This dystopian novel portrays the totalitarian society of Gilead, which has replaced the USA, where women’s rights have been eroded. Get Your Custom Essay on The Handmaid’s Tale Analysis Essay Just from $13,9/Page, We will write a custom essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale Analysis Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page. Offred, one of the few fertile women known as Handmaids in the oppressive Republic of Gilead, struggles to survive as a reproductive surrogate for a powerful Commander and his resentful wife. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. The author’s style of writing conveys vivid images to the mind of the readers and thus, aids in the understanding of the whole situation as the story progresses. This fact proves that the physical appearance of a person should no longer be valued among the handmaids and thus, creates a forbidding mood to the passage. ?? Read from: ‘Well. The main theme introduced in this extract is Gilead’s role in society. Inhabitants of Gilead are compelled to guard their own speech for fear of penalties, and so in a sense, this subordinates their so called ?power of speech?, to the power of the state of Gilead. Furthermore, daily speech is controlled, and people are forced to continue conversations in lieu of the strict confines of the official sanctioned language of Gilead. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. 'Blood red' is symbolised throughout the novel and acts as a constant reminder to Offred's role in society, although her role as a, others, and she obviously relishes the role: "Her voice is pious, condescending, the voice of those whose duty it is to tell us unpleasant things for our own good." The garden in The Handmaid's Tale; Strange and horrifying imagery in The Handmaid's Tale; Critical approaches to The Handmaid's Tale. Summary and Analysis Chapter 1 - Night Summary Chapter 1, the lone segment of Section I, introduces a gymnasium scene in which Alma, Janine, Dolores, Moira, June, and other Handmaids-in-training sleep in a barracks arrangement beneath flannel sheets and army blankets and contemplate their yearnings for freedom. Summary and Analysis Chapter 2 - Shopping Summary In spring, settled in a sedate, suicide-proof chamber, Offred, who is conditioned to accept her lot as a Handmaid as though it were a commission in the army, endures a prissy, overly feminized environment run by women. In the extract from page two of chapter two, a manifold of literary elements is used to effectively introduce the main themes and issues of the novel. Commas are the most common forms of punctuation throughout the whole novel. The narrator being fully wrapped from head to toe in red leads the readers to hypothesize that this is the narrator's state of being every day: tied up by the laws of the Republic of Gilead which has full authorities to control her life. She is the protagonist and the narrator of the story, although her reliability is questionable as she does try to alter the stories to make them better for her readers. The physical appearance is unimportant and thus, “as in a nunnery too, there are few mirrors. 4 Chapter 25 – Serena Joy’s garden At this point, Offred describes the flowers growing as spring moves into summer. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of The Handmaid’s Tale and what it means. Here's where you'll find analysis about the book as … The floor was of varnished wood, with stripes and circles painted on it, for the games that were formerly played there; the hoops for the basketball nets were still in place, though the nets were gone. Without directly pinning down the main issue, the author has successfully managed to describe Gilead’s role and influence in the society in the eye of a handmaid who strongly describes everything in a vigilant and disagreeable manner. Not the one? You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. As in the first paragraph, the rest of the extract consists of long sentences divided into shorter ones by punctuation marks. Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. The last sentence, "a sister, dipped in blood" is another biblical reference and also a metaphor which explains how she is red from head to toe as if "dipped in blood". Sign up to view the whole essay and download the PDF for anytime access on your computer, tablet or smartphone. There is a sense of exaggeration in this description which is linked to imagery which purposefully aids in the understanding of the readers. In Hulu's hit series The Handmaid's Tale, which just began its second season, women have been given very rigidly defined roles.Women like Offred, heartbreakingly played by … Don't Miss a Chance to Connect With Experts. Even as a handmaid she still has power over the men who are considered more powerful than her, such as a few guardians and even the Commander. This essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale Analysis Essay provides all necessary basic info on this matter, including the most common “for and against” arguments. Therefore, the constant appearance of gender roles and the unequal treatment of men and women