THEMES Flashcards
What type of society is Gilead described as?
A strictly hierarchical society with a huge difference between the genders.
What happens to women after the Gileadean revolution?
They are fired from their jobs and drained of their bank accounts.
What does Luke’s reaction to the Gileadean revolution suggest?
Even good men may have embedded misogynistic attitudes.
What liberties are taken from Gileadean women?
The right to choose their clothes and the right to read.
What is the role of women in positions of power, like Aunt Lydia, in Gilead?
They are only allowed cattle prods, never guns.
What is the significance of The Ceremony in Gilead?
It is institutionalized adultery and a kind of rape.
What is Jezebel’s in the context of Gilead?
A whorehouse for the society’s elite where Moira works.
How does the story critique the religious right?
It shows that the feminist left is not the solution, as radical feminists also advocate censorship and violence.
What does the book suggest about Offred’s passivity?
She is a product of her society.
What expectation is placed on the Commander’s Wife regarding solidarity?
That she should rebel against Gilead.
What does the story imply about gender as a trait?
Assuming gender is the most important trait is a milder version of Gilead’s anti-individual tyranny.
What complex questions does the book raise regarding blame?
It complicates our understanding of blame in the context of oppression.
Why is The Handmaid’s Tale considered a great work of feminist literature?
Due to its brutal depictions of the oppression of women and nuanced critique of gender roles.
What is the central theme of Offred’s captivity?
Fertility
Fertility is both the source of Offred’s power and Gilead’s major failing.
List some reasons inhabitants of Gilead give for issues with creating viable offspring.
- The sexual revolution and birth control
- Pollution
- Sexually transmitted diseases
These reasons reflect societal issues rather than focusing on individual fertility.
How does Gilead treat potential child-bearers?
- As precious objects
- As bothersome machines
- As sources of shame
This treatment impacts their ability to conceive.
What atmosphere does Offred experience that affects her ability to conceive?
Extreme pressure and fear
This is contrasted with the hope, love, and liberty of her past life.
What markers of fertility are present in the Commander’s Wife’s garden?
- Flowers
- Worms
These symbols exist despite the sterile atmosphere of Gilead.
What does Offred’s renaming signify in Gilead?
Her body’s functions are valued, but her personhood is not
Offred is referred to as Fred’s possession, highlighting the loss of identity.
What occurs during Janine’s Birthing Ceremony?
Janine’s Commander’s Wife pretends to give birth at the same time
This act serves to strip the Handmaids of their connection to the babies they bear.
True or False: Gilead allows Handmaids to maintain a personal connection to the babies they bear.
False
Gilead creates a collective society that undermines individual connections.
Fill in the blank: In Gilead, fertility is seen as a major _______ for the future.
hope
This reflects the societal reliance on Handmaids for reproduction.
What type of government is Gilead?
A theocracy
What is the significance of the name ‘Martha’ in Gilead?
It refers to a New Testament kitchen worker
How does religion influence the society of Gilead?
Religious language permeates all aspects of society
What biblical precedent justifies Offred’s job as Handmaid?
The story of Rachel and Leah
What does the Commander read from Genesis before the Ceremony?
The same lines that serve as the book’s epigraph
What is the purpose of the Ceremony in Gilead?
To allow infertile women to have families through fertile servants
True or False: The biblical quotes in The Handmaid’s Tale are always used correctly.
False
How does the theocracy of Gilead warp essential virtues?
It distorts charity, tolerance, and forgiveness
What does Offred realize about the prayers at the Rachel and Leah Center?
They do not match the actual words in the Bible
What are the Salvagings and executions in Gilead supposedly penalties for?
Biblical sins like adultery
What does Offred know about the reasons for some executions?
Others are executed for resisting the government
What is the main criticism of The Handmaid’s Tale?
The way people and theocracies use the Bible for oppressive purposes
