handmaid's tale thesis

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From Offred to June Osborne: The Handmaid’s Tale, dystopian television and literary adaptation

This thesis analyzes Hulu’s 2017 homonymous serial adaptation to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid's Tale (1985) in order to address two guiding questions: first, how the protagonists of each work (Atwood’s and Hulu’s) relate to a wider tradition of literary dystopias and, second, whether understanding the serial format of contemporary American television can help explain the choices made in the adaptation regarding the protagonist’s characterization. While Atwood’s novel has been the object of constant academic scrutiny since its publication, its adaptation presents a potentially rich object for the study of two contemporary trends that have been left mostly unexplored: dystopian television and the adaptation of literary works to the serial televisual format preferred in the United States, which has been described by Jason Mittell as a potentially “infinite” model of storytelling and is, thus, very different from the British “classic adaptations” to which adaptation studies have turned when exploring television. Following the contributions of adaptation scholars who discuss the particular relevance of target-context conditioners for the choices made by adapters of previous works, this thesis examines Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale against a corpus of writing that attempts to describe the characteristics of U.S. serial television storytelling. In this work, Hulu’s Offred is compared to her counterpart in Atwood’s novel, but the intention is not simply to find similarities and differences, but to try to interpret these based on a wider understanding of the televisual context for which the adaptation was conceived. In this sense, the research conducted here will hopefully contribute not only to the debate regarding Atwood’s novel and its celebrated adaptation, but also to a larger discussion encompassing how the serial format impacts the process of adaptation of more self-contained forms, such as that of the novel, and of how the intermingling of dystopia and television—especially considering the centrality of melodrama in the latter, as explored by Linda Williams—impacts the characteristics of the former.

Related Papers

Open Philosophy

Jeroen Gerrits

This article analyzes the changes in The Handmaid’s Tale’s moral and political outlook as it tracks different forms of complexity in the novel, the film, and the TV series. While the sense of female empowerment increases with each adaptation of this tale of forced sexual servitude in fictional theocratic state of Gilead, the essay argues that Hulu’s TV series (created by Bruce Miller, 2017–) develops an intriguing interaction between the interiority of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel and the exteriority emphasized in Volker Schlöndorff’s 1990 film. In so doing, the TV series Escher-twists across related binaries between activity/passivity and personal/political actions as well. By expanding, displacing, and creatively intersecting storylines which the novel cut short, the series weaves an intricate perspectival web that invites the viewer to participate in its mind games.

Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses

Pilar Somacarrera

This article explores the reception of Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale (1985) after its adaptation into an award-winning television series produced by Hulu in 2017. The reception of the show is studied through a selection of English language articles published online, which are analysed in the light of Manfred B. Steger's theories on globality. The television adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale has had a global impact thanks to its dissemination through the social media and internet news outlets and because of the random concurrence of certain social processes. The news items I analysed polarize themselves into those who argue that The Handmaid's Tale series holds up a mirror to Trump's America and those who reject this belief. In both categories, the commentators are co-opting a cultural product for ideological or political purposes. Resumen Este artículo examina la recepción de la novela The Handmaid's Tale (1985) de Margaret Atwood tras su adaptación en 2017 a una serie de televisión producida por Hulu que ha obtenido numerosos premios. La recepción de la serie se lleva a cabo a través de una selec-ción de artículos en inglés publicados en línea (online) que se analizan bajo la perspectiva de las teorías de Manfred B. Steger sobre la globalidad. La adaptación televisiva de The Handmaid's Tale ha tenido un enorme impacto global debido a su diseminación a través de las redes sociales y de las noticias publicadas en internet, y también gracias a la concurrencia de ciertos procesos sociales. Los artículos periodísticos que he analizado se polarizan entre los que argumentan que The Handmaid's Tale refleja la América de Trump y los que rechazan esta opinión. Mi tesis es que en las dos categorías los articulistas están apropiándose de un producto cultural con intenciones ideológicas o políticas. Palabras clave: globalidad, Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale, recepción, serie de televisión, adaptación, América de Trump.

Journal of Literary and Intermedial Crossings

Fernanda Menegotto

Minna Ristolainen

This essay is part of my Master studies of Narratology at Tampere University. In this essay I research the visual narration in Handmaid’s Tale tv adaptation concentrating especially in the use of colour as a narrative tool. I aim to find answers to the question how the use of colour attributes to the narration as regards to creating a storyworld. I also investigate the intermedial relation of the depiction of colour in Atwood’s original novel in relation to the tv adaptation. I’m interested to find out how the depiction and respondent’s experience of colour varies in verbal form compared to visual form. I will present especially the views of Marie-Laure Ryan concerning the concept of storyworld and Jan Verstraten’s views considering film narratology.

Cultural Intertexts

Oana Celia Gheorghiu

Owing largely to the political situation in the United States, which seems to head, dangerously so, towards a dystopian Gilead, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale gets, at the end of the 2010s, to be re-told by many voices: that of her original creator-by her writing a sequel, The Testaments (2019)-, but also those assumed in successful transmedial adaptations-the homonymous graphic novel authored by Renee Nault (2019) and the TV series that has taken Offred beyond her final step "into the darkness within, or else the light" (Atwood 2010: 307) into the second, third and fourth seasons. Aside from Season 1, which follows closely the convoluted structure of Offred's monological testimony, the TV series seems, at a glance, less a multimodal adaptation and more an appropriation of a late 20 th-century novel that has become a political and cultural phenomenon. Part of a project concerned with the many re-tellings of The Handmaid's Tale, this paper aims to analyse the TV series' fabric beyond the plot departures from its hypotext, as well as the latter's 'translations', with a view to proving its unquestionable indebtedness to the 'mistressmind' of contemporary speculative fiction.

