Handmaids Tale - Basic Response Essay Example for Free

handmaids Tale Basic Response EssayOne of the expressive styles in which The handmaidens Tale creates opportunities to resolve is by means of its discussion and exploration of a dystopian society. A dystopian society is often characterised as a futuristic setting with oppressive societal control and elements of totalitarianism. The Handmaids Tale is set in the futuristic Republic of Gilead and a way in which Atwood has chosen to display a dystopian society is by dint of creating a sense that the citizens of Gilead argon under continual management, a characteristic of dystopian literature. This can be shown through the reoccurring motif of the eye. The eye motif symbolises the constant watchfulness of god and the totalitarian domain with its recurrence creating a sense that citizens of Gilead are constantly world surveyed. This is shown as Offred states to be seen-to be seen- is to be- her voice trembled-penetrated. The accustom of repetition and italicise of the w ord seen is used to highlighting the fact that individuals dont want to be seen, creating an ominous presence of control and threat through the constant watching.Another way The Handmaids Tale creates opportunities to move in relation to its dystopian cross-fileing is in its discussion of citizens in fear of the outside world. This fear is shown through the presence of The Wall. The fence in serves as a symbolic barrier separating Gilead from the outside world and also emphasising the existence of the totalitarian state and its allusion of a perfect world. This meaning is shown as the protect is described to have barbed wire along the bottom and broken glass set in concrete along the top.Visual imagery here(predicate) is used to create fear of the outside world through the literal and metaphorical barrier the wall represents. It is also important to note that the value of Atwoods text is evident in the way it is a cautionary novel, designed to provide a reflection and thus p rovide commentary on the potence for 21st century society to adopt these extremes. Therefore the novels exploration of elements of dystopian society including the perceived surveillance of citizens and fear of the outside world creates opportunities to respond to The Handmaids Tale in relation to its comments most dystopian society, devising it valuable.Even though the totalitarian regime has been destroyed, Atwood warns us that governments can still travail woman. In the Historical Notes, it is c oncerning how Professor Pieixoto states, No new system can impose itself upon a front one without incorporating many of the elements to be found in the latter. This implies that selected characteristics of the dystopian Gilead Republic will be pick out by a new government. Another way in which The Handmaids Tale creates opportunities to respond is through its complex interpretation from a feminist perspective.This is shown within the novel as the Handmaids bodies are used for procrea tion, their sexual freedom has been denied. This is seen through the constant discussion of fertility with Offred often derogate herself and her body to be used, we are like containers, its only the insides of our bodies that are important. The outside can decease hard like the shell of a nut. Here a simile is used to continue to level and dehumanise Offred through equating her to a simple nut, an empty being, only valued for her fertility.Also the way in which women are used for procreation is shown through the motif of red, a nondescript woman in red, with women here further dehumanised to nondescript beings. The motif of red is used to represent fertility. The way fe manlikes are often referred to as red throughout the text highlights how the Handmaids sole purpose within the society of Gilead is to procreate, demonstrating once again how females within the society are only valued for their bodies.In regards to a feminist interpretation, male dominance is also presented thro ughout the novel through the discussion of sterile- this is again italicised to emphasise its effect relating to a feminist viewpoint as males dont go to colonies yet females do highlighting sexual practice inequality. The inclusion of these elements discusses a range of feminist concerns allowing it to be interpreted in a myriad of unalike ways, increasing its value. The Handmaids Tale furthermore creates opportunities to respond through its inclusion of post-modern elements thus qualification it valuable.The novel can be read from a post-modern perspective as Atwood uses self- reflexivity as a means of questioning what is truth. This is shown when Offred admits, This is a reconstruction, all of it is a reconstruction. Its a reconstruction now, in my head. The use of repetition, reconstruction creates emphasis and awareness of how the story Offred tells is only fractured pieces of the story, taken apart and put back together. Atwood here is trying to make her readers question i f what is being said is true implying that not everything read is necessarily true.This post-modern analysis which believes in the existence of multiple truths can be further seen through Offreds narration shown as she questions you want the best for her. Dont you? Here metafiction is used as Offred in a flash communicates with the audience, presenting an element of post- modern literature. From a post-modern interpretation the truthfulness of Offreds singular narration is questionable accentuated when she consciously reinstates, I dont want to be telling this story. This highlights how her narration could be subjected bias rather than truth.Thus The Handmaids Tale can be interpreted from a post-modern perspective making it valuable as this is one of the many ways it can be responded to. In conclusion it is through the different ways to respond to Margaret Atwoods novel, The Handmaids Tale that the text possesses value. These responses are generated in relation to dystopian, fem inist and post-modern interpretations that the novel discusses. Each of these comments on 21st century society and encourage audiences to respond to their own society in different ways making the text valuable.