Abdullah Khan
Mrs. Ciufo
ENG3U1
16 November 2015
The Over Controlling Government of Gilead “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives” (Ronald Reagan). Governments throughout the world interchangeably uses the democratic form of government and dictatorship. Throughout history, the white men have segregated several ethical groups by stripping them of their individualism and autonomy. In order to achieve this totalitarianism, these men are willing to do anything necessary in order to achieve their goals. Just like how the aboriginal’s lost their independence by the early settlers, the proletariats in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaids Tale have lost their individualism by the power-hungry aristocrats that control the …show more content…
Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, the empire of Gilead develops a false sense of freedom by using the aunts to help assimilate the fertile women of the country. In the red center, Aunt Lydia tells the Handmaids that they are getting “freedom to and freedom from” by living in this lifestyle (24). The word freedom is used to develop a small sense of hope among its citizens; this false hope is used to make people believe that the regime is benefiting them more than the past. The Handmaid’s have freedom to walk in the park, chose their lifestyle and give birth to children for God. The Handmaid’s also have freedoms from encountering a rapist, sex fiends or sinners against God. This suggests that a women’s life is scripted because their choices are made for them. Also, it is ironic that the Handmaids are being told that they have freedom when in reality, they are trapped in the cage created by Gilead. Not only do the bourgeoisie give a sense of false freedom to the aristocracy, they also use the news channel to manipulate the minds of its citizens. As the women in the household wait for the Commander to begin the ceremony, they watch a white, old anchorman telling them, “I promise. There will be peace. You must trust” (83). The way the anchorman talks to the audience is like he is trying to brainwash his audience. The anchor man uses powerful words like promise and trust in order for the community to drop their guard and truly become part of this patriarchal society. Also, the fact that it is an anchorman and not an anchorwomen shows the power struggle between men and women. Another fact is that the anchorman is old. Old people are supposed to be people who discovered the world and look up to but ironically, everything he says is lies. Furthermore, they hide behind God to justify the evil laws of this dystopic society. As the commander
Mrs. Ciufo
ENG3U1
16 November 2015
The Over Controlling Government of Gilead “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives” (Ronald Reagan). Governments throughout the world interchangeably uses the democratic form of government and dictatorship. Throughout history, the white men have segregated several ethical groups by stripping them of their individualism and autonomy. In order to achieve this totalitarianism, these men are willing to do anything necessary in order to achieve their goals. Just like how the aboriginal’s lost their independence by the early settlers, the proletariats in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaids Tale have lost their individualism by the power-hungry aristocrats that control the …show more content…
Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, the empire of Gilead develops a false sense of freedom by using the aunts to help assimilate the fertile women of the country. In the red center, Aunt Lydia tells the Handmaids that they are getting “freedom to and freedom from” by living in this lifestyle (24). The word freedom is used to develop a small sense of hope among its citizens; this false hope is used to make people believe that the regime is benefiting them more than the past. The Handmaid’s have freedom to walk in the park, chose their lifestyle and give birth to children for God. The Handmaid’s also have freedoms from encountering a rapist, sex fiends or sinners against God. This suggests that a women’s life is scripted because their choices are made for them. Also, it is ironic that the Handmaids are being told that they have freedom when in reality, they are trapped in the cage created by Gilead. Not only do the bourgeoisie give a sense of false freedom to the aristocracy, they also use the news channel to manipulate the minds of its citizens. As the women in the household wait for the Commander to begin the ceremony, they watch a white, old anchorman telling them, “I promise. There will be peace. You must trust” (83). The way the anchorman talks to the audience is like he is trying to brainwash his audience. The anchor man uses powerful words like promise and trust in order for the community to drop their guard and truly become part of this patriarchal society. Also, the fact that it is an anchorman and not an anchorwomen shows the power struggle between men and women. Another fact is that the anchorman is old. Old people are supposed to be people who discovered the world and look up to but ironically, everything he says is lies. Furthermore, they hide behind God to justify the evil laws of this dystopic society. As the commander