Terminology and concepts HT

Question 1

Oppression

Answer 1

In The Handmaid’s Tale, the oppression of women is institutionalised, where they are stripped of rights and forced into roles like Handmaids for reproduction.

Question 2

Totalitarian Regime

Answer 2

Gilead operates as a totalitarian regime, where the government exercises absolute control over individuals, particularly women, through surveillance and strict laws.

Question 3

Religious Fundamentalism

Answer 3

The society in The Handmaid’s Tale is governed by religious fundamentalism, where the ruling class justifies their oppressive actions with extreme interpretations of the Bible.

Question 4

Religious Zealots

Answer 4

The Commanders and other leaders of Gilead are religious zealots, using their fervent faith to justify the subjugation of women and the harsh laws of the regime.

Question 5

Conservatism

Answer 5

Gilead represents a form of conservatism, where the government seeks to restore traditional values and patriarchal structures, especially concerning gender roles.

Question 6

Enlightenment

Answer 6

The ideas of the Enlightenment—reason, freedom, and equality—are completely rejected in Gilead, which is founded on strict religious and authoritarian control.

Question 7

Romanticism

Answer 7

The memories of love and freedom in The Handmaid’s Tale evoke Romanticism, highlighting the emotional and personal struggles of characters like Offred.

Question 8

Counter-culture

Answer 8

The underground resistance group, Mayday, represents a counter-culture in Gilead, fighting against the regime’s oppressive control and advocating for freedom.

Question 9

Feminism

Answer 9

The Handmaid’s Tale is a feminist critique, exploring how Gilead’s patriarchal system strips women of their rights, autonomy, and identities.

Question 10

Consumerism

Answer 10

Gilead suppresses consumerism by restricting personal choice and ensuring that women, in particular, have no power to buy or own anything beyond what is strictly necessary.

Question 11

Capitalism

Answer 11

Although Gilead is not capitalist, its power structure mirrors capitalist systems, with a small elite class controlling the wealth and the majority of people, especially women, serving their needs.

Question 12

Marxism

Answer 12

The Handmaid’s Tale critiques class divisions, where Gilead’s social hierarchy, with its rigid control over labor and resources, resembles the class struggles Marxism critiques.

Question 13

Victorian

Answer 13

The social structure in Gilead mirrors Victorian-era gender roles, particularly in the way women are confined to domestic duties and stripped of independence

Question 14

Industrial Revolution

Answer 14

Gilead’s rejection of progress and technological development echoes the resistance to social change that followed the Industrial Revolution, especially regarding women’s rights.

Question 15

Sublime

Answer 15

The sublime is reflected in Gilead’s imposing, oppressive landscapes and its terrifying beauty, which mirrors the grandeur and horror of the regime.

Question 16

Hierarchy

Answer 16

Gilead enforces a rigid hierarchy, where power is divided by gender, with men at the top and women, particularly Handmaids, at the bottom.

Question 17

Ideology

Answer 17

The ideology of Gilead is rooted in religious and patriarchal beliefs, justifying the subjugation of women as part of God’s will.

Question 18

Indoctrination

Answer 18

Women in Gilead are subjected to indoctrination, taught that their sole purpose is to bear children, erasing any other identities or aspirations.

Question 19

Ambiguity

Answer 19

Offred’s inner world is filled with ambiguity, as she navigates the complex, unclear motivations of those around her in the oppressive world of Gilead.

Question 20

Secularisation

Answer 20

Gilead’s rise to power marks the end of secularisation, replacing a separation of church and state with a theocracy where religious laws dominate all aspects of life.

Question 21

Angel-of-the-house

Answer 21

The “Angel-of-the-House” ideal in Gilead confines women to domestic roles, where they are expected to be pure, nurturing wives and mothers.

Question 22

Dystopian

Answer 22

The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel, portraying a future society where totalitarian rule and gender oppression define everyday life.

Question 23

Science Fiction

Answer 23

The Handmaid’s Tale uses science fiction to explore a fictional future shaped by totalitarianism and theocratic rule, where women’s rights are obliterated.

Question 24

Gothic Fiction

Answer 24

Elements of Gothic fiction are present in Gilead’s dark, oppressive environment, where confinement and punishment are central themes.

Question 25

Binary Opposites

Answer 25

Gilead enforces binary opposites like “Wives” vs. “Handmaids” and “Commanders” vs. “Economen,” categorising people into rigid roles.

Question 26

Domestic sphere

Answer 26

Women in Gilead are confined to the domestic sphere, with limited access to the academic sphere or intellectual freedom.

Question 27

Egocentric

Answer 27

Offred’s focus on her own survival and memories in Gilead reveals her egocentric perspective as she navigates a brutal, controlling society.

Question 28

Hubris

Answer 28

Gilead’s rulers display hubris in their belief that their rigid control can create a perfect society, ignoring the human cost of their actions.