The Handmaid's Tale - Analysis

What A Devoted Student !

See? Even on New Year's Eve !

They say how you spend your New Year's Eve, determines the quality of your new year or what you'll be doing throughout the whole year and for that reason I dare say mine will require a lot of hard work which hopefully will not be in vain. Just so you know, with this last entry I shall conclude my blog, so if you are still there please bear with me.

As I've mentioned earlier (in my very brief first entry), the style of Margaret Atwood's writing flows like a long stream of consciousness, though the tone of the narrator -Offred- is full of sharp sarcasm and irony.During the entire book, we observe our heroine's strugle to hold on to the reality, whilst her flashbacks are ready to seize her by her skirts and drag her along the depths of her mind, to take over completely. The repetition of such events can be comprehended even from looking at the table of contents on the very first page of the novel. The chapters entitled "Night" represent the empty moments when Offred is left in solitude , though accompanied only by her storming thoughts. Despite all her inner struggles she finds comfort and safety in the new system she is trapped in, since "people can grow accustomed to anything as long as there are a few compensations." In her case her relationship with Nick enables her to tolerate the restrictions imposed on her. The new regime seems to have taken all the strengt in women away , leaving them helpless and powerless, whereas the constant repressions have silenced the remaining dissidents. The only restriction women can oppose is the one imposed on their thoughts , as they are safe in their minds , thus they find it far easier to shut themselves from the reality on any occasions of emergency, which requires an immediate action. However when it comes to the hatred they harbour for men, who are responsible for everything they have been through, a scapegoat serves as an outlet for their rage during Salvaging, a system devised by the government of Gilead in order to prevent any kind of upheavals.

Finally I simply can't hold myself back from commenting on the Historical Notes, as I have spotted a flaw which had previously resulted in the establishment of the regime of Gilead.The professor and the whole group of people he lectures are far from being moved by Offred and her trauma. They are very remote to the world Offred lived in, which I think shows that their patriarchal leanings remain the same as the previous generations. If men fail to overcome their selfishness or "the need to restore the meanings to their lives" as they call it (and if women can't step out of the safety of their thoughts) we are doomed for eternity. Thus such fate is not far off but imaginable...

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Oh and happy new year! :) 

*I have also found out that there had been a theatre adaption of the book and here is the link for further information:
http://www.thecincinnatiherald.com/news/2011-02-05/Events/World_Premiere_of_Modern_Classic_The_Handmaids_Tal.html

The Handmaid's Tale- Looking Back (Recount)

Here is a picture that I roughly sketched, sorry didn't have the time to finish it completely



The Handmaid's Tale- Predictions

Yup, even on New Year’s Eve...

Homework, oh what a fine thing to do on New Year’s Eve! Though, I would actually enjoy it, if I weren’t half so up to my neck in it, but don’t be mistaken I’m not asking for your pity. I’m aware that there is no time for my groundless complaint and that I should get on with my business, as it’s partly my fault for procrastinating my duties, regardless of my tight schedule of exams (Lesson 1: “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task”, William James). So let’s move on to my predictions about character development and the storyline, shall we?

found this on the internet, might come in handy

I’m convinced that after slapping our face with the bitter truth, a book needs to enable the readers to hold on to an optimistic image of a better future, so as not to cause further gloom and depression. In short, I believe that Offred will eventually find a way out of this system with perhaps a bit of help from the Commander, who is beginning to show hints of friendliness towards her, or maybe from the gardener and chauffeur Nick, to whom she seems quite attracted. As for her daughter and her husband, she may discover that they were long dead, but I don’t think that would come much of a surprise to her, since I suppose, deep down she actually knew that they weren’t alive, but she convinced herself of the contrary in order to survive, or to simply have a reason to carry on. In the end, she might somehow manage to bury this whole regime in the pages of history and establish herself a “new life” with Nick.

FIN.

Oh wow, that was the shortest entry I’ve ever written, quite proud J

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The Handmaid's Tale- How About A Filler

Although we’ve found out that the Handmaid’s name is Offred, we are still not allowed a revealing insight into her real name, her original name in her “previous” life. That name is still lurking between the lines of the subsequent pages, waiting to be detected with a mocking smirk on its face, as we desperately continue to read, hungry for more information.

This ought to be quite typical of a modernist literature style of writing, as the writer does not let us into her story right from the very beginning of the book but slowly allows us to take steps towards it, by not revealing every bit of information at once and making us settle for our own predictions. That is indeed a very favourable method for motivating a reader to stick to a book, but perhaps not in my case, since I’m obliged to post an entry after every forty pages of reading, which forces me to repress my enthusiasm to read further (in which I failed gravely, as I am already half way through the book).

