Handmaid's tale epigraphs and chapter two Flashcards
Karen F Stein and her view on the epigraphs/dedications?
- the dedications and the epigraphs create a frame around the way that we view the novel
- Stein noted that it is fitting to dedicate the novel to Mary Webster, who escaped hanging as a witch
- Stein notes that the reference to swifts “modest proposal” seeks to resolve the problem of Irish overpopulation- just as the founders of Gilead seek to resolve underpopulation.
what is the significance of the Epigraphs?
The reference the infertile Racheal who told her husband Jacob to have intercourse with her handmaid- this is what ‘handmaid’ is based on, the epigraph makes clear reference to the religious context- the Rachel and Leah centre is what the training centre is called, the reference serves as the biblical justification for the society.
The reference to the modest proposal- this is a satirical essay which appears to propose a solution for the problem of poverty in Ireland- a sense that Atwood’s reference are satirical- she wants them to view the 20th century in a critical way.
“in the desert there is no sign that says, thou shalt not eat stones”, this is a reference to live with what you have- the human instinct of survival in Gilead is evident.
what is the plot of HMT?
set in massachussets use, totalitarian theocracy has taken over after a period of extreme liberalism
The purpose of Gilead is to ease the underpopultion
The use of time shifts is critical to the novel
Atwoods and the context of her writing the novel?
he wrote the book in the spring of 1984 living in west Berlin
- she noted that stories about the future always have a “what if?” premise
- nations never build apparently radical forms of government on foundations that aren’t already there- 17th centre New England and its bias against women
- Atwood stated that “I made a rule for myself: I would not include anything that human beings had not already done”
what is the significance of the little red riding hood?
the moral of the fairytale is not to stray off the path, when Offred does this she puts herself in danger, little red riding hood was also written as a warning for young women against sexual predators.
