads readers to question the intentions of the author, Margaret Atwood. While Atwood claims the novel is simply anti-religion when it becomes being a front for tyranny, people question whether she is anti-religion or not. Based on her choices throughout the novel, Atwood does not appear to be anti-religion. The overall attitude toward religion is that it is wrong when used to oppress people but not inherently wrong.
By running the Gilead regime as a theocracy, politics and religion are intertwined. This means that those who oppose the religious beliefs or act against them are punished as enforced by the law. For example when the regime first began, any people who tried to escape were murdered or brought. When Offred details how she was …show more content…
First, the regime prohibits homosexuality because of the beliefs within the Bible considering it to be a sin. However, it is also looked down upon because women’s sole responsibility is to provide offspring. If a woman is in a relationship with another woman, she is not providing men with a family, therefore it is considered wrong. Next, religion is used as a front for tyranny within the novel treating women as sex slaves. Using the biblical story of Rachel and Leah, the regime justifies rape because the Bible wills it. In the story, Rachel can no longer bear children for her husband so he marries Leah who bears the rest of her children. (Atwood 88) This was the basis of the regime who believe that other women can bear children for the wives who cannot. Because the handmaids within Gilead have no choice to do anything but bear children for families, it is against their will and therefore rape. Ultimately, Gilead uses relies on religion to oppress women which is a form of