Elaine Indrusiak

This article analyzes the role of narrative inconsistencies in Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale (1985) applying the constructivist model proposed by Meir Sternberg and Tamar Yacobi (2015) in their discussion about narrative (un)reliability. The analysis suggests that the inconsistencies which arise when Offred’s narration and the novel’s epilogue—a transcript of an academic symposium taking place in 2195—are juxtaposed have a specific purpose in the novel. This purpose can be identified through the application of two mechanisms of sense-making proposed by Sternberg and Yacobi: the one concerned with the specific perspective adopted in a narrative and the one related to the thematic goals of the text— its function. Thinking of the novel as a communicative act, we explore the ways in which it engages with the notions of both despair and hope which are imbricated in dystopian writing.

cecilia belluzzo

Despite the many victories achieved by women during the past century, the resurgence of multiple forms of nationalism in Western countries has risen concern about the possibility of a regression in the matter of women's rights. On November 9 th , 2016, the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States of America opened a wound in the fight for gender equality and shocked a generation of young women who never had to question their freedom. In the wake of this radical change of direction in the American politics, on April 26 th , 2017, Hulu released the first season of The Handmaid's Tale, a tv series created by Bruce Miller and adapted from Margaret Atwood 1985's novel. Settled in a dystopian theocratic society, the series follows one of the handmaids, Offred, in her path from submission to full awareness and desire for freedom from the male-dominated system. Against the perspective of a Republican presidential mandate, "The Handmaid's Tale" arrives as a surprisingly strong wake-up call for women all over the world, raising the crucial question: is revolution still necessary? Through the exploration of the main characteristics of the series and with the support of some of the most relevant theories in feminist debate, this brief essay aims to highlight the important, while unexpected, role plays by Hulu's series in the awakening of a renovated necessity to feed the debate on female role in western democratic countries.

Sumathy Swamy , Nandhini Devi

Atwood has written fiction about the future. Starting with The Handmaid’s Tale, she has written five novels which come under that category. They are, apart from the aforementioned novel, Oryx and Crake, The Year of the Flood, Maddaddam and The Heart Goes Last. She, as most of the readers of Canadian literature know, is an ardent lover of nature, which maybebecause she has come from a family which was living “in and out of the bushes”. Dystopian literature refers mostly to the decadence of people reflected in acts of violence, sexual immorality and use of drugs. The protagonists indulge themselves in sin living only in the present”. (Dima- Laza 42) Many novels of Margaret Atwood including The Heart Goes Last, Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We, Cormac McCarthy’s The Road and many other novels of various writers have a dystopian society as their settings. In this paper we shall see some of the attributes of the Dystopian vision of Margaret Atwood.

Feminist Media Studies

Chandler Classen

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Themes and Analysis

The handmaid’s tale, by margaret atwood.

Within 'The Handmaid’s Tale' Margaret Atwood taps into several important themes.

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

It is built around the themes of oppression/rebellion, gender roles, and religion, in addition to rebellion/hope. Other less obvious themes are storytelling and love.

The Handmaid’s Tale Themes

Storytelling.

Although it is less obvious than some of the themes in the novel, storytelling is quite important. The story is structured with Offred’s telling of her life in Gilead at the center . There are a few moments in which Offred reminds the reader of this fact, such as when she considers if anyone is ever going to hear her story. This theme is reinforced at the end of the story when Atwood concludes with “ Historical Notes on the Handmaid’s Tale ”. Here, the professor regards Offred’s story as something very much of the past, but the words he uses and a joke he tells remind the reader that it might not be so far distant.

Additionally, there is the title of the book itself, The Handmaid’s Tale . It is an allusion to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and the various “tales” that make it up. 

Oppression/Rebellion

If a story is going to make use of one of these themes, it is likely only going to be successful if it uses the other. The women, in all levels of Gilead’s society, are repressed at some level. This does not exclude the wives of the Commanders. The stories that Atwood fears in this novel, through Offred’s narration , are based around the desire to rebel or the act of rebellion itself. For example, Moira’s escape from the Red Center and Ofglen’s work with Mayday. Offred rebels in her own, less obvious way as well. She develops a relationship with Nick and brakes the rules with the Commander. 

Gender Roles 

No discussion of The Handmaid’s Tale would be complete without understanding the importance of gender roles in Gilead’s society. The government is a theocracy, based around religion, and they use that religion as an excuse to oppress and control the women who live within it. The hierarchy in their world is incredibly important. Women have lost control of their bank accounts, their homes, their families, and, most importantly, their bodies. There is a passage in the novel in which the Commander describes to Offred why Gilead was formed and what it was about feminism that offended the male population so fundamentally. He creates an excuse for controlling the women around him, although one he appears to believe, about how he felt as though he lost his purpose in life as a provider and protector.

