religion theme

Question 1

Gilead

Answer 1

a theocracy- a government when church and state are combined

Question 2

religious language

Answer 2

Martha- a new testament kitchen worker

stores like Milk and Honey

Question 3

old testament

Answer 3

especially is the justification for many of Gilead’s most savage characteristics

Question 4

job as a Handmaid

Answer 4

based on biblical precedent of Rachel Leah, where fertile servants can carry on adulterous relationships to allow infertile women to have families

Question 5

biblical quotes

Answer 5

many are twisted to justify and moralise the actions of the government

Question 6

Aunts prayers

Answer 6

Offred knows that the prayers of the Handmaids int he Rachel and Leah center aren’t in the bible but as reading is forbidden she has no way of checking

Question 7

penalties

Answer 7

salvagings and executions are the penalty for biblical sins like adultery, but Offred knows that some are executed for resisting the government

Question 8

not a criticism of the bible

Answer 8

a criticism of the way people and theocracies use the bible for their own oppressive purposes

Question 9

theocracy

Answer 9

any opposition to them are not just dissenters but heretics too, which gives the government enormous power