A03-context Flashcards
who used ‘‘electric cattle prods’’
police in the US civil rights-social movement to abolish discrimination
Atwood bases her novels on real events
It is based on real events.Much of her writing is chillingly believable.we see this with descriptions of the rise of Gilead.People neglected to notice the regimes growing strength before it was too late.
When was THT written
1984 when Atwood was living in Berlin
The cold war(1947-1991)
The main ‘warfare’ was psychological,involving varied attempts to assert global political dominance.These efforts involved propaganda campaigns ext.The era’s sense of insecurity and dystopian fears are reflected in the novel’s themes of oppresive regimes.
Threat of nuclear war
Atwood grew up with ongoing threat of nuclear war.WW2-US dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Negaski.
in THT radioactive posioning is always on the periphery,with the threat of being sent to the colonies.
Feminism-second wave (Mid 20th century)
-advocacy for women’s rights in workplace,marriage.until late 20th century rape was still legal within marriage.
THT was influenced by
second wave feminism.In the novel,Offred refers to her mother a feminist activist who offred remembers as supporting the burning of pornographic books.
Reagan administration
At time of writing THT,the US was in second year of the Reagan administration.Reagan emphasised conservatism and his belief in ‘family values’.
Moral Majority
Reagan appealed to religious groups such as this one.They existed to fight what they saw as the secularisation of american society.In THT,Atwood is speculating on what could have happenned if the moral majority achieved ultimate power.
Inspiration for Gilead
came from the kind of social order desired by fundamentalist christians.
Life in Gilead
democracy has been brutally overthrown and replaced by totalitarian republic of Gilead.The state regulates sexual relations,condones male violence against women,suppresses female sexuality.
