Biblical Appropriation in the Handmaids Tale - 1942 Words

Margaret Atwoods, The Handmaids Tale, constructs a near-future dystopia where human values do not progress and evolve, but instead become completely diminished and dominated under the Republic of Gilead. This powerful and secure new government gains complete political control and begins to abuse their power by forcing fertile women to reproduce. The Gileadean society is enforced by many Biblical laws, morals, and themes, yet the Gileadian religious ideologies are based on only a few specifically selected Biblical passages that are taken literally. The selection of certain passages in the Bible helps control and manipulate the women that are being enslaved by giving them a false sense of justification and security for the treatment they†¦show more content†¦Offred is aware that Gilead is manipulating them by selecting certain lines and perhaps even making it up. Manipulation is another tool that is used by the government to take away power from women by encouraging them that they will be rewarded in their after life. The Bible is distorted once again to manipulate the women during the Womens Prayvaganzas. The Commander hosting the service makes a speech to the crowd: Let the woman learn in silence with all subjectionÂ…AllÂ…But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve?(221). The Bible is once again used selectively, isolating only the passages that pertain to Gileads interests, which in this case is restricting women to be submissive. Gilead is trying to implement the fact that women should be subservient to men in society by literally justifying it from a myth in the Bible. This is only one of the stories of creation in Genesis, and is secluded and appropriated to make the women believe that if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety,?(to the Republic of Gilead) they shall be saved by childbearing?(221). The theocracy of Gilead encourages the handmaids and women in their society to con tinue to obey the hierarchies of their totalitarian-like regime, and in turn also have them provide childrenShow MoreRelatedDon t Get Me Wrong Margret Atwood1311 Words   |  6 Pagesspeculative fiction novels of Margret Atwood best known for The Handmaids Tale and Oryx and Crake ,Which lead to the discovery that these tales of a dystopian world and one of love and adventure seem to hit a little too close to home and bring out emotions that may have been dormant. There is no doubt that she is a brilliant writer, but the question that runs through my mind is, which one is superior. Some say that The Handmaid’s tale was all around controversial and that Oryx and crake lacked depthRead MoreFiction Or Reality : All Too Familiar World Of The Speculative Fiction Novels Of Margret Atwood1319 Words   |  6 Pagesspeculative fiction novels of Margret Atwood best known for The Handmaids Tale and Oryx and Crake ,Which lead to the discovery that these tales of a dystopian world and o ne of love and adventure seem to hit a little too close to home and bring out emotions that may have been dormant. There is no doubt that she is a brilliant writer, but the question that runs through my mind is, which one is superior. Some say that The Handmaid’s tale was all around controversial and that Oryx and crake lacked depth