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Essay / Review of the themes of "Handmaid's Tale"
Table of contentsWomen's bodies as a political instrumentLanguage as a tool of powerThe causes of complacencyWomen's bodies as a political instrumentBecause Gilead was created in response to the crisis caused by spectacular decline in the birth rate, the entire structure of the state, with its religious trappings and rigid political hierarchy, is built around a single objective: the control of reproduction. The state tackles the problem head on by assuming total control of women's bodies through their political subjugation. Women cannot vote, hold property or employment, read, or do anything else that might allow them to become subversive or independent and thus harm their husbands or the state. For all of Gilead's pro-women rhetoric, such subjugation creates a society in which women are treated as subhuman. They are reduced to their fertility, treated as nothing more than a collection of ovaries and uteruses. In one of the novel's key scenes, Offred lies in the bath and reflects that before Gilead, she viewed her body as an instrument of her desires; now she is nothing more than a pile of flesh surrounding a belly that must be filled to make her useful. Gilead seeks to strip women of their individuality to make them docile bearers of the next generation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay PowerGilead's Language as a Tool creates an official vocabulary that ignores and distorts reality in order to suit the needs of the gaming elite new company. After banning women from employment, Gilead created a title system. While men are defined by their military rank, women are defined solely by their gender roles as wives, servants, or marthes. Stripping them of their permanent individual names strips them of their individuality, or attempts to do so. Feminists and deformed babies are treated as subhuman, referred to as “Unwomen” and “Unbabies.” Blacks and Jews are defined by biblical terms (“Children of Ham” and “Sons of Jacob,” respectively) that distinguish them from the rest of society, thereby facilitating their persecution. There are prescribed greetings for personal encounters, and failure to offer the correct greetings is tantamount to suspicion of disloyalty. Specially created terms define Gilead rituals, such as "Prayvaganzas", "Salvagings" and "Participations". Gilead maintains its control over women's bodies by maintaining control over names. The Causes of Complacency In a totalitarian state, Atwood suggests, people will happily endure oppression as long as they are given some power or freedom. Offred remembers her mother saying it was “really amazing what people can get used to, provided there is some compensation.” Offred's complacency after the start of her relationship with Nick shows the truth of this idea. Her situation restricts her horribly compared to the freedom that her old life allowed her, but her relationship with Nick allows her to recover the slightest fragment of her old existence. Physical affection and companionship become compensations that make the restrictions almost bearable. Offred suddenly seems so pleased that she doesn't say yes when Ofglen asks her to gather information on the Commander. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Women in general support the existence of Gilead by participating..