{"id":6921,"date":"2019-03-18T17:00:31","date_gmt":"2019-03-19T00:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/blog\/?post_type=essay-writing-blog&p=6921"},"modified":"2019-03-15T10:46:29","modified_gmt":"2019-03-15T17:46:29","slug":"the-handmaids-tale-themes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/the-handmaids-tale-themes\/","title":{"rendered":"3 The Handmaid’s Tale Themes to Analyze in Your Essay"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve just finished reading The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/i>. You know the plot backward and forward. You know all about chemical spills, the oppression of women, declining fertility rates, and the story of a Handmaid (Offred) and her life in a totalitarian society.<\/p>\n

The problem? You haven\u2019t quite figured out what it all means.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re struggling to understand The Handmaid\u2019s Tale <\/i>themes, keep reading to learn more about three key themes to analyze in your essay. (I\u2019ve also included essay ideas to help you get started with your analysis and a few example essays to help inspire your writing.)<\/p>\n

3 Key The Handmaid\u2019s Tale <\/i>Themes<\/h2>\n

As you consider The Handmaid’s Tale<\/em> themes included in this list, keep in mind that a theme is different than the plot.<\/p>\n

The plot <\/b>is what happens <\/i>in the story. In this case, the plot revolves around the tale of a Handmaid named Offred<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A theme<\/strong> is an underlying meaning <\/i>(or message) of the story. In this case, The Handmaid’s Tale<\/em> themes include the dangers of complacency, freedom (or lack thereof), and power in a dystopian society.<\/p>\n

Theme #1: Dangers of complacency<\/h3>\n

People (especially women) who live in Gilead have seen their freedoms, including education and intimacy, stripped away in their now-totalitarian society. Women are no longer known by their own names, but as titles that reflect their roles in society (Handmaids, Wives, or Marthas).<\/p>\n

Yet even though freedom has all but vanished, many simply do as they’re told. As long as they receive some concessions, something tangible that they see as a benefit, they’re happy.<\/p>\n

Essentially, they become complacent, and this has allowed increasingly more freedom to be taken away.<\/p>\n

The Guardians of the Faith and The Eyes are prime examples. They have little control over their own lives, but they’re essentially spies watching over others. Because they have this seemingly small amount of control, they’re more willing to accept their roles and the rules of society.<\/p>\n

Their complacency continues as long as they’re given some amount of control (over something or someone). People become so accustomed to their lives that they don\u2019t always see <\/i>the true dangers of living in a society in which they’re under complete control of the government.<\/p>\n

Connect<\/a> the theme of complacency to current political and social debates<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Many people today worry about freedoms being stripped away. Consider connecting The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/i> to current discussions of gun control<\/a>, abortion, or freedom of speech.<\/p>\n

Essay example<\/h4>\n

Looking for further inspiration? Check out this example essay<\/a> that connects The Handmaid\u2019s Tale <\/i>to current society.<\/p>\n

Theme #2: Freedom (or lack thereof)<\/h3>\n

The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/i> takes place in a society now called Gilead. It’s a dystopian society where freedom is virtually non-existent.<\/p>\n

Gilead, though, is the new <\/i>name of the society. It used <\/i>to be called the United States.<\/p>\n

Many citizens in Gilead still remember what life was like in the US before the rebellion. The narrator, Offred, for instance, often thinks back to her lost freedom, her separation from her family, and her inability to continue any form of education.<\/p>\n\t

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In Gilead, both men and women are repressed sexually. They have no freedom to choose their own sexual partners or experience intimacy. Education is also prohibited. After all, keeping people uneducated means that the totalitarian government can maintain control over society.<\/p>\n

As in many dystopian novels<\/a>, most citizens of Gilead are content to accept their new lives and lack of freedoms. But there are some, such as Moira, who never accept the loss of freedom and continue fighting for independence.<\/p>\n

Examine how The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/em> fits into the dystopian genre and compares to other dystopian novels.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Oppression and lack of freedom is a common theme in dystopian novels. Consider examining how the theme of freedom in The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/i> fits into the dystopian genre.<\/p>\n

You might also write a comparison and contrast essay<\/a> to compare the theme of freedom in The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/i> to other dystopian novels, such as 1984<\/i><\/a> or Fahrenheit 451<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Discuss how the novel The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/em> is similar to or different from other adaptations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/i> was made into a film in 1990<\/a> and more recently adapted as a television series in 2017<\/a>. You might compare the film<\/a> and television versions. Alternatively, you could compare one or both video adaptations to the original novel.<\/p>\n

Essay example<\/h4>\n

Want to read an example essay about oppression and lack of freedom in The Handmaid\u2019s Tale? <\/i>Take a look at The Oppression of Men and Women in The Handmaid’s Tale<\/em>, a Science Fiction Novel by Margaret Atwood<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Theme #3: Power<\/h3>\n