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Politcal and Social Protest in The Handmaid’s Tale (A-level English Lit)

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Study with Quizlet and memorise flashcards containing terms like The Type of Text, Nature of the Power Struggle
(Behaviour of those with power and those without), Control and others.

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There is in-fact a glimmer of hope and optimism by the end of Atwood’s novel and would be unfair to say Atwood ended the novel with a completely pessimistic way. It can be said that the historical notes, although offering a somewhat dim view of the modern world after the fact, show a sense of optimism. To expand, from the professors, we can conclude that Gilead’s regime has in fact fallen and the events of the novel are viewed as a dark side of history. It’s also shown to be impactful as Offred’s story is being remembered and immortalised as an attempt to make sure something similar will never happen again. However, this isn’t all optimistic, for example Atwood gathers the context of the novel from stories from women and marginalised groups in all societies across history. We know from historical context that the attempt to make sure historical events never happen again are not always successful.
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Moria (Some sense of optimism)- Aaron Williams II

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Moria (Some sense of optimism)- Aaron Williams II

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In Offred’s flashbacks, Moira also embodies female resistance to Gilead. She is a lesbian, which means that she rejects male-female sexual interactions, the only kind that Gilead values. More than that, she is the only character who stands up to authority directly by making two escape attempts, one successful, from the Red Center. The manner in which she escapes—taking off her clothes and putting on the uniform of an Aunt—symbolizes her rejection of Gilead’s attempt to define her identity.

‘Moira was like an elevator with open sides. She made us dizzy. Already we were losing the taste for freedom, already we were finding these walls secure. In the upper reaches of the atmosphere you’d come apart, you’d vaporize, there would be no pressure holding you together.’

-Moira rejects the authority of Gilead however other Hamdmaids have become ‘comfortable’ in the regime
-Whilst Moria is a sense of hope, Atwood fails to offer a complete sense of optimism as the Handmaids have been brainwashed and the oppression of Gilead has been normalised

‘I could kill you, you know, said Moira, when Aunt Elizabeth was safely stowed out of sight behind the furnace. I could injure you badly so you would never feel good in your body again. I could zap you with this, or stick this thing into your eye. Just remember I didn’t, if it ever comes to that.’

Reveals Offreds perception of Moira - She is willing to fight against the oppression, which contrasts with Offreds compliance to the Gilead regime.

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Tom

Despite there being pockets of optimism through out the novel, Gilead’s overall oppression is arguably too overwhelming evident with Atwood’s repeated use of analepsis. Atwood employs this to contrast with the strict rules in the Gileadean regime in order to amplify its oppression. For example,  Offred states: ‘I think about laundromats…what I put in them: my own clothes’ my own soap, my own money…I think about having such control’. This contrasts to the next line, ‘Now we walk along the same street, in red pairs’. Offred’s repetition of ‘think’ implies that Gilead now controls her thoughts and actions, ultimately taking away her freedom. Walking ‘the same street’ in ‘red pairs’ emphasises the oppression through surveillance as there is always someone watching you. Atwood amplifies this with the characterisation of the ‘Eyes’ who are always watching you. Moreover, wearing ‘red’ has connotations to fertility, outlining to the reader that the handmaid’s only purpose is to birth life, drawing sympathy rather than optimism. Atwood’s repetition of the analepsis potentially emulates chaos and the lack of control the handmaids have.

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Despite Atwood’s portrayal of Gilead’s oppression, she has nevertheless succeeded in offering a sense of optimism through the obvious corruption in the regime, even those of authority. Atwood uses repetition ‘ there’s always a black market, there’s always something that can be exchanged’. This emphasis of the adverb ‘always’ is significant in explaining the fact that in every regime, every society, there is always a resistance. These themes of rebellion and defiance are brought to life through the corrupt actions of the commander and the commander’s wife, whether it be smoking a cigarette or playing a game of scrabble with a handmaid. To the character of Offred and the readers, these examples of corruption can be seen as hope, Gilead isn’t forever. These small rebellions of even those in great power, are also suggestive of how everyone in Gilead can be seen as a victim whose lives are constricted and regulated. However, throughout the novel, it could also be argued that optimism is not achieved through the great control the totalitarian regime has over Offred and the handmaids. Across the text Atwood continues to mention the Aunt’s teachings in Offred’s personal speech. This signifies the sly way in which the regime strips the handmaids of any individuality and the teachings of the Aunts overwhelm them.

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Oppression - structurally from the opening chapter. Then, again in the Historical Notes, it could be argued - Offred's voice has been usurped by male academics.

The reconstructive narrative could be argued to demonstrate both oppression and optimism - Offred's story, it is revealed, is not told in the order / way she had anticipated, BUT it could be deemed optimistic that she does get given a voice and a platform.

The characterisation of Moira - to begin, it could be argued that she is a symbol of optimism and rebellion; however, could she be used by Atwood to present Offred as stilted and stuck as she feels she could never be 'a Moira'? Does Offred live through Moira's rebellion rather than acting on her own?

Moira only acts alone and does not return for the others; she is not part of a resistance like Ofglen and Nick (Mayday) and ultimately, the regime breaks her in the end, and she vanishes from the narrative.

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Charlotte— There is hope by the end of the novel and optimism can be seen, although it is small. It could be argued that Offred’s relationship with Nick presents a level of optimism as it clearly shows another member of the regime to be rebellious, fighting against the oppression that is present. Offred describes Nick as “he’s too casual, he’s not servile enough”, which clearly shows that he is less strict when regarding the rules. His loose following of the rules is further presented when “he winks”. not only does this foreshadow the resistance and the existence of Mayday, but also foreshadows Nick and Offred’s relationship, created and endorsed by Serena Joy. Not only does Serena show her rebellion through this relationship, but Offred and Nick clearly break Gilead rules through their ongoing and intimate relationship. It is presented early in the novel that Offred is desperate for human contact; perhaps Nick also desires the same human contact as he “hasn’t been issued a woman”. The rebellion of higher powers creates a sense of optimism in an oppressive regime.

Furthermore, the Commander does not follow the regime to the same extent he would be expected to. Although he is supposed to be one of the characters who enforces the rules, he is often seen playing games with Offred, like Scrabble, and taking opportunities to show her the other world that Moria has escaped to. Although Moira violently defies Aunt Elizabeth and becomes an idol for the other Handmaids, her new life is not one to be desired. Ultimately, she is given two choices equally as horrible, the Colonies or Jezebel’s. Moira chooses Jezebel’s, and becomes a prostitute, behaving against her previous activism, as she is a feminist pre Gilead. During Offred and Moria’s meeting at Jezebel’s, Offred is shocked and disheartened by how apathetic Moira has become, showing how little optimism is present if there is no better way of life after Gilead.

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A Level Specimen Paper 2 - Bolt extract.PDF