The Handmaid’s Tale By: Margaret Atwood A Dystopian Novel

Contemplate… What is the purpose of Dystopian literature? What is the message the authors are attempting to convey?

Margaret Atwood Born Nov. 18, 1939 Canadian Atwood is among the most-honored authors of fiction in recent history . Booker Prize, Arthur C. Clarke Award, and Governor General's Award

About The Handmaid’s Tale: Atwood's fiction is often symbolic. About The Handmaid’s Tale: “What inspired The Handmaid’s Tale?” I’ve often been asked. General observation, I might have said. Poking my nose into books. Reading the newspapers. World history. One of my rules was that I couldn’t put anything into the novel that human beings hadn’t actually done.

A note to the reader from Atwood:     Dear Reader, Every book is a sort of mushroom cloud thrown up by a large substance of material that has been accumulating for a lifetime. I had long been interested in the histories of totalitarian regimes and the different forms they have taken in various societies; while the initial idea for The Handmaid's Tale came to me in 1981, I avoided writing it for several years because I was apprehensive about the results--whether I would be able to carry it off as a literary form. In form, the book is a dystopia (negative utopia). A cognate of A Clockwork Orange, Brave New World, and Nineteen Eighty-Four, it is the story of one woman's altered circumstances, presented as a first-person narrative novel. The roots of the book go back to my study of the American Puritans. The society they founded in America was not a democracy as we know it, but a theocracy. In addition, I found myself increasingly alarmed by statements made frequently by religious leaders in the United States; and then a variety of events from around the world could not be ignored, particularly the rising fanaticism of the Iranian monotheocracy. The thing to remember is that there is nothing new about the society depicted in The Handmaid's Tale except the time and place. All of the things I have written about have--as noted in the "Historical Notes" at the end--been done before, more than once. It is an imagined account of what happens when not uncommon pronouncements about women are taken to their logical conclusions. History proves that what we have been in the past we could be again.  

Atwood calls the novel a “speculative fiction” – ie. What could occur if society closes its eyes to what is going on in the world. If people are not paying attention, they may experience loss of freedoms; in the worst case scenario, they become slaves.

Dystopian Literature Dystopian literature presents fictional worlds or societies that are depicted as utopias, but under closer scrutiny illustrate terrifying and restrictive regimes in which individual freedoms are often suppressed for the greater “good”. Aspects of a dystopian society Oppression Violence Disease/Pollution Human misery Atwood’s dystopia , Gilead, depicts a society in which religious extremists have taken over and reversed the progress of the sexual revolution.

Other Dystopian Literature

Gilead The fictional Republic of Gilead represents an “atavistic Puritanism”. Atavism refers to the reversion to the appearance, behavior of our ancestors. As for Puritanism, think of The Crucible, and the repressive lives of the citizens of New England. Do you see some irony in the naming of this new society “Gilead”?

Fear Atwood illustrates how fear guarantees collusion – the individual is afraid to speak up or rebel; therefore, the individual shares responsibility for every aspect of the society, including its atrocities Through fear, a totalitarian regime is able to police itself. Its members--even the extremely oppressed--police each other as agents of the state. Friendship becomes obsolete as no one can be trusted Note: Totalitarianism: a from of government in which no rival parties are permitted. Total submission to the state is required.

Oppression Social stratification Handmaids Inability to retaliate Wives, Econowives, Marthas, handmaids, Aunts, Unwomen Handmaids Their only purpose is to reproduce. They are “[reduced]…to the slavery status of being mere ‘breeders’” (Malak). Offred knows “[she] is a natural resource” (Atwood 65). Inability to retaliate The women fear the government’s punishments and are jealous of each other. They fail to unite and overcome the Republic.

Violence Salvagings - Public Hangings Lesser Punishments Priests, doctors, gender traitors, etc. They are “like scarecrows…since they are meant to scare” (Atwood 32). Lesser Punishments Women reading, attempting to harm Commander or Wife Injury to hands and feet “They didn’t care what they did to your feet or your hands, even if it was permanent…For our purposes…[they] are not essential” (91). Particicutions - Participatory Executions Punishment for rape – being “torn to bits by a mob of women (Ehrenreich).

Disease/Pollution The Colonies Unwomen Unbabies Solution Radioactive/toxic waste from the previous society (USA) Unwomen Women who are unable to conceive Unbabies Birth defects – “The chances are one in four” (Atwood 112). Euthanasia The government takes the babies away Solution Handmaids are considered the solution as they will repopulate the Republic.

Human Misery Suicide Lack of fulfillment Handmaids are under so much pressure that they often take their own lives Lack of fulfillment Women cannot hold normal jobs, own property, vote, etc. Loneliness/Lack of human relationships Separated families (Offred, Luke, and daughter) Normal husband and wife relationships are difficult to maintain (Commander and Serena Joy)

As you read, pay attention to: Role of Government Gender Roles Rebellion Heroism Symbols Biblical References Ceremony/Ritual Sexual Power Struggles Pre-Giliadian Society

As you read, be sure to understand the caste system. Men: Commanders of the Faithful Eyes Angels Guardians of the Faith Gender Traitors Un-Persons: Women Men Babies Women: Wives Handmaids Daughters Marthas Aunts Econowives

Journal Assignment: The Handmaid’s Tale Chapters. 1-11 Journal Assignment: The Handmaid’s Tale Chapters  1-11 Reading and Journal Due to turnitin.com on Mon. 5/2 12-17 Reading and Journal Due to turnitin.com on Tue. 5/3 18-23 Reading and Journal Due to turnitin.com on Wed. 5/4 24-30 Reading and Journal Due to turnitin.com on Thur. 5/5 31-36 Reading and Journal Due to turnitin.com on Fri. 5/6 37-41 Reading and Journal Due to turnitin.com on Mon. 5/9 42-46 Reading and Journal Due to turnitin.com on Tue. 5/10  

Handmaid’s Tale Journal - continued For each reading assignment, you should pick a passage of interest on which to comment. Copy the passage and page #, and then provide a 5-7 sentence commentary. Remember to provide in-depth analysis of your selected passage. These commentaries should not be plot summaries. These must be typed and submitted to turnitin.com by 7:30 a.m. on the due date. NOTE: You do not need to submit a hard copy to me. I will look at them online.

Please use the rest of this class period to peer assess two commentaries. You should attach two assessments to your own commentary and keep these until Monday. Be sure scores and explanations are included!