The Handmaids tale

A detailed Summary of The Handmaids tale

The social structure of nearly all communities from the 1600's to the present have been headed by a wealthy or ruling class. Many practices and institutions within the society exist to ensure that the ruling class retains its power, often marginalizing other groups in the process. This dis-empowerment can be achieved through religious beleafs and the denial of education, (as the whites did to blacks in the America during the 1600's to early 1900's) the use of propaganda and indoctrination, or simply through the exploitation of fear. In a strict society, such as Gilead in The Handmaid's Tale, the passivity of the marginalized groups is required in order for the dominant class to instill its totalitarian ideals and social restrictions upon the citizenry. Disempowered groups, such as the Handmaids (Blacks, Natives, etc. ), are aware of their powerlessness but are unable to rectify their situation. The Gileadean hegemony makes use of social and cultural practices designed for the purpose of repressing any resistance or rebellion by the people against their new government, law and ideologies.

The use of religion, individual's name, along with the freedom to dress as one wishes, are three basic social practices which help to define a

In its developed form the Gileadean hegemony denies the population any knowledge or information, including details of the crimes committed by those executed. This is another practice to ensure that they retain power. The regime demands absolute conformity to the role to which an individual is assigned, and tolerates no deviation from this purpose. Any rebellion or imagined rebellion, even a wrong response to a question, can result in brutal punishment. When all the women in the community are called together for a Salvaging, "it [had] been the custom to precede [it] with a detailed account of the crimes of which the prisoners stand convicted. [but the regime] have decided in the best interests of all to discontinue this practice" (pg. 287), supposedly so as not to "offend [their] ears with any details" (pg. 290). This excuse for the censorship of the information allows the hegemony to select the material which would best serve its agenda to be made public, leaving out anything which may give others an advantage. As the people do not know what those being killed have done, they are forced to draw their own conclusions. In their already paranoid minds, this means that any trivial, slight dissension could possibly result in death. (During the Jim Crow period, the government, Ku Klux Klan and other members of the white society lynched, tortured and blamed Blacks for everything that went wrong in society, without even tiny shreds of evidence or testimonies.) As a result the community is more likely to stay safely well within the boundaries set by the government, not daring to question to challenge their authority in any way, as they believe that any insubordination could get them executed. By using this controlled ignorance to promote terror in the marginalized groups, the regime is shrouding itself in an air of danger and mystery. It is something to be feared and obeyed. This results in the continued power of the government over, and at the expense of, all others.

Education is another aspect of modern culture which encourages freedom of expression, thought and opinion. By denying everyone except the Commanders an education, (as White masters were determined to break the self-determination of subordinate blacks by withholding education, freedom of expression, thoughts and opinion) the dominant group in Gilead is denying them access to knowledge and the independence of thought that accompanies it. If someone is not educated, she or he is more likely to conform and be led by those in charge, rather than question the ruling class and lead others in resistance. The law against Handmaids reading and writing prevents them from giving or receiving information of any kind which could incite them to divert from their reproductive role. News bulletins are censored or changed to emphasise the power of the Gileadean hegemony and the futility of any attempts to escape the roles designated by them. Just as it happened to Americans during the Gulf War the Handmaids are not only denied further education, but also information or knowledge. Therefore they have no choice but to take the propaganda portrayed in the news as truth an

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2115
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels