In an interview with Margaret Atwood about her book, The Handmaid's Tale, she explains that "This is a book about what happens when certain casually held attitudes about women are taken to their logical conclusions. For example, I explore a number of conservative opinions still held by many - such as a woman's place in the home. And also certain feminist pronouncements - women prefer the company of other women, for example. Take these beliefs to their logical ends and see what happens." In The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood demonstrates what could happen if the generalizations, stereotypes, and opinions of women in the past and present society were applied to the future society at an ultimate extreme. By writing about this in her book, do you think that she was demonstrating a point about the corruption of today's society? What might some other issues be that Atwood addresses in The Handmaid's Tale? What are other casually held areas and issues in today's society that, if blown extremely out of proportion, could create an oppressed and heavily controlled society like Gilead? What might that society look like?
It is very accurate to look at the society of Gilead as the product of stereotypes. Women cook, women clean, women garden, and women have children. With women taking care of the household, it conveniently leaves men to do the work and bring in the dough. In our own society that we live in, all families are different. Some families have two parents and they both work in order to provide for the family and all the household work is separated among them. Then there are families with stay-at-home moms or even dads. Then there is also the family with one parent who has to do everything. In our lives, we have the freedom to be flexible and to work in the way that work for us. In Gilead, citizens are forced to do the work of their class, even if it does not work for their style. Offred was ripped away from her daughter and Luke and is now being forced to bear another man's children. She is not exactly happy with her situation. The families in Gilead have many members that all contribute to what two parents or even just one parent has to do in our society. The working man, the woman with her hobby (gardening), the cooks and cleaners, and the child-bearer. Gilead seems as such an easy way of life because nobody has to take on too much. It is the fact that they want more and they want meaning. Gilead is oppression.
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DeleteI agree with you that every family is different. Some ways of living work for some people but not for others. The uniqueness of each individual is what makes our society interesting. Our ways of life have significantly changed over the years due to many technological advancements and civil rights. I believe that they will continue to change with time. Knowledge is the reason we advance instead of revert back to old ways. Power over someone is taken when their knowledge is taken away. Education is one of the many reasons we are different from one another. Each person takes that knowledge separate ways to do different things.
DeleteI believe that Margaret Atwood uses the Handmaid's Tale to express her beliefs in many different ways. One of the things that she does express her beliefs about are women's rights. Most likely, she believes that women should have the rights that men do. In order to get her point across, she takes a belief and uses it to the extreme. Atwood wants us to visualize the worst. I believe that Atwood also wants to get across that too much of something is not good. Some people believe that people should all be equal. This could be easily taken to the extreme where everyone looks the same and does the exact same thing. Normally in our daily lives, we do not look at equality with this sort of extremist view. Many of our common views could be taken to the extreme and the result would not be what we originally intended it to be.
ReplyDeleteColton, I agree with you. Atwood does want to visualize the worst that could come. She especially wants her audience to visualize the worst. She illustrates her point by taking the issue of feminism to its extreme. The audience is able to recognize the issue she is pointing out. They think about the issue and how the situation is wrong. Atwood's point is brought to the minds of her readers. You also bring up a good point, Colton, about everyone's common views. It would definitely be a crazy world if the opinions of everyone were taken to an extreme and a resolution was created for each issue.
DeleteYou make very good points and it is very interesting how you bring up Atwood's point of view. That is a very important detail to look at when analyzing the context of her book. She does clearly believe in women's rights and therefore takes a scenario where women would have the littlest amount of rights possible. Like you said, she takes it to the extreme. She uses reverse psychology in a way to make it known that it is not correct to oppress women from entering a man's world. By creating her story around a miserable world that women could face, she conveys her message that something must be done for women in order to avoid such an awful society.
DeleteI agree with what you say, Colton. We do have so many things going on with our society that could get very out of hand if they were taken to extremist views. This new trend with "swag", even. If there was a group that took this ridiculous trend to extremist views, then there could be violence or disagreements on the topic.
DeleteI absolutely agree with you when you say that too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. If a person got everything they wanted all the time, it may turn into something they regret. Along with taking women's rights to the extreme, Atwood also takes religion to an extreme point. With religion, she is taking away everyone's rights to freedom of religion and not just the women's rights, but also the men's. She is making a statement for her audience to appreciate what they have right in front of them.
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ReplyDeleteI do think that Atwood was trying to point out extremist views on societal prejudice. There is inequality in many things still. Often times, homeless men cannot receive aid, as many charities only help women and children, because men are looked at as able to provide at any time, and women have to have special help to get back on their feet, when in reality, it's not true. There are special scholarships for minorities, help them with paying for college if they cannot pay for it all. However, there are no special scholarships for white students whose parents cannot pay for college alone, other than federal aid. Atwood is trying to bring attention any extreme act that could bring a major change in our society.
ReplyDeleteAtwood was making a point about extreme viewpoints. I think that she was trying to get across that a good idea can quickly turn into a bad idea very quickly.This is pointed out with the religion in the society. In the beginning, it was thought to be a good idea to follow certain ideas out of the bible. Soon, an extremist came along and took the ideas to the next level for the better good of the society. But, this better good of the society actual turns out to be the worst possible thing for the society to have. This can be put into a real world example such as environmentalists. All things, good or bad, need to come in moderation and compromise.
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