Analysis of Key Moments in The Handmaid’s Tale

• Offred arrives at Fred and Serena Joy’s home to become their new Handmaid. 
• Offred goes shopping with Ofglen; Nick winks at her. 
• Offred and Ofglen see the Japanese tourists. 
• They go to the Wall where bodies of traitors are displayed. 
• Offred remembers Aunt Lydia’s words at the Red Center. 
• She spends time recalling her own life and Nick breaks the rules by speaking to her. 
• Offred recalls going to the doctor. 
• They participate in the Ceremony. 
• Offred steals a daffodil from downstairs and leaves it pressed under her mattress. 
• She kisses Nick and he tells her that the Commander wants to see her tomorrow in his office. 
• Offred worries about what happened to her husband, Luke. 
• Offred and the other Handmaids attend a birth and she recalls Moira’s escape. 
• The Commander and Offred play Scrabble in his office. He asks her to kiss him. 
• Ofglen tells Offred about Mayday. 
• The Commander gives Offred a magazine to read. 
• Offred recalls attempting to escape with Luke. 
• The Commander explains his feelings about gender roles to Offred. 
• The Commander takes Offred to the club for commanders. They have sex; she sees Moira. 
• Serena takes Offred to Nick so that they might have sex and conceive a child. 
• A Salvaging occurs and Ofglen disappears. 
• Serena discovers Offred went to the club with the Commander.
• Nick tells Offred that the resistance is there to take her away. 
• The Historical Notes from Professor Pieixoto conclude the novel. 

Style, Tone and Figurative Language 

The tone throughout The Handmaid’s Tale is bleak. Hope and happiness are few are far between and Offred only just makes it from day to day in her life. The entirety of her independence has been striped away from her. There are moments of nostalgia as well when Offred pines for the past and the family she used to have. 

Throughout the novel, Margaret Atwood uses a nonlinear style of writing. She jumps between the main narrative, that of Offred in Gilead, and Offred’s accounts of the past. These flashbacks provide the reader with the information they need to understand how Offred got to where she is and what happened to her family. The novel is also quite introspective. Offred spends a great deal of time analyzing her own emotions and intentions. She often thinks about the past and wonders what kind o future she’s going to have. 

In regards to figurative language, Atwood uses metaphors and similes throughout the novel in order to create the most poignant images she could. One of the most noteworthy is on page ninety-six when Offred says “We are containers, it’s only the inside of our bodies that are important” . 

Additionally, Atwood uses numerous examples of allusion. She crafted much of the novel around Biblical principles of how a woman should act. There are also quotes from the Old Testament and direct references to stories. (Such as that of Rachel and Leah). Foreshadowing and repetition are also present in the novel.

Analysis of Symbols 

The color red is one of the most important symbols in the novel. It appears throughout the story associated with the Handmaid’s, shame, sex/passion, as well as fertility. Offred even notices it, referring to it as “blood” and connecting it to the violence that Gilead creates. The color appears in the Handmaid’s clothes as well as in Serena’s garden. The tulips are also red.

Makeup is a complex symbol in the novel. It at once symbolizes felinity and the lost freedom that Offred longs for as well as control. The Commander, on the other hand, sees the women as having been liberated from makeup. They no longer have to wear it, nor do they have to think about their appearance. But, despite this, he gives Offred makeup to where to the hotel. Although Offred is not given makeup or even lotion, she does the best she can to take care of herself. She uses butter on occasion to moisturize her skin. 

Harvard University 

The University is one of the less obvious symbols in the novel. It has been transformed into a detention center out of which the Eyes, Gilead’s secret police, operate. There, bodies hang off the walls that surround the college. The Eyes even put on mass executions in front of the library. Harvard exists as a juxtaposition between the world as it used to be and the world that Gilead created. 

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Home > ETDS > Honors Theses > 1167

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Resistance and women's solidarity in the handmaid's tale, from 1985 to 2017.

Dana S. Florczak , College of William and Mary Follow

Date Thesis Awarded

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Honors Thesis -- Access Restricted On-Campus Only

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Bachelors of Arts (BA)

Francesca Sawaya

Committee Members

Suzanne Raitt

Hannah Rosen

Keith Johnson

This thesis examines Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale within its contemporary context of 1980s backlash and analyzes one of its central messages: that of the power and potential of women’s solidarity. This original message is then compared to the messages communicated by the 2017 Hulu adaptation of the novel, focusing on differences in depictions of backlash and women’s solidarity and concluding with an analysis of how these differences may affect the important original underlying theme: the strength found in women’s solidarity. Through analysis of genuine and forced solidarity and how these main types of solidarity intersect in relationships between Offred and other women in the novel, it becomes clear that women have the greatest impact on each other’s success or failure in this backlash environment. Women’s solidarity – whether it is genuine or forced – translates to power. With changes made in the 2017 Hulu adaptation, focus shifts away from the quiet power of women’s genuine solidarity to instead promoting male allies or active feminist resistance, departures from the text which limit the original novel’s powerful promotion of internalized resistance. But regardless of Margaret Atwood’s or the Hulu adaptation’s own explicit feminist identification or acceptance, the feminism inherent in The Handmaid’s Tale remains clear. Around the United States at women’s protests in the ’80s and 2018, the novel has become a rallying cry.

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A-Level English With Miss Huttlestone

A FULL MARK ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Essay

The following essay, penned by Heidi in year 12, captures the essence of the top band – it is developed, has true voice, and supports each ambitious idea with extensive textual evidence. Heidi’s knowledge of theorists, and her passion for debate adds enviable flair to the response .

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is not primarily about the suppression of women but about their defiance. To what extent to you agree?

