Handmaid’s Tale: Dystopian Warning

The Handmaid’s Tale, a seminal work by Margaret Atwood published in 1985, is categorized as a dystopian novel that delves into the nightmarish world of the totalitarian and theocratic Republic of Gilead. This fictional society is rooted in biblical beliefs, which are manipulated to justify inhumane state practices. The regime systematically strips women of their rights, preventing them from appealing to or seeking legal protection from the government. The novel explores the dire consequences of a declining population due to widespread infertility, which the regime attempts to rectify by using fertile women as breeders.

These women, known as Handmaids, are forced to reproduce on behalf of the Commanders and their barren wives, reducing their existence to mere vessels for procreation.

Offred and the Patriarchal Theocracy

The protagonist of this novel, a Handmaid named Offred, navigates the oppressive society of Gilead. The novel suggests that while Gileadeans claim religion is used to strengthen democracy, it instead entrenches a patriarchal and theocratic regime. Atwood’s choice of character names further reinforces the novel's themes and social commentary. For example, the Angels, the guards or police officers, monitor civilians to prevent treachery. Similarly, the Marthas, or Unwomen, symbolize the biblical Martha, sister of Mary, who served Jesus Christ, and in the novel, they serve the Commander. Atwood cleverly uses these names to underscore the religious and societal roles imposed on individuals in Gilead.

In Gilead, biblical phrases are exchanged among the Handmaids, such as “Praise Be,” “May the Lord Open,” or “Blessed be the fruit,” serving as constant reminders of their purpose within the regime. The Bible is the regime's foundation, with every law derived from biblical segments. Atwood stated that “the mindset of Gilead is really close to that of the seventeenth-century Puritans” (Howells et al. 130). The Commanders consider themselves modern-day Jacobs, while their wives and Handmaids are likened to Rachel and her sister from the Bible. This biblical analogy is reinforced during the ceremony when the Commander recites Genesis 30:1-3, emphasizing the perceived infertility of the wives and the necessity of Handmaids as surrogate mothers. Offred's description of Handmaids as “two-legged wombs, that’s all: sacred vessels, ambulatory chalices” (Atwood 128) highlights their dehumanization.

Religion as a Tool for Oppression

In an interview, Atwood was asked, “If you could model a new human being, would you eliminate the hunger for God?” She replied, “I could not eliminate the hunger for God without eliminating the language. I would, however, eliminate the desire to use God as a weapon” (Atwood Interview). Atwood's response underscores the novel’s critique of how religion is weaponized to control and oppress women in Gilead. The Handmaids are reduced to commodities, their bodies exchanged for survival. This is evident in Offred’s experiences, where she is forced to capitulate to the government’s demands. The regime exploits religion to terrorize and strip women of their rights under the guise of national security.

Societies in crisis often scapegoat individuals, attributing societal issues to human sacrifices. This tendency is mirrored in Gilead, where the regime finds justification in symbolic structures like religion. Atwood highlights historical parallels, drawing on the Puritan era's practices of direct religious experience and moral conduct. Women in Puritan society had limited legal rights and were expected to obey their husbands. Similarly, in Gilead, women are powerless, unable to communicate with government officials, yet expected to support each other through childbirth, death, and sickness.

Manipulation and Resistance

The novel explores the regime’s attempts to erase the past and manipulate memory. The “Red Center” trains individuals to become Handmaids, indoctrinating them into Gilead’s theocratic system. A particularly harrowing scene involves Janine, who is shamed for being gang raped, as the Aunts and other women chant to teach her a lesson. The Red Center prepares Handmaids to be illiterate, preventing rebellion by denying them the ability to read and write. This control extends to everyday tasks, as seen when Offred receives pictures of groceries instead of written lists.

Despite her powerlessness, Offred finds a sense of agency within the confines of the Commander’s office. She is no longer just a “usable body” (Atwood 172) to him, as their Scrabble games and conversations afford her some measure of freedom. Offred's ability to request luxuries like lotion, despite the regime’s constraints, offers her a semblance of agency. However, she realizes that true freedom cannot be attained through the Commander or within Gilead's oppressive confines. Her world revolves around memories of her daughter, husband Luke, best friend Moira, and her feminist mother.

Feminism and Resistance

Atwood’s novel presents a complex view on feminism, using essentialist feminism to critique the patriarchy. The Gilead regime denies women equality and independence. Offred’s mother represents feminist activism, advocating for change through protest. Her lament that “you don’t know what we had to go through” (Atwood 12) highlights the generational struggle for women’s rights. Offred, by contrast, initially takes her freedom for granted, only to lose everything under the regime’s control.

Moira represents another form of resistance. A confident lesbian feminist, Moira defies the regime by attempting to escape. Her character embodies hope and rebellion, inspiring Offred to imagine a future reunion with her family. However, Moira’s fate is uncertain, as she is later found at Jezebel’s. Offred’s imaginative retelling of Moira’s story underscores the enduring power of hope and resistance.

Utilitarianism and Religious Extremism

The central tenet of Gilead’s regime is utilitarianism, where the supposed happiness of the majority justifies the subjugation of fertile women. The regime addresses the crisis of high infant mortality rates by coercing women into surrogacy. This degradation of women is supported by religious extremism, using God as a weapon to establish a patriarchal society. Atwood clarifies that her novel is not an attack on Christianity but a reflection of past events. She argues that radical governments build on existing foundations, as seen in Gilead’s synthesis of church and state with Puritan ideologies.

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale is a powerful exploration of the dangers of a theocratic regime that exploits religion to oppress and control. Through its dystopian setting, the novel serves as a cautionary tale about the erosion of women’s rights and autonomy. Atwood’s intricate narrative and rich character development highlight the resilience of the human spirit in the face of tyranny, offering a compelling critique of patriarchal and theocratic systems.

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