Transcript Handmaids Tale.

The Handmaid’s Tale as a Dystopian Novel
By: Jessica Barroso
A futuristic, imagined universe in which
oppressive societal control and
the illusion of a perfect society are maintained
through corporate, bureaucratic,
technological, moral, or totalitarian control.
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Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.
Information, independent thought, and freedom are
restricted.
A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of
the society.
Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
• Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
• Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
• The natural world is banished and distrusted.
• Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and
dissent are bad.
• The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
Propaganda
• Serena Joys speech about
good home makers.
• Public hangings
• Watching videos of
pornography; protecting
women.
Dehumanized
• Marriage
• Freedom
• Forced to believe
in the methods
of Gilead
• Stripping of the
names:
– Offred
– Ofglen
• Unwomen: lesbians, the
sterile, nuns, feminist,
women who are
incapable of the social
integration.
• Unbabies: “shredders”
babies born with any
sort of physical or
mental birth defect.
No Individuality
• Lack of freedom and ability to choose.
• Uniformed behavior and method of
dressing, it reveals status while
masking individuality.
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Marthas: green
Aunts: brown
Handmaids: red
Wives: blue
Econowives: stripped of all the colors
Totalitarianism
• Of, relating to, being, or
imposing a form of
government in which the
political authority exercises
absolute and centralized
control over all aspects of life,
the individual is subordinated
to the state, and opposing
political and cultural
expression is suppressed.
A totalitarian regime
crushes all autonomous
institutions in its drive to
seize the human soul“Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
Surveillance
• The eyes: hidden and unknown by society,
secretly monitoring citizens and women of
Gilead, ensuring they all abide by the laws.
• Guardians
Quiz
• What is the meaning of the red uniform for the
handmaids?
• What is the purpose of Aunts?
• What is a dystopian society?
• What is the purpose of they eyes?
Works Cited
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Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1986. Print
“Dystopia." The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Images used, In Order of Appearance
Dystopia. N.d. Photograph. Onlyhdwallpapers.com. Web.
Haindmaids. N.d. Photograph. Www.foliosociety.com. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
Handmaids Tale. N.d. Photograph. Hierarchical-aestheticism.tumblr.com. Web. 15 Nov. 2013.
No Drinking. N.d. Photograph. Www.mommyish.com. Web.
N.d. Photograph. Frazerletman.blogspot.com. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
"Totalitarian." The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
Women of Gilead. N.d. Photograph. Ucarochester-cgartsandanimation.blogspot.com. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.