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is a piece of speculative fiction about both the extensive oppression of women and their attempts to defy it, however their attempts exist in accordance with the misogyny that existed in the time before Gilead and this greatly limits the effectiveness of it. As philosopher Christopher Lasch would say, their protest is incurvatus in se or turned inward. This means that the protest throughout the narrative is lacklustre and far more about the actualisation of the self than the organised movement against total oppression. Atwood’s writing in the era of Reganism, where the rights of women were being pushed back against and thus the narrative reflects the internalised misogyny that each woman possessed via social conditioning that lowers one’s ability to protest effectively. Characters who defy do so by becoming more masculine as the culture hegemonic standard is that men are strong, and women are weak that existed long before Gilead came to be. Atwood seems to say with the lack of effective protest that the suppression of women existed before, it harmed women before, and it will continue to do so unless far greater pushback is made.

Firstly, the character of Serena Joy is created such that her defiance comes from her personal brutality and masculinisation of the self. She is a character who smokes, a recurring motif seen in all protesting characters, however smoking itself is seen as a masculine trait throughout history, with instances such as the Nazi regime totally banning smoking for women when they came to power. Further, the image of a cigarette is incredibly phallic, and the fact that this phallus is used as a semiotic representor of protest reflects the nature of such an act for women. They see no other alternative but this masculine object to use as their defiance, the social conditioning from year of demonisation of feminine power stemming long before Gilead has run so deeply into the psyche that the characters look for a phallic object to protest using. Serena, in her smoking is described by Offred by putting ‘the cigarette out, half-smoked, decisively one jab and one grind’, this imagery is violent, it is the pressing of the cigarette downwards and crushing of its end. The use of the repetition of the determiner ‘one’ creates the imagery of conclusion, she has done this action before and she is used to pushing the cigarette out, she needs no further courses of action. These traits embody the stereotypical masculine, she has decisiveness and not the stereotypical questioning femininity that has been so greatly propounded by wider society. This line also relates to Offred later recognition that she must ‘steel herself’ when partaking in the ceremony, Serena seems steely here, she seems solid, she seems in practise and almost robotic. Further, the way Serena acts is told to be opposing those in in the same social class as her and Offred goes on to say that they ways she puts out her own cigarette is different to the ‘many series of genteel taps favoured by many wives’. Not only does this quote indicate that there is protest and the taking up of black-market objects across the female hierarchy, but it separates Serena and solidifies her as a far more masculine and expectation defiant character. The other wives are dainty and adhere to gender norms that were present pre-Gilead, their actions are graceful and ladylike, they are far more the ‘Angel in the House’ than Serena seems to be. In addition to this, to tap a cigarette is to remove the ash, presumably a fully smoked one, since the Wives cannot work they are reliant on their husbands for the money to buy the black-market cigarettes, yet Serena disrespects this, her cigarette is wasted. She defies the view of ‘waste not want not’. Atwood has stated previously that there are droughts and struggles to get things into the regime, but Serena does not care, her protest here is one of apathy. She removes herself from the feminine doting stereotype who cares over all small details. The character of Serena Joy is one of two opposing sides, on the one hand she is the defiant strong masculine woman who acts aggressively and appositionally, yet her protest is about becoming a man more than it is becoming a defiant individual. She is far more preoccupied with masculinising herself to remove from the expectation of women than fostering true escape from Gilead. This makes her character one entangled with both the suppression of women and the feminine and the defiance of expectation. 

Moreover, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ presents the extent that misogyny invades the self through the internalisation of Gileadean and pre-Gileadean ideas of women and stereotypes. Throughout the novel, the ideas of Gilead are presented through the character Aunt Lydia, who remains a construct within the mind of Offred until the near end of the book. In turning the character in to a construction, Atwood is able to expertly show just how pervasive and condemning misogyny is to the minds of women, just how easily it finds itself inside the heads of those it infects. She uses no quotation marks around Aunt Lydia’s remarks to emphasise the degree at which it has been absorbed into each person. ‘Yours is a position of honour, she said’ is something Offred repeats in her internal narrative within the story. This idea has embedded itself in the protagonist and she speaks of how her ‘flesh arranges itself differently’ and she is less a woman and more of a ‘cloud’. Through this metaphorical imagery, the reader is shown the degree at which Gilead breaks the psyche of women. Offred is within Gilead to the point at which it ahs changed her flesh entirely and is no longer herself, no longer bodily autonomous. To include this detail, Atwood creates the impression that the ideas of the patriarchy imbed themselves so deeply within the women subjected to them that they gain the ability to almost change their existence and self-perception entirely. A feminist reader would conclude from this that the character of Offred is one afflicted with internalised misogyny, she becomes her own oppressor and the oppressor of those around her due to her social conditioning. This is backed up by the recollection of a session within the Red Centre that was reflective of the struggle sessions of Maoist China where in abuse was shouted at a central, labelled dissident – in this case Janine. She says that ‘We meant it’, the ‘it’ in reference to the psychological attacks levied against the rape victim, yet she refuses to label it such due to well-placed shame, replacing it with a mediator, replacing it with the innocent and decent sounding ‘it’, she attempts to remove herself from her own actions. In using a collective pronoun, she is implicating the entirety of the Handmaidens who were with her in this abuse, she acts as though she understands their thoughts and in many ways she likely does as they were all put through the same cycle of abuse. It also creates the idea of togetherness and sisterhood; however, this is sisterhood that has been manufactured by the state to abuse someone, it is sisterhood that exists because of women coming together to attack another. So often in the modern media, women are pitted against one another and there seems a great manipulation to make them hate each other. This sisterhood is contrived, it is there because Gilead understands that they must give these women a slight amount of togetherness, so long as it is to attack another individual. This defiance here is a reflection of the patriarchy.