is a motif in the novel The Handmaid’s Tale. For example, the “color of blood”, “red”, is a common adjective used throughout the passage: “red shoes, “red gloves”, “red cloak”, etc. Want to add some juice to your work? Below are the introduction, body and conclusion parts of this essay. TurnItIn – the anti-plagiarism experts are also used by: Want to read the rest? ...read more. Presentation and significance of settings in 'The Handmaid's Tale'. Therefore, this biblical reference to “nunnery”suggests to the readers that the narrator also lives a careful, abstaining, and restricted life with only one purpose in life. Aunt Lydia preaches ignorance as a tool to controlling others, as she tells Offred: "what you don't know won't tempt you.". The Handmaid's Tale: A Level. There is a sense of exaggeration in this description which is linked to imagery which purposefully aids in the understanding of the readers. Topic: The Handmaid’s Tale Analysis Essay, By clicking "Send Message", you agree to our, Handmaid’s Tale Historical Notes Analysis, FIX> In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale extreme religious, https://paperap.com/paper-on-analysis-extract-handmaids-tale-margaret-atwood/. Serena Joy tells Offred to leave. The Handmaid’s Tale Analysis Essay. In the extract from page two of chapter two, a manifold of literary elements is used to effectively introduce the main themes and issues of the novel. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The language itself is simple and descriptive. Learn the basics with our essay writing guide. How about make it original at only $13.9/page? Find a summary of this and each chapter of The Handmaid's Tale! Create one now! CONTEXTUAL LINK: The revolt against technology in The Handmaid’s Tale truly propels us back into the past, rather than dystopia. Instant downloads of all 1408 LitChart PDFs (including The Handmaid’s Tale). Two of the Wives (6) in their blue dresses and veils (7) hold her by the arms, as if she needs it (8); she has a tight little smile on her face, like a hostess at a party she'd rather not be giving (9). Don't use plagiarized sources. ?? “I read about that, in Introduction to Psychology; that, and the chapter on caged rats who’d give themselves electric shocks for something to do.” –Page 70 Don't have an account yet? The strong color of red may be tied with the emotions of anger and rebellion the narrator is experiencing. ” In this extract, the name of the narrator nor the narrator’s one purpose in life in the society is not mentioned. • Take the five Ws as your starting point and then discuss whether we can predict anything about the themes, genre and narrator of the novel from reading this extract. Created by teachers, our study guides highlight the really important stuff you need to know. Extract. Imagery and symbolism in The Handmaid's Tale. Our customer support team is available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm EST. The dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale (1985) is a work of speculative fiction by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. There are further examples of feminists picking and choosing what they do and don't want. "The color blood which defines us" may also define the color of love, true love the narrator may have experienced in the past, and birth/reproduction, the narrator's only role in society. She is a Handmaids exist solely for the purpose of reproduction, (2019, Dec 07). The metaphors concerning the nunnery, the similes, " like a path, like a carpet for royalty, it show me the way", "like the ...read more. Learn more, them as way of control, deliberately designed to limit the Handmaids view. The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood I Night 1 We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. ” These sentences accentuate the wealth of the family of the house as well as the pitiful state of the handmaid and her low social status. In ‘The Handmaids Tale,’ women are painted as objects for male selfish desires and satisfaction. WHY is it important? This sample paper is done by Joseph, whose major is Psychology at Arizona State University. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email. “Red” describes the pieces of apparel the narrator is wrapped in. Recent statistics looking at family types, sizes and population show that white birth rates have decreased by 8% while Muslim. Tough GCSE topics broken down and explained by out team of expert teachers, Learn the art of brilliant essay writing with help from our teachers, Get your head around tough topics at A-level with our teacher written guides, Start writing remarkable essays with guidance from our expert teacher team, Understand the tough topics in IB with our teacher written Study Guides, Learn the art of brilliant essay writing from our experienced teachers, Struggling with an assignment? Click to learn more https://goo.gl/CYf83b. Retrieved from https://paperap.com/paper-on-analysis-extract-handmaids-tale-margaret-atwood/, Is Your Deadline Too Short? The use of metaphors and similes, many adjectives and punctuations, references to the Bible, and how the passage is structured as a whole are all key factors to consider in order to comprehend even the vague, but equally significant, connotative definitions of the words the author has specifically chosen to use in this extract. 