Literary Criticisms Flashcards
How is post-colonial criticism present in the handmaids tale?
• first, post colonial criticism involves the relationship between colonising nations and their former colonies. Post colonial also analyses the effects of cultural imperialism through the works of literature. So how does this intertwine with the novel? Well, simply put it is the role which Canada as an uncolonised state is portrayed. Canada serves as an escape from Gilead. The purpose of including Canada is to contrast a non colonised country with a colonised country. To deepen the understanding, post colonial critics defines what will happen when power becomes oppressive. The more power, the higher the chance of oppression. It is the way, in the handmaids tale, Atwood views power hungry governments and how she believes they could end up.
How can a Marxist reading be applied?
• well, within the handmaids tale the gileadean regime deliberately creates differences among the women in the household in order to exploit them and creates a state of conflict among themselves. Second, the regime fabricated a false consciousness among each class, especially the handmaids, to deceive them and make them think they are superior in society in order to keep them under control so as to be used as sacred vessels or fertile production machines for the infertile women of the higher class.
How can we apply a feminist lens to the handmaids tale?
• the entirety of the handmaids tale can be focused on through a feminist lens as Gilead is a patriarchy. It priorities men or male institutions as a major cause of present social ills. Not only that, but the novel presents women not only as the least equals of men but also as the sole arbiters of their reproductive functions. Thus why the handmaids tale is argued as a feminist dystopia. Though Atwood never explicitly stated it was, however it is hard for us to not be overly judgemental when it comes to reading the book and discovering the horrors that unfold. Atwood both critiques the feminist far left and religious right.
How can we link psychoanalytic criticism to the handmaids tale?
• psychoanalytical criticism is influenced by sigmend Freud. The text is interpreted by means of the conscious and unconscious mind which leads to character evaluation by psychological terms. Representing the conscious and subconscious mind we have the ‘ego’ (what should we do) the super ego (moderates between desires and ego) and the id (desire). All of these ideals are seen within characters; offreds represents the ego as she rebels against Gilead as what all others should do. The commander represents the super ego as although he is essentially the most powerful role within the novel, he understands that what Gilead is doing is wrong as the reader sees this through the way he treats offred. He abuses his power and even rebels against Gilead in an attempt to make offreds life more enjoyable. Psychoanalytical criticism defines some of the major characters in the book and justifies the way they act, thus allowing the reader to clearly understand why the characters have certain types of personalities.