Despite this internalisation, there are many instances of the creation of distinction between us and them within the narrative. Although much of what Aunt Lydia has told Offred is presented uncommented on and internalised, we are still seen some instances of the opposition to her word such as the criticism of her cherry picking of the Bible verse ‘Blessed are the meek’ and her decision to not ‘go on to say anything about inheriting the earth’. The Bible verse blessed are the meek was debated in DH Lawrence’s novel ‘The Rainbow’ wherein his defiant female Ursula character criticized the term due to the connotation it holds that you must be poor and weak to be ‘blessed’ by God. Her character believed that this term is used to satiate the poor and those in unfortunate positions. In many ways, Aunt Lydia’s statement of this term represents that, she is trying to say that the women are weak and must stay ‘meek’ to be drawn under God’s Grace, however Offred unpicks this and criticizes her use of the term in the fact it has so clearly been cherry picked for this purpose. It is meant to satiate the handmaids, lower their drive to protest and suppress them. Yet in Offred educated background she is aware that this is not the full quote and defies expectation by finishing it herself. A reader may believe that this means she sees a life outside of Gilead, that she believes she will ‘inherit the earth’, or rather there will be some form of balance restored. The use of ‘they’ within this recital also indicates a belief in a collective of Handmaids that will work to subvert the rule of Gilead, she does not talk about herself here and rather talks about a collective of the ‘meek’ who shall take over and repossess what they have been stripped of. Further, this idea of the collective ‘meek’ being together is emphasised in the idea that comes after Ofglen’s taking of Offred into the resistance. Offred thinks ‘there is an us then, there is a we’ before going onto say ‘what about them’. These three collective pronouns create the idea that there are two groups of people in Offred’s mind and that she is separate from the regime and its agents. The ‘them’ is in reference to the state actors that exist within Gilead and their violence. Offred separates herself from the violence in the recognition of a ‘them’, she is no longer a part of what has placed others on a wall, what has murdered those around her because she is able to self-actualise and join a group, to join a ‘we’, to join an ‘us’. and while this sentiment is incredible, it is short lived and just a few pages onward Offred reverts to the personal. The chapter ends with the pronoun ‘me’ in Offred joy that she was not taken away by the Eyes. This is a sad reflection that relates to the thesis that protest within Gilead is protest governed by laws of self-actualisation and not true revolutionary action. Offred creates an ‘us’, joins it, and, due to social conditioning, leaves it at the first sign of struggle.  

Finally, the way protest within the novel creates itself is in line with the concept of inward protest rather than outward revolutionary action. This is called incurvatus in se in the words of Christopher Lasch and generally forms itself in the self-actualisation over active opposition against injustice. One example of this is the stealing of a ‘withered daffodil’ from the kitchen by Offred. The daffodil is named after the Greek myth of narcissus and semiotically reflects narcissism. For Atwood to specify this flowers breed she creates the impression that what Offred is doing is to oppose standards of beauty set out by Gilead. However, a Laschian reader would take this symbol far differently. The fact that her protest is the taking of a symbol of narcissism is a reflection of the inability to protest non-narcissistically created in the 1980s during the creation of neo-liberalism. This phenomena praised the individuals actions over anything else and thus the individual saw themselves as more important than the collective group. Atwood, writing at a time where neoliberalism was being created, places her character past in the same time line as her own and thus Offred is afflicted by the same hegemonic standard. Offred exhibits much of the narcissistic tendencies that are noted by Lasch, namely the taking without much real action and what little action that does take place being to self-actualise. Her decision to take the Daffodil was arrived at because it ‘will not be missed’, this is an example of ‘meek’ defiance, and the aforementioned internalisation of such a thing. We have seen how Aunt Lydia wanted the handmaids to be ‘meek’ and Offred still acts in this way, she still internalises her message. The daffodil is ‘withered’, it is presumably about to be thrown out, it is dying. And Offred recognises this and takes it, because this protest is about self-actualising more than it is protest. 

Overall, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is a novel that cannot be split into the suppression of women and their defiance. It must be viewed as a conjunction of the two; how the suppression of women harms their protest, how the protest of women changes their suppression. These two concepts exist in symbiosis, the protest of the female characters is in accordance to hegemonic weakening female stereotypes, the women are forced to internalise ideas about their own gender that are near impossible to refute. 

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The Handmaid’s Tale

Margaret atwood.

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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Handmaid’s Tale: Introduction

The handmaid’s tale: plot summary, the handmaid’s tale: detailed summary & analysis, the handmaid’s tale: themes, the handmaid’s tale: quotes, the handmaid’s tale: characters, the handmaid’s tale: symbols, the handmaid’s tale: literary devices, the handmaid’s tale: theme wheel, brief biography of margaret atwood.

Historical Context of The Handmaid’s Tale

Other books related to the handmaid’s tale.

• Full Title: The Handmaid’s Tale
• When Written: Early 1980s
• Where Written: West Berlin
• When Published: 1985
• Literary Period: Feminist
• Genre: Speculative Fiction / Science Fiction / Dystopia
• Setting: Cambridge, Massachusetts under the dystopian government of the Republic of Gilead, which has replaced the United States.
• Climax: The Eyes, or maybe the Mayday Resistance, come to pick up Offred
• Antagonist: Though the Commander, Serena Joy, and Aunt Lydia seem to be Offred’s enemies, the real antagonist is the Republic of Gilead itself.
• Point of View: First person limited

Extra Credit for The Handmaid’s Tale

A Movie…and an Opera The Handmaid’s Tale became a movie in 1990 (with a screenplay mostly written by the acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter), and an opera (with music by the Danish composer Poul Ruders) in 2000. Both productions received mixed reviews. In the movie, Duke University’s campus subs in for Harvard in the Salvaging scene.

