Allusions In The Handmaid's Tale

The Republic of Gilead undergoes a terrorist attack resulting in the death of the president and most of the congress which leaves the people of gilead in a totalitarian state. New regulations were formed by the government based on the bible which deprive many citizens from their rights. There is a division between the society in which Handmaids, Marthas, and Econwives all wear different colors signifying their role in this new dystopian society. Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood’s dystopian fiction novel utilizes distorted biblical allusions and christian ideology within the Old Testament in order for the patriarchal regime to show efficiency towards the citizens of Gilead. Moreover, the Republic of Gilead preserves their supremacy through the use of religion in language, rituals, and oppresing laws.
In this Gileadean society the government has overpowered the state causing everyone’s life to change. Due to the new regime everyone in Gilead must obey the new laws devoted to the bible. Offred, the protagonist and any women in Gilead were prevented from working and
owning bank accounts. The society in Gilead has become male domminated due to the women’s rights being taken away. Handmaid’s are forced to bear children for wealthy men and if they are unable after the third try they are sent to the Colonies. Due to references from the bible if any laws are broken you are punished causing the people in Gilead to lives in constant fear.
The society of Gilead revolves around biblical allusions whether it’s the language in the bible reinforced on the laws, to the names of the characters, or even the name of shops.
For instance, Gilead is a land that is mentioned in the bible which is usually referred as healing and soothing. Ironically, the Gilead in the novel is the complete opposite due to it being a place where people’s rights have been taken away and many people live in constant fear of getting punished for breaking a law. However, Atwood includes a passage from the bible in reference to the position of the Handmaids and Econowives. Atwood states, “Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. -Genesis 30:1-3” In other words, this passage from the bible redirects Offred’s position because she has to attempt to bear a child for The Commander and
Serena.
In the Republic of Gilead the book of Genesis takes on a huge role in labeling the citizens. For example, The Econowives must wear a blue wardrobe in regards to representing the Virgin Mary. Similar to the Virgin Mary the Econowives have faith of bearing a child from God through their own handmaid.