Analysis Of The Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood
(Ayatollah Khomeini turned Iran into an Islamic Republic.) Not only were alarming events like these happening in Middle Eastern countries like Iran, they were happening in our own backyard. Neuman goes on to say:
By 1984, in the United States, the gains women had achieved during the previous decade had come under attack from several directions. During Ronald Reagan's presidency, women made up an increasing percentage of those in the lowest-paid occupations, and they made no gains or lost ground in the better-paid trades and professions.' The number of elected and politically appointed women declined. One-third of all federal budget cuts under Reagan's presidency came from programs that served mainly women, even though these programs represented …show more content…
Literary Articles says: “Whereas Modernism places faith in the ideas, values, beliefs, culture, and norms of the West, Postmodernism rejects Western values and beliefs as only a small part of the human experience and often rejects such ideas, beliefs, culture, and norms” (Literary Articles). The Handmaid’s Tale is filled with instances of rejection, including: religion, environmental issues, womens’ rights, the government, the social class system, and international relations. In the scholarly article “The Politics of The Handmaid’s Tale,” Gorman Beuchamp says:
In Canada, they said, 'Could it happen here?' In England, they said, jolly good yarn.' In the United States, they said, 'How long have we got?' The British response is the calmest, viewing the work, that is, purely as fantasy, like Alice in Wonderland or Lord of the Rings. Canadians feel, apparently, some modest degree of apprehension. But it is in America, where the tale is set, that reaction has been most intense, most alarmed. …show more content…
Although this book was written in 1986 touching on many things that were going on at the time, it is still relatable today. This terrible world reminds the reader that they are very fortunate to be able to read and have the rights that they do, because life would be miserable without them. It is written in true postmodern style, tying in elements of literature that came before it. Postmodernism does not sugar-coat anything, and there is no better style to write this novel in, because its purpose is to shock readers. Perhaps the most important reason this book should be added to Literature in English II is that it is a testament to human spirit. Offred has been through so much tragedy, but she possibly survives everything and never “lets the bastards grind her
By 1984, in the United States, the gains women had achieved during the previous decade had come under attack from several directions. During Ronald Reagan's presidency, women made up an increasing percentage of those in the lowest-paid occupations, and they made no gains or lost ground in the better-paid trades and professions.' The number of elected and politically appointed women declined. One-third of all federal budget cuts under Reagan's presidency came from programs that served mainly women, even though these programs represented …show more content…
Literary Articles says: “Whereas Modernism places faith in the ideas, values, beliefs, culture, and norms of the West, Postmodernism rejects Western values and beliefs as only a small part of the human experience and often rejects such ideas, beliefs, culture, and norms” (Literary Articles). The Handmaid’s Tale is filled with instances of rejection, including: religion, environmental issues, womens’ rights, the government, the social class system, and international relations. In the scholarly article “The Politics of The Handmaid’s Tale,” Gorman Beuchamp says:
In Canada, they said, 'Could it happen here?' In England, they said, jolly good yarn.' In the United States, they said, 'How long have we got?' The British response is the calmest, viewing the work, that is, purely as fantasy, like Alice in Wonderland or Lord of the Rings. Canadians feel, apparently, some modest degree of apprehension. But it is in America, where the tale is set, that reaction has been most intense, most alarmed. …show more content…
Although this book was written in 1986 touching on many things that were going on at the time, it is still relatable today. This terrible world reminds the reader that they are very fortunate to be able to read and have the rights that they do, because life would be miserable without them. It is written in true postmodern style, tying in elements of literature that came before it. Postmodernism does not sugar-coat anything, and there is no better style to write this novel in, because its purpose is to shock readers. Perhaps the most important reason this book should be added to Literature in English II is that it is a testament to human spirit. Offred has been through so much tragedy, but she possibly survives everything and never “lets the bastards grind her