Speculative Fiction or Science Fiction? Atwood insists on the label speculative fiction for the novel, since she thinks its events could actually occur, whereas those of science fiction are more far-fetched. This distinction has drawn debate and ire from science fiction writers.

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Female Identity in The Context of Patriarchal Society in The Handmaid’s Tale

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1985, Margaret Atwood

Novel; Dystopia, speculative fiction, tragedy

Offred, The Commander, Serena Joy, Ofglen, Nick, Moira, Luke, Professor Pieixoto, Aunt Lydia, Cora

One of the key influences for "Handmaid's Tale" is the feminist movement and women's rights activism. Atwood explores themes of gender inequality, reproductive rights, and the subjugation of women in a patriarchal society. The novel reflects the author's concerns about the potential consequences of eroding women's rights and the dangers of religious fundamentalism. Additionally, historical events such as the Puritan era in colonial America and the rise of totalitarian regimes contribute to the narrative of "Handmaid's Tale." Atwood draws parallels to these periods to emphasize the dangers of extremist ideologies and the erosion of personal freedoms. The novel also reflects Atwood's observations of social and political trends in her contemporary world, including the feminist backlash and conservative movements.

In a dystopian future, "Handmaid's Tale" portrays a society known as Gilead, where women's rights have been severely restricted. Offred, the protagonist, is a handmaid assigned to a high-ranking Commander and his infertile wife. Her sole purpose is to bear children for them, as procreation rates have drastically declined. Stripped of her identity and reduced to her reproductive capacity, Offred navigates her new reality, where she must conform to strict rules and endure a life of surveillance and oppression. The narrative reveals the suffocating control Gilead exerts over women's bodies and lives, as well as the indoctrination and manipulation used to maintain the regime's power. Through flashbacks and inner reflections, Offred recounts her life before the rise of Gilead and her longing for freedom. She forms clandestine connections with other characters, navigating the intricate web of secrets and betrayals that exist within the society. As Offred navigates the treacherous landscape of Gilead, she becomes entangled in acts of rebellion and defiance against the oppressive regime. The novel explores themes of resistance, identity, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity.

The setting of "Handmaid's Tale" is a dystopian future known as Gilead, which was once the United States. Gilead is a theocratic society that has emerged after a period of political and social unrest. The novel is primarily set in the fictional city of Gilead, although specific geographic details are sparse. Gilead is a highly controlled and oppressive regime, where strict religious ideologies dictate every aspect of society. The government has taken extreme measures to enforce its authority, subjugating women and stripping them of their rights. The setting is characterized by a pervasive atmosphere of fear, surveillance, and isolation. The physical landscape of Gilead reflects the regime's values and control. Public spaces are heavily regulated, and symbols of power and oppression are prominently displayed. The Handmaids, like Offred, are assigned to live in austere households, known as Commanders' houses, where they are constantly monitored and subjected to a rigid hierarchy.

"Handmaid's Tale" explores several thought-provoking themes that resonate with readers. One prominent theme is the oppression and subjugation of women. In the dystopian society of Gilead, women are reduced to their reproductive capabilities and are subjected to a system that strips them of their autonomy, identity, and agency. This theme highlights the importance of gender equality and the consequences of patriarchal control. Another theme is the power of language and storytelling. The novel demonstrates how language can be manipulated and controlled to shape narratives and maintain social hierarchies. It delves into the ways in which language can be both liberating and oppressive, and how narratives can be used to resist or reinforce systems of power. The theme of resistance is also significant in "Handmaid's Tale." The story follows the protagonist, Offred, as she navigates the oppressive society and seeks moments of rebellion and defiance. It explores the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for individuals to resist and challenge unjust systems.

One notable device is the use of symbolism. Margaret Atwood skillfully incorporates symbolic elements throughout the narrative to convey deeper meaning. For example, the color red symbolizes both fertility and the loss of freedom for the handmaids. The handmaids' distinctive red robes represent their roles as reproductive vessels and serve as a constant reminder of their subjugation. Another literary device employed in the novel is the use of irony. Atwood uses irony to highlight the stark contrast between the purported intentions of the totalitarian regime in Gilead and the reality of its oppressive nature. The establishment of Gilead is presented as a means to restore order and protect women, yet it perpetuates their marginalization and strips them of their rights. Imagery is another powerful device in "Handmaid's Tale." Atwood's vivid descriptions create a vivid and unsettling visual landscape, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the dystopian world. For instance, the image of the wall, adorned with the bodies of executed rebels, serves as a chilling reminder of the consequences of resistance. Additionally, the narrative structure itself is significant. Atwood employs a nonlinear narrative that moves between past and present, providing glimpses into the protagonist's life before and after Gilead. This narrative device adds depth to the story, allowing for a deeper exploration of Offred's character and the societal changes that led to the rise of Gilead.

One notable representation of "Handmaid's Tale" is the critically acclaimed television series adaptation. Launched in 2017, the series has received widespread acclaim for its faithful depiction of the novel's themes and its chilling portrayal of the totalitarian society of Gilead. The series has garnered numerous awards and nominations, bringing renewed attention to the story and its relevance in contemporary society. Another representation of "Handmaid's Tale" is its presence in academic discussions and literary analyses. The novel has become a staple in literature courses, feminist studies, and dystopian fiction studies, prompting insightful academic conversations about its themes, narrative techniques, and social commentary. Furthermore, "Handmaid's Tale" has inspired artistic interpretations in various mediums. From theater adaptations to art installations, artists have explored and reimagined the novel's themes and imagery, further contributing to its cultural impact.

