The Handmaid’s Tale as a

Dystopian NovelBy: Jessica Hagood

Ian Martineau

Daniel Nolfi

The novel takes place in the United States.

The novel is set in the future.

It is during a time when the government has

been destroyed by a group of

fundamentalists.

Many women are infertile.

Women may not own anything.

This system has developed gradually.

“A dystopia (or alternatively cacotopia) is a fictional society, usually portrayed as existing in a future time, when the conditions of life are extremely bad due to deprivation, oppression, or terror. Science fiction, particularly post-apocalyptic science fiction and cyberpunk, often feature dystopias. Social critics, especially postmodern social critics, also use the term "dystopian" to condemn trends in post-industrial society they see as negative.”

(Charles’ George Orwell Links)

The Status of the Individual

The main character has a low status.

The Nature of Power

Power resides in one corrupt dictator or an

entire corrupt government.

Communication

Poor, artificial communication; another

method of control.

Offred is portrayed as low status by:

She must go places in two’s.

She is not allowed to touch anyone.

She is controlled by Serena Joy.

She is limited in speaking and may not read or

write.

She does not own any property.

Power is divided by:

People are broken up into clearly defined classes

that each have names.

Each class has a certain power over one another.

The Eyes are the commanding force.

Even though each group has its own power, no

one truly has that much power.

Communication is limited by:

Handmaids must watch what they say and when

they say it.

People fear that there are microphones listening

to what they say.

There are no more newspapers or magazines.

T.V. is regulated, and they only show positive

aspects of the war.

People are forbidden from talking about the past

and people they once knew.

Exaggerates modern trends towards their most extreme conclusions. Often, this serves as a warning to the reader.

Transformation of social structure into a rigid class system. The presence of a tyrannically government that controls all aspects of a society.

In a Dystopian novel, the populace is under constant surveillance by said tyrannical state.

Rigid rules and restriction of freedom to achieve idealized society. Often times these rules go against basic human nature.

Other Examples of Dystopian Genre:George Orwell, “1984”

Aldous Huxley, “A Brave New World”

Caste System: People are prescribed to rigid roles in Gilead. Women especially are divided into different classes which severely limit their rights.

“It was after the catastrophe, when they shot the president and machine-gunned the Congress and the army declared a state of emergency" (Atwood 174). The fundamentalists first kill those in power to

destabilize the government and then enact martial law.

After “temporarily suspending the constitution” and burning all of the books, they have complete intellectual power over the people. Aim to rid their society of abortion, free-thinkers

and any religions apart from their own perverse version of Christianity.

Women take on feminine roles as…

Commanders’ Wives

Handmaids

Marthas

Econowives

Unwomen

Unbabies

Jezebels

" We are two-legged wombs, that's all: sacred vessels, ambulatory chalices” ( 176).

Men take on leadership and “in control” roles…

Commanders

Angels

Eyes

Guardians

Red: Handmaids Faster heartbeat and breathing (life).

Blue: Wives

Sad and depressing.

Green: Marthas Calm and relaxing.

Black: Eyes Authority and power. Implies submission.

Stripes: Econowives

Mix of all colors.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/colors1.html

Novel

They still have common things such as stop signs,

sidewalks, dishtowels, etc.

There is a black market.

“Even now that there is no real money anymore,

there’s still a black market” (14).

Men still “caress” their cars.

“ This at least hasn’t changed, the way men caress

good cars” (17).

They still have games like Scrabble.

“I’d like you to play a game of Scrabble with me”

(138).

Privacy

Freedoms

Speech

Press

Religion

Equality

Ability to Travel (change as well)

Love

Piece of Mind