Handmaids Tale-Struggle for Identity

Handmaids Tale-Struggle for Identity

1. Dystopian future

   • Infertility
     • Caused by radiation poisoning

2. Lack of womens rights

   • 'Walking wombs'
   • Treated as the Commanders property
     • The Ceremony-Fertilisation of the Handmaids by the Commanders
       • Handmaids have no choice. Essentially rape
         • The Handmaids are held down by the Commanders wives
     • The males of Gilead have all the power
       • Run the state-they are the only people who are still being educated
         • Information=power
           • 'I would like to know what's going on'
   • Women are soley for breeding
     • 'The womb is all that matters'

3. Hierarchy of females

   • Commanders Wives
     • Aunts
       • Handmaids
         • Unwomen (infertile)
   • Colours
     • Blue
       • Yellow/orange
         • Red
           • Brown
           • Red wings on the sides of their head
             • Unable to look around/be seen
               • Trapped within themselves-unable to talk to one another
       • Akin to the Virgin Mary

4. If women cannot breed/refuse to, they are taken to the Toxic remains of Gilead to die

5. Margret Atwood

   • 1980's America
     • Held a lot of controvosy