Conceivably, the situation in which the reader finds himself in, after reading the very first page of the book, plays an essential role in provoking the reader’s interest. For, we find ourselves in the present time, having no clue whatsoever about how the things turned out that way in the first place. It has been established that the deterioration of the system was creeping up on the people and that it was too late for them to step out of that circle once they realised that they were cornered. After all “nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you’d be boiled to death before you knew it.” The whole country must have been aware of this ongoing tragedy but how come they took no notice? Such ignorance is astounding. This displays the general tendency of people for reluctance towards the events which do not affect them. However, eventually they realise these events’ proven relevance to their own lives. Unfortunately we also witness how easily the people get accustomed to this drastic change and the ideologies that it bears.

You would expect Offred, having seen only 5 or 6 years of this new reign, to reflect her opposition not only in her thoughts but also in her actions. On the other hand perhaps one can implement ideas into the younger brains more easily, as they are more vulnerable to outside interferences. However this provides us with no satisfactory explanation of why the people are appealed by retrogressive ideologies instead of progressive ones. Aren’t the elderly people usually the ones, who develop a stronger commitment to the religion? If all the people, regardless of their age, are surrounded by these regressive beliefs, there wouldn’t be anyone to support innovations for advancement of the country, would there?

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The Handmaid's Tale- Character Analysis

Offred

Unfortunately we know very little about her physical traits, yet the author kindly allows us a peek into her personality and the carefree life she led before the revolution.

I’m rather convinced that she is quite calm and always tries to keep her composure. However, as her constant flashbacks prove the opposite, perhaps that’s just how she tries to ease her violent inner storms: by keeping her emotions at bay at all times. As a part of adjusting herself to the new society, we witness how her red veil serves as a cover not only for her face but also for her emotions. But surely, one cannot abandon his personal traits as easily as hiding behind a veil, thus her sentimental personality is constantly on the watch for an empty moment in order to show its face and to fill that very instant as well as her mind completely. While Offred drifts back and forth between the reality and her flashbacks, we discover that she had an affair with a married man, with whom she ended up getting married (he obliviously divorced his former wife first) and from whom she bore her first child (it’s a girl!). Her selfless affection towards her husband and her daughter can be recognised in the very fact that her only apprehension seems to be about the fate of her loved ones, instead of her own.

Also, to have an affair with a married man, according to my very limited knowledge from other films and books, requires a very persistent character, which may provide you with enough will to overcome the obstacles ahead of you. (Well either that or a soft character which may provide you with enough naivety to overlook the fact that your partner has no serious future plans with you.)

Offred’s another feature which may seem as a positive aspect at first sight is her obedience. She measures her each step, trying not to cross the line and to fulfil her duties as a Handmaid. However I simply fail to comprehend her readiness for accepting the rules enforced on her. Such manners can only be interpreted as a weakness in character. On the other hand, no matter how firmly she is attached to the rules of the new reign, there always seems to be a part of her, desperately looking for “a way out”. But the mere idea of a salvation is enough to scare her away and to tighten her grip on her duties that make her a member of the society, in which she has now found a routine. On such occasions when an opportunity of a salvation presents itself, she chooses to stick to the system, she’s already adjusted herself to (e.g. chapter eleven, the visit to the doctor). All in all I think she has the makings of a courageous and defiant heroine (which she ought to have, as she is the main heroine in the novel and it is obvious that the course of events ought to be changed immediately).

TTFN !

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The Handmaid's Tale-The Long-Awaited Name Revealed

Good news!

 I’m rather pleased to inform you, my dear faithful follower(s) that I’ve finally discovered the name of the Handmaid. As this discovery serves as a strong incentive for me to abandon my state of idleness and unite with my long-lost keyboard, I shall now proceed with my next entry.

Apparently, the Handmaid’s name is Offred, though this is not her original name but the name the new reign enforced on her after the revolution. When I first encountered it, I thought it was merely an ironic pun on the word “red” and the prefix “off-“. Basically, as a Handmaid, Offred is obliged to wear red at all times, which actually contradicts the portrayal of the humble and reserved women of the new era, since red symbolises power, strength, desire and love. These are the last things; you’d expect a Handmaid to represent. However, perhaps under the new regime, this colour gained a whole new meaning and became the symbol of fertility. Nevertheless, the prefix “off-“ has a meaning of “being away from something”, which can be inferred from the words such as; off-centre, off colour, off-duty, offstage etc. The irony here is that when we combine these two words, we obtain a word, which means “irrelevant to the colour red” but considering that the Handsmaids are bound to constantly wear red, this word contains a curious paradox in its very structure.

On the other hand, after reading a bit further, I came across another Handmaid’s name, which was Ofwarren, whose commander was called Warren. Such unexpected yet simple connections between these names must speak for themselves! It became suddenly clear that the name Offred plainly stands for “the property of Fred, the commander.” There also seems to be quite a resemblance to the Icelandic patronymic (occasionally matronymic) naming system, which was formerly used in all Scandinavia.

Fjalar is the son of Jón (Jóns + son) Katrín is Jón's daughter (Jóns + dóttir)

So, after all the name of our heroine, Offred has nothing whatsoever to do with puns on words or ironies but a foreseeable act of returning to the roots, which is a part of this period of regression. In the end my assumptions have turned out to be mere coincidences, I needn’t have cogitated about the meaning of the name that deeply. Over-analysing much ? J

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The Handmaid's Tale-Questions, Questions

“Blessed be the fruit.”

