In Class Essay Prep Marxist and Feminist Literary Theories

Marxist theory  If you choose to focus on The Handmaid’s Tale from the Marxist literary theory you are essentially looking at class struggle.  How people in society are conditioned by economic & social structures.  "your social circumstance determines much, if not all, of your life"  In this case there is a clear dominant class and a obedient/ submissive class  Example: In Margaret Atwood’s A HandMaid’s Tale the Republic of Gilead enforces a clear separation between the dominant and obedient classes. To analyze literature using Marxist literary theory is to analyze class struggles and explore ways the social and economic structure has conditioned its citizens. Offred’s life has changed dramatically due to her new found place in society as a handmaid in the autocratic Republic of Gilead.

Things to think about using  In Gilead there is strong divide between the ruling and the ruled.  Physical appearance of The Wives in comparison to the Handmaids. Wives are given the access to luxurious beauty products, jewellery, and ivory -and yet the Handmaids aren’t even given access to lotion. They have no way of making themselves appear more beautiful because they have limited access to beauty products. What they wear and the products they have access to are regulated so that there is NO CONFUSION regarding upper and lower class. Big divide.  The uniforms  No access to beauty products vs. excessive access of Wives  Handmaid’s wear blinders  Offred is either dressed in desexualized handmaid’s outfit OR the proactive outfit.  Example: The handmaids are also forced to wear matching red hats and gowns that considerably cover their bodies because they “shouldn’t care about their appearance”.

 The psychological impact of the government (ruling class) is overwhelming. There is a constant fear of being ‘found out’ and sent to the colonies or murdered. This fear scares the lower/ working class into obeying laws with little chance of rebellion. There is no opportunity to challenge the government therefore keeping the gap between the ruling and the ruled large. (many quotes that depict fear. People hanging or Offred’s anxiety)  Example: In chapter four Nick the guardian winks at her, she cannot believe he did this, her suspicion thinks it was a test on his behalf, they it was set up for her to get caught to see what she would do.  Fear of being caught by The Eyes  Fear of Serena finding out about Offred and the Commander  The public hangings/ public shaming  The particicution  The video of the colonies  The reciting & responses  The hopelessness of being separated from family members

 The subservient are continuously and severely controlled.  Example: Their ‘aunts’ who carry electric cattle prods when they patrol around inspecting the girls for any misbehaviour, which would immediately be followed by punishment.  They are ordered not to talk to each other in the Red Center.  They are regularly seen by a doctor.  They are only given what they ‘need’, nothing extra  They are closely watched  Always accompanied by someone else.

Feminist Theory  This may seem more straightforward considering the narrative is set in an absolute patriarchy in which women are breeders, housekeepers, mistresses, or housewives—or otherwise exiled to the Colonies.  In this future all the work of twenty first century feminism has been completely undone.  This is basically a tale about women being oppressed.  "I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it's shameful or immodest but because I don't want to see it. I don't want to look at something that determines me so completely" (72-73)

Topics to consider focusing on…  In the Republic of Gilead in The Handmaid's Tale basic freedoms are systematically denied to women.  In Offred's flashbacks to the time before Gilead, we learn how the new Gilead regime moved quickly to take away women's financial independence. In the space of a single day, Offred is fired from her job at the library and denied access to her bank account. The new legislation banning women from employment and taking away their financial assets immediately demotes Offred and all other women to the status of second-class citizens, making them dependent on the men who now control all household income. Even the dynamic in Offred's own marriage changes because of this.  He doesn't mind this, I thought. He doesn't mind it at all. Maybe he even likes it. We are not each other's, anymore. Instead, I am his. (191)

 No money  No job  No right to body  No right to religion  No right to opinion

 The physical appearance/ the clothing of women  Every women in society is dressed in clothing that is desexualized OR prostitutes are overtly sexualized.  There is no middleground  Handmaids denied access to beauty products which affects self worth.  The obvious rankings amongst women but ultimately the women are still not very powerful in this society.

 Atwood’s writing conventions  Any hope or power that Offred feels is instantly followed by fear of being caught. This is obviously reminding the reader of the little power Offred holds.  Inactive. Offred contemplates suicide or killing Serena but she never acts.  Offred ‘nameless’. She is never given a true identity.

 Women are to blame for the condition they’re in  Women took for granted the work of feminists and therefore lost their rights quickly. Offred took for granted her mothers work.  Women complied to what authority asked of them and gave up their status instead of fighting for their rights.  Women continuously put down other women in the book, they do not support each other. Women are divided within the book.

 Historical Notes  You can discuss how the conference ( educational institution) disregards Offred’s story and relies more on evidence gathered from a document on a mans computer.  The conference chooses to understand why and asks the audience to not be judgemental of this society instead of asking them to be sympathetic towards Offred. Her story is used as secondary evidence and not taken seriously or discussed critically.

 Start writing thesis.  Start to gather your evidence

Structure  Make sure to state your thesis and the points you will be using to defend your thesis in the first paragraph. Every body paragraph should directly defend the thesis.  Use quotations to support every point.  The only source you need is the book.  In your concluding paragraph restate your thesis and points.  Pointers.  Do not use fluff words. The shorter the sentences the better. Long sentences tend to confuse.  If your quotation is longer than 3 sentences indent and single space.