The Handmaid’s Tale Theme - Gender + Identity
Analysis:
● Atwood’s intention was to draw attention to the inequalities faced by women
because of their gender, as well as the oppression of other marginalised
groups.
● Because many societies are patriarchal many feminine traits / activities are
viewed as inferior to masculine traits / activities.
● When taken to the extreme these beliefs can be used to perpetuate violence
and oppression towards women.
● The Handmaid’s Tale was written during second wave feminism
● In Gilead those in power want to return to the 1950s era of domesticity and
strict gender roles.
● Atwood saw this as a setback from the progress that feminist had made by
the 1980s.
● In gilead a religious patriarchy there are roles for men and women that are
shaped around Biblical ideas of gender. While high class men become
commanders being able to participate politically, socially and economically in
Gilead, the women are assigned to more domestic and subservient roles. This
is reminiscent of the gender roles in the 1950’s US.
● While feminine identities are fragmented in order to symbolise different
gender roles and ideals, the prominent male characters are meant to
symbolise different manifestations of patriarchy.
● The Commander, Luke and Nick all have different relationships with Offred,
each having its own unique power dynamics and levels of equality.
● The Commander symbolises masculine ideals. He is white, straight, Christian,
able bodied and male. Atwood intentionally crafts him in this way to reflect
American ideals of masculinity.
● The Commander’s relationship with Offred is the most unequal and he directly
contributes to her oppression.
● One of the primary ways the commander maintains his power is through
sexism, he makes sexist comments throughout and insinuates the idea that
he is superior due to his gender.
, ● While Offred feels sympathy for the commander since he’s conformed by
gender roles, he is the one who created the system and benefits from it.
● Luke is deeply in love with Offred but he still holds misogynistic views.
● He’s meant to contrast the commander and show that modern men who aren’t
blatant misogynist and may be allies of feminism can be oppressive towards
women.
● After Gilead makes it illegal for women to work the power dynamic between
Luke and Offred changes.
● Instead of helping her he tells her to prioritise her family reinforcing the idea
that women shouldn’t protest, vote or work as it gets in the way of their
domestic duties.
● The idea of women being possessed by men shows how women are starting
to lose their autonomy and sense of identity. This is shown as Offred is
treated as a commodity.
● Nick and Offred’s relationship was the most equal while he has more status
from his gender he still serves the commander.
● Nick’s low status means that he is not meant to symbolise an ideal like the
Commander nor is he meant to be a husband like Luke, instead he is meant
to symbolise an equal.
● “He too is illegal, here, with me, he can’t give me away. Nor I him; for the
momn=ent we’re mirrors. He puts his hand on my arms, pulls me against him,
his mouth on mine.”
● The fact that they are both breaking the rules bonds them together and makes
them equals. By saying that they are “mirrors” this symbolises their similarities
and their role as each others equals.
● While Offred’s relationship with the commander is coercive and unequal,
offred begins to have an affair with Nick because it is empowering and gives
her a sense of identity.
● The roles of women are divided into different identities that are meant to
represent different feminine ideals.
Wives - Domesticity, Handmaid’s - Reproduction, Martha's - Housekeeping +
Caregiving
● Each identity stands alone this allows Gilead to reduce women to one aspect
of their identity and not be viewed as complete individuals.
● There’s a hierarchy of these roles with certain roles experiencing more
freedom than others.
Analysis:
● Atwood’s intention was to draw attention to the inequalities faced by women
because of their gender, as well as the oppression of other marginalised
groups.
● Because many societies are patriarchal many feminine traits / activities are
viewed as inferior to masculine traits / activities.
● When taken to the extreme these beliefs can be used to perpetuate violence
and oppression towards women.
● The Handmaid’s Tale was written during second wave feminism
● In Gilead those in power want to return to the 1950s era of domesticity and
strict gender roles.
● Atwood saw this as a setback from the progress that feminist had made by
the 1980s.
● In gilead a religious patriarchy there are roles for men and women that are
shaped around Biblical ideas of gender. While high class men become
commanders being able to participate politically, socially and economically in
Gilead, the women are assigned to more domestic and subservient roles. This
is reminiscent of the gender roles in the 1950’s US.
● While feminine identities are fragmented in order to symbolise different
gender roles and ideals, the prominent male characters are meant to
symbolise different manifestations of patriarchy.
● The Commander, Luke and Nick all have different relationships with Offred,
each having its own unique power dynamics and levels of equality.
● The Commander symbolises masculine ideals. He is white, straight, Christian,
able bodied and male. Atwood intentionally crafts him in this way to reflect
American ideals of masculinity.
● The Commander’s relationship with Offred is the most unequal and he directly
contributes to her oppression.
● One of the primary ways the commander maintains his power is through
sexism, he makes sexist comments throughout and insinuates the idea that
he is superior due to his gender.
, ● While Offred feels sympathy for the commander since he’s conformed by
gender roles, he is the one who created the system and benefits from it.
● Luke is deeply in love with Offred but he still holds misogynistic views.
● He’s meant to contrast the commander and show that modern men who aren’t
blatant misogynist and may be allies of feminism can be oppressive towards
women.
● After Gilead makes it illegal for women to work the power dynamic between
Luke and Offred changes.
● Instead of helping her he tells her to prioritise her family reinforcing the idea
that women shouldn’t protest, vote or work as it gets in the way of their
domestic duties.
● The idea of women being possessed by men shows how women are starting
to lose their autonomy and sense of identity. This is shown as Offred is
treated as a commodity.
● Nick and Offred’s relationship was the most equal while he has more status
from his gender he still serves the commander.
● Nick’s low status means that he is not meant to symbolise an ideal like the
Commander nor is he meant to be a husband like Luke, instead he is meant
to symbolise an equal.
● “He too is illegal, here, with me, he can’t give me away. Nor I him; for the
momn=ent we’re mirrors. He puts his hand on my arms, pulls me against him,
his mouth on mine.”
● The fact that they are both breaking the rules bonds them together and makes
them equals. By saying that they are “mirrors” this symbolises their similarities
and their role as each others equals.
● While Offred’s relationship with the commander is coercive and unequal,
offred begins to have an affair with Nick because it is empowering and gives
her a sense of identity.
● The roles of women are divided into different identities that are meant to
represent different feminine ideals.
Wives - Domesticity, Handmaid’s - Reproduction, Martha's - Housekeeping +
Caregiving
● Each identity stands alone this allows Gilead to reduce women to one aspect
of their identity and not be viewed as complete individuals.
● There’s a hierarchy of these roles with certain roles experiencing more
freedom than others.