The influence of "Handmaid's Tale" extends beyond its initial publication, making a profound impact on literature, popular culture, and feminist discourse. Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel has become a touchstone for exploring themes of gender oppression, reproductive rights, and authoritarianism. One significant influence of "Handmaid's Tale" is its contribution to feminist literature. The novel's portrayal of a society that subjugates and controls women's bodies has sparked important discussions about patriarchal power structures and the struggle for women's rights. It has inspired feminist writers to address similar themes and explore the complexities of gender inequality in their own works. The novel's cultural influence is evident in its adaptation into a highly acclaimed television series. The show's popularity has generated widespread conversation, not only about the original story but also about contemporary social and political issues. Furthermore, "Handmaid's Tale" has influenced the discourse on reproductive rights, sparking debates and drawing attention to the importance of bodily autonomy. It has provided a cultural reference point for discussions on the dangers of authoritarianism and the potential erosion of civil liberties.

1. "Handmaid's Tale" has been translated into over 40 languages and has sold millions of copies worldwide since its publication in 1985. 2. The novel has been awarded numerous prestigious literary prizes, including the Governor General's Award for Fiction in Canada and the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Science Fiction. 3. The impact of "Handmaid's Tale" extends beyond literature, as it has become a symbol of resistance and empowerment for marginalized communities. The iconic red cloak and white bonnet worn by the Handmaids have been adopted as symbols of protest in various women's rights demonstrations and political movements, emphasizing the novel's ability to inspire collective action and serve as a visual representation of dissent.

"The Handmaid's Tale" is an important and compelling subject to write an essay about due to its profound exploration of themes that remain relevant in contemporary society. By delving into topics such as gender inequality, reproductive rights, authoritarianism, and the dangers of extremism, the novel prompts critical examination and provokes discussions on pressing social issues. Through its vivid portrayal of a totalitarian society, it challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about power dynamics, the oppression of women, and the value of individual freedom. By studying "The Handmaid's Tale," students and scholars can engage in critical discourse, explore complex literary devices, and gain deeper insights into the social, political, and ethical implications of the novel.

"The moment of betrayal is the worst, the moment when you know beyond any doubt that you've been betrayed: that some other human being has wished you that much evil." "We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it." "You can only be jealous of someone who has something you think you ought to have yourself." "We thought we had such problems. How were we to know we were happy?" "You can't help what you feel, but you can help how you behave."

1. Bacci, F. (2017). The Originality of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Children of Men: Religion, Justice, and Feminism in Dystopian Fiction. Metacritic Journal for Comparative Studies and Theory, 3(2), 154-172. (https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=594496) 2. Atwood, M. (2017). Margaret Atwood on what ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’means in the age of Trump https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/books/review/margaret-atwood-handmaids-tale-age-of-trump.html. The New York Times, 10. 3. Marghitu, S., & Moore Johnson, K. (2018). Feminist online responses against the US Alt-right: Using The Handmaid’s Tale as a symbol and catalyst of resistance. Communication Culture & Critique, 11(1), 183-185. (https://academic.oup.com/ccc/article-abstract/11/1/183/4953978) 4. DeKeseredy, W., DeKeseredy, A. & DeKeseredy, P. (2021). 6. Understanding The Handmaid’s Tale: The Contribution of Radical Feminism. In J. Grubb & C. Posick (Ed.), Crime TV: Streaming Criminology in Popular Culture (pp. 82-95). New York, USA: New York University Press. (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.18574/nyu/9781479804368.003.0007/pdf#APA) 5. Bazin, N. T. (1991). Women and revolution in dystopian fiction: Nadine Gordimer's July's People and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. In J. M. Crafton (Ed.), Selected essays: International conference on representing revolution 1989 (pp. 115-127). West Georgia College. (https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/english_fac_pubs/141/) 6. Lois Feuer (1997) The Calculus of Love and Nightmare: The Handmaid's Tale and the Dystopian Tradition, Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction, 38:2, 83-95. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00111619.1997.10543167?journalCode=vcrt20) 7. Neuman, S. (2006). ‘Just a Backlash’: Margaret Atwood, Feminism, and The Handmaid's Tale. University of Toronto Quarterly, 75(3), 857-868. (https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/utq.75.3.857?journalCode=utq) 8. Xie, J. (2021). Symbolism of Flowers in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Open Access Library Journal, 8(7), 1-8. (https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=110737) 9. Staels, H. (1995). Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale: resistance through narrating. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00138389508598988?journalCode=nest20) 10. Miner, M. (1991). " Trust Me": Reading the Romance Plot in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Twentieth Century Literature, 37(2), 148-168. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/441844)

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The Feminist Dystopian Themes in Margret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale: A Reflection of the Social and Political Issues