2017 A Sister, Dipped in Blood English SL: Extract from The Handmaid's Tale The science fictions novel of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale portrays how the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian state, oppressively rules its people because of the dangerously low birth rate. Here you will also find the best quotations, synonyms and word definitions to make your research paper well-formatted and your essay highly evaluated. Set in a near-future North America, in a totalitarian Christian theocracy which has overthrown the United States government, The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of women in subjugation and the various means by which they gain agency. The extract begins with alternating descriptions of the narrator’s surroundings and the narrator herself, and ends with an intensified mood in the last sentence: “a sister dipped in blood”. The white wings which symbolize the apparel covering the face of the narrator and the lack of mirrors in the house hinder the act of looking at her physical appearance and looking forward. • First annotate the extract below underlining and commenting on any aspects of it which you find interesting. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The Handmaid's Tale: extract from chapter 21 The Commander's Wife (1) hurries in (2), in her ridiculous (3) white cotton nightgown (4), her spindly legs sticking out (5) beneath it. The Handmaid’s Tale, acclaimed dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood, published in 1985. It is hinted that she doesn’t enjoy being in this emotional state as she says that ” I never looked good in red, it’s not my color”. Unseen extract 6: The Handmaid's Tale Read the extract carefully. A Sister, Dipped in Blood English SL: Extract from The reference to “some fairy tale figure in a red cloak” suggests how unreal the narrator is feeling at the moment. See a complete list of the characters in The Handmaid’s Tale and in-depth analyses of Offred, The Commander, Serena Joy, Moira, Luke, and Aunt Lydia. The “distorted shadow” adds a grey color to the minds of the readers and thus helps in increasing the gloomy mood. Offred wonders which participant is most deplorable. It is hinted that she doesn't enjoy being in this emotional state as she says that " I never looked good in red, it's not my color". Despite the dull and melancholy descriptions made by the narrator, the place in which the narrator walks around is described as a model house: “polished hallway, like a path through the forest, like a carpet for royalty”, “late Victorian”, “the ancient grandfather clock in the hallway”, and a “motherly front sitting room in which I never sit, but stand or kneel only. This essay sample on The Handmaid’s Tale Analysis Essay provides all necessary basic info on this matter, including the most common “for and against” arguments. war), and presents women as not only at least the equals of men but also as the … She is not outspoken, nor is she submissive. Let Professionals Help You, Leave your email and we will send you an example after 24 hours 23:59:59, Let us edit for you at only $13.9/page to make it 100% original. The book, set in New England in the near future, posits a Christian fundamentalist theocratic regime, the Republic of Gilead, in the former United States that arose as a response to a fertility crisis. ?? The extract begins with alternating descriptions of the narrator's surroundings and the narrator herself, and ends with an intensified mood in the last sentence: "a sister dipped in blood". Her legs are apart, I lie between, my head on her stomach, her public bone under the base of my skull (?) The Handmaid’s Tale is a feminist dystopian novel, combining the characteristics of dystopian fiction: "a genre that projects an imaginary society that differs from the author’s own, first, by being significantly worse in important respects and second by being worse because it attempts to reify some utopian ideal," with the feminist utopian ideal which: "sees men or masculine systems as the major cause of social and political problems (e.g. “The color blood which defines us” may also define the color of love, true love the narrator may have experienced in the past, and birth/reproduction, the narrator’s only role in society. A look at this suggested that a good analysis picked out recurring imagery, close language analysis and ranged around the novel beyond the selected extract. The use of metaphors and similes, many adjectives and punctuations, references to the Bible, and how the passage is structured as a whole are all key factors to consider in order to comprehend even the vague, but equally significant, connotative definitions of the words the author has specifically chosen to use in this extract. When the Commander finishes, he leaves. Sorry, but downloading is forbidden on this website. Introduction. The story of The Handmaid's Tale ends with Offred leaving the Commander's house, … Also, the references to this color may have the role of revealing the physical and mental states of the narrator which represent the physical and mental states of the rest of the population oppressed by the the Republic of Gilead. 7. Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. This may be due to her reluctance to accept the reality and her longing to return to her past life. "Above me, Serena Joy is arranged, outspread. Set in a Fascistic future America, The Handmaid's Tale tells the story of Kate, a handmaid. The narrator being fully wrapped from head to toe in red leads the readers to hypothesize that this is the narrator’s state of being every day: tied up by the laws of the Republic of Gilead which has full authorities to control her life. The lesson explores an extract of the room the Handmaid is confined to, focusing on ideas of control and submission. The science fictions novel of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale portrays how the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian state, oppressively rules its people because of the dangerously low birth rate. Already have an account? She too is fully clothed" The use of scientific and morbid words scuh as "bone" and "skull" suggests the lack of. In fact, it mimics the ideas of Romanticism, where one is in touch with nature, beauty and the natural movements of life. This totalitarian government is superior towards its people in an excessively oppressive way, and the readers can understand the influences Gilead has on the narrator in the society, physically and mentally. ?? GCSE resources with teacher and student feedback, AS and A Level resources with teacher and student feedback, International Baccalaureate resources with teacher and student feedback, University resources with teacher and student feedback. In The Handmaid's Tale, the purpose of the encounter with the Japanese tourists in chapter 5 is to create a contrast that shows how different the lives of … Quote : Analysis “time here is measured by bells, as once in nunneries” “as in nunnery, there are few mirrors.” Pg.18 : The negative connotation of the word “nunnery” hints the cloistered and systematic lifestyle of a nun, who has only one purpose in life: to be devoted to God, avoid being involved in the materialistic world and push away human desires. The main theme introduced in this extract is Gilead's role in society. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy. 161–2). The blood red is a constant reminder of the vilification of women in Giliadean society. We slept in what had once been the gymnasium. Without directly pinning down the main issue, the author has successfully managed to describe Gilead's role and influence in the society in the eye of a handmaid who strongly describes everything in a vigilant and disagreeable manner. Chapter Summary for Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, chapter 6 summary. The Handmaid's Tale - commentary on an extract "The Ceremony goes as usual." By close examination of the themes and narrative technique, show how Margaret Atwood conveys ... Join over 1.2 million students every month, Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month. Offred states that while she is not in control, the act should not be considered rape because she has chosen the role of Handmaid over other alternatives. Also, the references to this color may have the role of revealing the physical and mental states of the narrator which represent the physical and mental states of the rest of the population oppressed by the the Republic of Gilead. The Handmaid's Tale. The colors the women wear on the popular Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale are not just any colors. ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is a feminist novel that highlights the perils of women in a society that has not only dehumanized their status but also made it almost criminal to be a woman. Instead, they are colors the women have been forced to wear that represent their roles in the totalitarian theocracy known as Gilead. Get Full Access Now The author's style of writing conveys vivid images to the mind of the readers and thus, aids in the understanding of the whole situation as the story progresses. In Chapter thirty Offred talks about killing the cat before running away. In Chapter two Offred describes the room that she lives in within the Commander's house. All the content of this work is his research and thoughts on The Handmaid’s Tale Analysis Essay and can be used only as a source of ideas for a similar topic. Even when the narrator does manage to look into “a mirror on the hall wall”, the sight is only more depressing: “like a distorted shadow, a parody of something, some fairytale figure in red cloak”. This totalitarian government is superior towards its people in an excessively oppressive way, and the readers can understand the influences Gilead has on the narrator in the society, physically and mentally. All Rights Reserved. At Paperap.com you will find a wide variety of top-notch essay and term paper samples on any possible topics absolutely for free. The