That’s the accepted form of address among the Handmaids, but don’t worry, it’s just me trying to come up with a more appealing greeting, rather than a simple “hello there” (by the way, in case you are eager to know, the accepted response is: “May the lord open”). Anyways, in order complete my second daunting and formidable task, I ought to share some questions that have popped in my head whilst reading and have been bothering me ever since (well no, sorry not really).

So here we go:

To dear Mrs. Margaret Atwood, hoping that you will someday come across my humble blog and decide to release me from my agony of standing silently by, whereas a handful of question marks are persistently hovering over my head.

-          First of all, I would really like to know, whether your personal experiences in life had in any way contributed to your work. Is it because you experienced a sheltered and conservative upbringing first hand or got into contact with such people that you know the way they react to certain things and their perspectives on the society?

-          If not, then did you study theology or conducted an intensive research about the religions before establishing the rules in the society of Gilead, as their resemblance to the Sharia Laws cannot be overlooked ?

-          If they are based on the Sharia Laws, then do you think Islam is the religion, which has the highest tendency towards encouraging people in terrorist acts or rather are the Muslim people the ones, who can be convinced more easily to reject the distinct line which separates the religion from organization of society, education, etc. and thereby abandoning the idea of secularism?

-          Why do you think the women suffer the most under such religious regimes and are seen as second-class citizens?

-          Do you think it is morally rightful to take away someone’s freedom even if it’s the only left solution to resort in order to put an end to a conflict/problem?

-          And lastly, do you think it wise to associate these restrictions on women’s rights with the men’s desire to overpower women, such as in the incidents in Middle Ages, when women were accused for witchcraft and burnt?

Yours faithfully

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The Handmaid's Tale-First Impressions

A Utopia or a Dystopia?

Being published in 1985, “The Handmaid’s Tale”-written by Canadian author Margaret Atwood-depicts a new era in the USA (now the Republic of Gilead), which is set in the near future, i.e. late 20^th century.  A country, governed by a totalitarian theocracy... In the name of creating a “utopian” world, the government overlooks one single flaw which is bound to occur in order to maintain the control over the system:  lack of freedom

In this world, women are divided into functions: Commander’s Wives, Marthas, and the Handmaids. Although their duties are not yet to be entirely revealed, one can always make assumptions. Commander’s Wives are those of the highest status, Marthas simply run the household and the Handmaids are merely comprehended as objects of reproductive purposes. Seeing that those carrying a baby are the ones who are envied the most, the reader comes to a conclusion, that the fertility rate is rather low and therefore has a significant value in the society.

The story is presented from a Handmaid’s point of view, whose name still remains a mystery to the reader. The language is typical of modernist literature characteristics: clear, sharp and at times ironic, however the style of writing is imprecise and reads as a long stream of consciousness. Although the Handmaid is trying to adjust herself to the new reality and accept it as “ordinary”, her flashbacks always seem to interfere and hold her back. Despite these constant interferences, she doesn’t do much to prevent them, since they serve as a reminder of her better life before the revolution, in which she had “freedom” and “choices”. They may also be seen as a source of hope for her, the hope of one day gaining her freedom once again and stripping herself from her blood-dipped uniform.

This new era bears a striking resemblance to Middle Ages, showing a renewed interest in the morals and the etiquette of those days, such as valuing women only if they succeed in giving birth to a child. However this is not the sole likeness, the reader can notice while reading. The moral code’s association with the Sharia Laws is unlikely to be missed. According to these laws women have to cover their bodies and hair, and are not permitted to look men in the eye. They’d rather “look down at the sidewalk”, “not the eyes”.

 Also, in chapter 4, we are presented with some examples about the behaviour that women have to follow, for instance we learn that women have to be humble and obedient, since “modesty is invisibility”, they “should never forget it” because “to be seen...is to be penetrated.”

The fact that the Republic of Gilead and the countries that existed during the Middle Ages are alike in so many ways, plants the first seeds of concern in our minds. As we read, we observe how easy it actually is to make people abandon their commonsense and good judgement, as a result paving the way for a narrow-minded generation. Being caught in the middle of people mindlessly following the footsteps of a religious dictator, even dissidents eventually accept the retrogressive ideologies, which were either gradually implanted in their minds or enforced on them, as their own. However, if people are that ready to jump on/accept such ideologies, then that means we are at constant danger, for all we know a man with a huge bushy beard and a strong voice may appear one day, claiming that the current system is against God’s very commands. Is that all it would take to drag along millions of people behind an autocrat, who believes he’s the next prophet?

All these key examples create a more realistic and credible image of “the new world”. Thus, on each page, we feel the cold and chilling breath of the writer, reminding us, that this is also likely to happen in the world we live in today. A warning. 

For the film adaptation (1990):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWQ4xnyLy1U

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