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• The Handmaid’s Tale Literary Analysis The complex nature of the setting, therefore, influences the direction of the story in that it helps the author to sufficiently blend historical and futuristic ideal in a way seen as still relevant to the […]
• Setting’s Influence: “A Doll’s House” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” This paper focuses on the setting in the works A Doll’s House and The Handmaid’s Tale and its impact on the characters and the author’s context through the prism of the chosen historical periods, culture, […]
• Dystopias in “Animal Farm” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” In this regard, the aim of literary dystopias is to caution and warn society against the blind following of ideologies that lead to the breakdown of social order.
• Person vs. Society Conflict in Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” This is the best description of the person vs.society conflict; it allows the reader to understand, analyze the handmaid’s feelings and emotions, and come to a logical definition of the subject of this confrontation.
• Social Order in “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood The creation of the society described by Margaret Atwood was influenced by a serious crisis, the cause of which was a decrease in the birth rate in the country, a violation of the structure and […]
• “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Atwood and “My Story” by Das Offred is the protagonist in the novel who struggles against all odds to maintain her identity and protect the rights of women against the oppressive regime. It is, however, prudent to note that man vs.society […]
• Visuals to Support The Handmaid’s Tale Movie Morano’s primary technique of narrow focus allowed her to focus on the characters’ emotions and perceive the terror of the polished streets and houses of Gilead.
• Subordination in “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood Therefore, the subordinate position of women in the novel is explained by the use of language techniques by Gilead, and their status was accepted by reshaping identities under this condition.
• Romantic Love in “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood With the development of the novel’s plot it becomes evident that ordinary people like Offred, Luke and the Commander will take any risks just to become inspired by a chance to love and be loved.”The […]
• “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood In interpreting the book, the main area of discussion will be supporting the meanings of the work whereas in evaluating the book, the focus will be coming up with the literary merit of the book […]
• Analysis of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood The Handmaid’s Tale is characterized as a feminist dystopia written in direct reaction to the growing political power of the American religious right in the 1980s.
• “The Handmaid’s Tale” a Novel by Margaret Atwood From Offred’s accounts of their time at the Center, Moira shows a strong will to survive by maintaining her composure and emotional strength while many of the women were devastated in the life of imprisonment […]
• Harassment Portrayal in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” The following paper analyzes the motifs and themes contributing to the described effect in order to determine the ways in which the system supports harassment at the state level.
• Society in Literature: The Handmaid’s Tale and Revolutionary Letters Overall, the main problem lies in the differences between the local legislation and the rules that Shariah banks have to follow. There are different problems that are related to the development of Islamic banking in […]
• Society Degradation: The Handmaid’s Tale and Revolutionary Letters Similar to Atwood’s story, Di Prima’s Revolutionary Letters allows the readers to go beyond the accepted paradigms in the pursuit of the truth and independence.
• The Handmaid’s Tale vs. The Country Between Us This essay will discuss two works that eloquently illustrate the dangers of totalitarianism, namely, the novel The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Atwood and the book of poetry The Country Between Us by Carolyn Forche.
• The Handmaid’s Tale In the book, The Handmaid’s Tale, the republic of Gilead presents a different environment with different rules from those of the former order before the conflict and establishment of a new order.
• Human Rights in Serial ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Freedom of choice comprises one of the constituents of a wider debate going to the society under the umbrella of human rights.
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• Comparison of “Nineteen Eighty-Four” by George Orwell and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
• “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Scarlet Letter” as Works of Dystopian Fiction
• Society in “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood
• The Representation of the Body and Identities in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Miller’s Tale,” and “Never Let Me Go”
• The Pover of Language in “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• Contextual Analysis of Gender in “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• The Depreciation of the Horror of “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• Abuse of Religion in “The Handmaid’s Tale”
• How Does Atwood Present Offred’s Sense of Self in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• How Is Corruption Shown in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Does Offred Mean by “We Are Two-Legged Wombs” in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• How Did Gilead Come Into Being in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Does “The Handmaid’s Tale” Say About Feminism?
• What Is the Main Point of “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Is Forbidden in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• How Does Atwood Explore the Theme of Love in the Novel “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Is the Central Conflict in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Is the Social Issue in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Are the Symbols in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• Is “The Handmaid’s Tale” a Feminist Dystopia?
• How Does Margaret Atwood Establish and Develop a Dystopian Narrative in Her Novel “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• Why Is “The Handmaid’s Tale” Dystopian?
• How Whereas Atwood Use Clothing to Characterise in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• How Did Offred Become a Handmaid in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• How Is Power Presented in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Do Flowers Symbolize in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Is the Meaning Behind “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• How Does “The Handmaid’s Tale” End?
• What Is the Central Theme of “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• Does “The Handmaid’s Tale” Critique Feminism?
• Is “The Handmaid’s Tale” Postmodern?
• What Are the Differences and Similarities Between “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro and “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood?
• Why Is “The Handmaid’s Tale” So Important?
• How Does “The Handmaid’s Tale” Connect to the Real World?
• How Is Dystopia Portrayed in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• What Religion Is “The Handmaid’s Tale” Based on?
• Is “The Handmaid’s Tale” Based on a True Story?
• Who Has the Most Power in “The Handmaid’s Tale”?
• Lord of the Flies Research Ideas
• Jane Eyre Ideas
• The Kite Runner Titles
• Catcher in the Rye Topics
• To Kill a Mockingbird Topics
• The Great Gatsby Ideas
• Animal Farm Research Topics
• Fahrenheit 451 Titles
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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"89 The Handmaid’s Tale Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 13 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-handmaids-tale-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '89 The Handmaid’s Tale Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 13 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. "89 The Handmaid’s Tale Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-handmaids-tale-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "89 The Handmaid’s Tale Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-handmaids-tale-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "89 The Handmaid’s Tale Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." December 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/the-handmaids-tale-essay-examples/.