punctuation marks create a hesitant atmosphere to the extract which correlates with the narrator’s unsecure state of mind. In the perspective of a Handmaid named Offred, Offred’s role in society, bearing children for elite couples, is disagreeable and insignificant to her and only abides with the government to save her neck. A summary of Part X (Section6) in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale. This is a direct contradiction to what the feminists wanted. The strong color of red may be tied with the emotions of anger and rebellion the narrator is experiencing. Compare how a sense of claustrophobia is built up in the Handmaids Tale and ... How Does Atwood present women in the Handmaid's Tale? This extract teaches the readers about the narrator’s lifestyle from the very first paragraph. Examine how Atwood presents Offred's sense of self in "The Handmaid's Tale" Explain how control and rebellion are presented in 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood. One describes".15 By referring to 'one' in general and not specifically to herself shows how Offred is using denial, Gilead is a result of multiple factors, such as; violence against women, numerous horrific cases of rapes and mutilations, rapidly declining Caucasian birth rates and rises in pollution and adultery. Recent critical interpretations of The Handmaid's Tale; Textual analysis of The Handmaid's Tale; The Handmaid's Tale essay and exam help. They are not colors the women themselves have chosen to wear. However, later on in the story, it becomes more evident that her role in the society is to give birth as service to her Commander and his wife. It is taken from The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood which was first published in 1985. All emotion and pleasure is removed. The novel's title echoes the … If you contact us after hours, we'll get back to you in 24 hours or less. It's Free! © 2003 - 2015 Marked by Teachers. No problem! This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level The Handmaid's Tale section. or You were then introduced to an extract analysis/extract commentary (admittedly, photocopied from a York Notes book on The Handmaid’s Tale). ” The negative connotation of the word “nunnery” hints the cloistered and systematic lifestyle of a nun, who has only one purpose in life: to be devoted to God, avoid being involved in the materialistic world and push away human desires. The novel highlights a cruel world where women do not enjoy the freedom of choice. The hierarchy for women in The Handmaid's Tale isn't super linear, but everyone has an assigned place based on some very backwards values that are horrifying to a modern audience. S1, Ep2 26 Apr. How about receiving a customized one? JavaScript seem to be disabled in your browser. Offred's emotions are unique to her and therefore define part of her identity; during the conception ceremony Offred's narrative includes very little emotion and her tone is detached," One detaches oneself. Hi there, would you like to get such a paper? The Handmaid’s Tale Analysis Essay Paper. The Handmaid's Tale is an American dystopian drama television series created by Bruce Miller, based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood.The plot features a dystopian future following a Second American Civil War wherein a totalitarian society subjects fertile women, called "Handmaids", into child-bearing slavery. Then we had the irises’ to ‘this liquid ripeness’ (pp. Log in now! This may be due to her reluctance to accept the reality and her longing to return to her past life. In the perspective of a Handmaid named Offred, Offred's role in society, bearing children for elite couples, is disagreeable and insignificant to her and only abides with the government to save her neck. The biblical reference to “nunnery” announces metaphorically that “time here is measured by bells, as once in nunneries” and that “as in nunnery, there are few mirrors. The floor was of varnished wood, with stripes and circles painted on it, for the games that were formerly played there; the hoops for the basketball nets were still in … In this America, the religious right has taken over and gone hog-wild. The last sentence, “a sister, dipped in blood” is another biblical reference and also a metaphor which explains how she is red from head to toe as if “dipped in blood”. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, $10, Amazon. ...read more. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Kate is a criminal, guilty of the crime of trying to escape from the US, and is sentenced to become a Handmaid. Below are the introduction, body and conclusion parts of this essay. The metaphors concerning the nunnery, the similes, ” like a path, like a carpet for royalty, it show me the way”, “like the eye of a fish, and myself in it like a distorted shadow”, and ” towards a moment of carelessness that is the same as danger” all help convey vivid images to the readers’ minds by referring to specific colors. Want to get a price estimate for your Essay? This contrast emphasizes the gap in the social status that exists between the family of the house, and the narrator.