Handmaid's Tale Feminist Analysis

Fertile women are the key for a thriving country. In the book, Handmaid’s Tale there is a country named Gilead that was born after the destruction of the United States. Within the Gilead, there is a strong totalitarian government where the people do not have the freedom to think their own thoughts. Gilead is a biblical term for “hill of testimony”. Religion plays a big part on how Gilead controls their government. The women of Gilead no longer have control over themselves, as the government dictates their thoughts, beliefs, and actions, despite the fact that the government claims to do it for their benefit.
The government emotionally controls women by putting them against each other. The Aunts are used by the government to teach Handmaids,
Gilead’s version of ‘justice.’ Aunt Lydia explained to Handmaids that “[i]n the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from.” Lydia suggested that the women in Gilead were protected from actions against them. Moreover, Handmaids are required to cover their hair and bodies from head to toe. This restricts any sexual desires, based on the belief that a woman's sexuality is dangerous. It would make women appear immodest. Gilead strips away any sexual privileges from their people. Gilead desired sexual control over the women; loss of this control is seen as a crime. Rape, for example, was a serious crime in Gilead, punishable by death. During the ‘Salvaging’ ceremony, women from different social ranks gather around to witness the killings of ‘criminals.” One of these criminals was a Guardian, convicted of rape. Aunt Lydia claimed that the Guardian raped a pregnant handmaid. The handmaid lost her unborn baby, as a result. Filled with anger, Handmaids rushed in to beat the Guardian to a bloody pulp. The handmaids, themselves, beat the Guardian to death, similar to how they joined together to criticize Janine. Offered shamefully admits that she felt “great hunger,” the same feeling she felt as Janine ‘confessed’ her sins. Symbolically, Gilead uses peer pressure and mentality as a way to unite the handmaids, but for the purpose of dictating and punishing others.
One main principle presented in the novel, was the importance of gender roles, which dictated the actions made by women from Gilead. Offered shares a distant memory of her lifestyle before Gilead. These were times before Offered believed, women were protected. She remembers taking extra precautions with men, such as keeping her doors closed from strangers and ignoring catcalls. In Gilead, no one whistles as women walk, touch or talk to them. Offered acknowledges the fact that Gilead has made improvements from pre-Gilead. However, she feels remorseful when she goes to town and see a group of Guardians. As the Guardians become attracted to her, Offred is aware that sexual attraction is the only form of power she has. The most Offred was able to do was making eye contact and slightly swaying her hips. Moreover, Aunt Lydia explains to Handmaids, in chapter 5 that “[i]n the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. [They are now] are being given freedom from.” Although Aunt Lydia claimed that women in Gilead are protected from unwanted attention, they are emotionally confined instead. When Offered takes a trip to the supermarket, she encounters a group of Japanese tourists. These tourists are wearing short skirts, high heels, and red lipstick. Both Offred and Ofglen are shocked by the sight. However, Offered is aware of the fact that she used to dress similar to the tourists, though she currently finds this repulsive. At this moment, Offered realizes that Gilead had successfully taken control over her thoughts, though she is not able to overthrow these new thoughts. Offred’s manner towards the tourists and men, justifies Gilead’s control over the women.
The government of Gilead expresses the idea of controlling women through horrific ways.
Only valuing fertility, young women capable of having children, are sent to the Red Centre are they are placed to be Handmaids. Even though the government claim that Handmaids are the key to thriving nation, they are placed in pitiful positions. The elite group of women Wives and Daughters, as well as Marthas and Econowives, look down upon these group of women. No matter how high a woman's social class could be, women from Gilead are still inferior to men. In fact, every woman in Gilead are socially viewed the same despite the fact that they are placed in different social ranks. Social ranks were only established to trick women into believing that they are different from each other. The government successfully enforce this principle, as they gain control over the women’s bodies. As a result, women are negatively confined from their own independence. Within the historical note, Gilead ceases to exist. It is shown that history is repeating itself, as a Gilead researcher makes indecent jokes about women. Offred’s unknown future illustrates the precautions made in a totalitarian society where everyone is on edge from a possible
execution.