Handmaids Tale †Basic Response Essay

One of the ways in which The Handmaids Tale creates opportunities to respond is done its discussion and exploration of a dystopian society. A dystopian society is lots characterised as a futuristic setting with oppressive societal control and portions of totalitarianism. The Handmaids Tale is set in the futuristic Republic of Gilead and a way in which Atwood has chosen to bring out a dystopian society is through creating a sense that the citizens of Gilead ar under immutable surveillance, a characteristic of dystopian literature.This can be sh knowledge through the reoccurring motif of the eye. The eye motif symbolises the eternal heed of god and the totalitarian state with its recurrence creating a sense that citizens of Gilead are constantly being surveyed. This is shown as Offred states to be seen-to be seen- is to be- her voice trembled-penetrated. The use of repetition and italicise of the word seen is use to highlight the circumstance that individuals dont want to be seen, creating an ominous presence of control and threat through the constant watching.Another way The Handmaids Tale creates opportunities to respond in resemblance to its dystopian development is in its discussion of citizens in apprehension of the outside world. This fear is shown through the presence of The Wall. The wall serves as a symbolic barrier separating Gilead from the outside world and excessively emphasising the existence of the totalitarian state and its allusion of a perfect world. This meaning is shown as the wall is described to have barbed wire along the layabout and broken glass set in concrete along the top.Visual imagery hither is used to create fear of the outside world through the literal and metaphorical barrier the wall represents. It is also important to note that the value of Atwoods text is evident in the way it is a exemplary reinvigorated, designed to provide a reflection and thus provide commentary on the potential for twenty-first century soc iety to adopt these extremes. Therefore the novels exploration of elements of dystopian society including the perceived surveillance of citizens and fear of the outside world creates opportunities to respond to The Handmaids Tale in relation to its comments about dystopian society, making it worthful.Even though the totalitarian regime has been destroyed, Atwood warns us that governments can still exploit woman. In the Historical Notes, it is concerning how Professor Pieixoto states, No new system can impose itself upon a previous iodine without incorporating many of the elements to be found in the latter. This implies that selected characteristics of the dystopian Gilead Republic will be adopted by a new government. Another way in which The Handmaids Tale creates opportunities to respond is through its complex interpretation from a womens rightist perspective.This is shown within the novel as the Handmaids bodies are used for procreation, their sexual freedom has been denied. Th is is seen through the constant discussion of fertility with Offred often belittling herself and her be to be used, we are like containers, its only the insides of our bodies that are important. The outside can become cloggy like the shell of a nut. Here a simile is used to continue to degrade and take down Offred through equating her to a simple nut, an empty being, only valued for her fertility.Also the way in which women are used for procreation is shown through the motif of red, a nondescript woman in red, with women here further dehumanised to nondescript beings. The motif of red is used to represent fertility. The way females are often referred to as red throughout the text highlights how the Handmaids sole purpose within the society of Gilead is to procreate, demonstrating once over again how females within the society are only valued for their bodies.In regards to a feminist interpretation, male authorisation is also presented throughout the novel through the discussi on of sterile- this is again italicised to emphasise its effect relating to a feminist viewpoint as males dont go to colonies yet females do highlighting gender inequality. The inclusion body of these elements discusses a range of feminist concerns allowing it to be interpreted in a myriad of polar ways, change magnitude its value. The Handmaids Tale furthermore creates opportunities to respond through its inclusion of post-modern elements thus making it valuable.The novel can be read from a post-modern perspective as Atwood uses self- reflexivity as a mover of questioning what is truth. This is shown when Offred admits, This is a reconstructive memory, all of it is a reconstruction. Its a reconstruction now, in my head. The use of repetition, reconstruction creates emphasis and awareness of how the story Offred tells is only fractured pieces of the story, taken apart and put back together. Atwood here is onerous to make her readers question if what is being said is true imply ing that not everything read is needfully true.This post-modern analysis which believes in the existence of multiple truths can be further seen through Offreds history shown as she questions you want the best for her. Dont you? Here metafiction is used as Offred directly communicates with the audience, presenting an element of post- modern literature. From a post-modern interpretation the truthfulness of Offreds singular narration is questionable accentuated when she consciously reinstates, I dont want to be telling this story. This highlights how her narration could be subjected bias rather than truth. therefore The Handmaids Tale can be interpreted from a post-modern perspective making it valuable as this is one of the many ways it can be responded to. In conclusion it is through the different ways to respond to Margaret Atwoods novel, The Handmaids Tale that the text possesses value. These responses are generated in relation to dystopian, feminist and post-modern interpretatio ns that the novel discusses. Each of these comments on 21st century society and encourage audiences to respond to their own society in different ways making the text valuable.