The Handmaidss Tale By Margaret Atwood Essay

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The Handmaids?s Tale By Margaret Atwood Essay, Research Paper ?The Handmaids?s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a dystopia about a world where unrealistic things take place. The events in the novel could never actually take place in our reality.? This is most people views about this novel. However the ideas in the novel are not so far fetch. Although the exact Gilead society would never happen in real life, it is not to say that certain society of the past or even the present haven?t incorporated some of the Gilead society. This essay will discuss three examples in real life were the Gilead society was or still is in the world, and prove that some places in the world then or now, used some of the theories of the Gilead society. First, is in Iran, and other Arabic Countries, and how

the women have no rights of there own. Second, is South Asian countries that kill babies, because of imperfections or because just of their sex. And third, during World War 2 when Hitler ran death camps and concentration camps.In Pakistan, women’s rights are non-existent, and many policies are that of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale. In Gilead, the handmaids must cover their bodies and faces almost completely with vales and wings. In Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and similar South Asian countries, this is a must for women. Other Gileadean-like persecutions take place towards women. In Pakistan, women can be raped, and unless there is full proof that there was no consent, the man will get off scot free, and the women charged with pre-marital sex and sentenced to a prison term. In

Afghanistan, the police force has and continue to torture and rape innocent women for unnecessary reasons. This is similar to The Handmaid’s Tale in that Offred, and other handmaids, not only go through “The Ceremony”, but also can be used and possibly even raped by their Commanders, and there is nothing the handmaid can do about it. If she speaks, she is usually not believed, and then she is sent away because she broke the law.. Women are given little to no rights in Gilead. They obey what they are told by the men or by the Aunts in turn who get their orders from the men. They are not permitted to read or write, or participate in any extra-curricular activity. For example when Offred is asked to play scrabble, she thinks ?…Now it`s forbidden for us, Now it`s dangerous,

Now it`s indecent…(for handmaids to play games or even read.) ?(Atwood 130). They are alive only to serve a purpose. In countries such Iran, women are subject to similar laws. Although more recently they have been allowed read and write, it is on a strict level only, and activities are out of the question. There is no specific law against it, however with the Islamic government making it mandatory for all women to wear complete body coverings, sports and other activities are nearly impossible. Women in Gilead belong to the men. Whether it was Offred, Ofglen, or Ofwarren, they were possessive items. In many Arabic countries, women belong to their husband. Men, in turn, may have many women, which belong to them. They must obey their husbands, or the husband legally has to right

to do what he want to his wife.The Handmaids in Gilead had one purpose: to have babies. However, two-thirds of the babies were us sent away and declared a Unbaby, because of imperfections. For example in the book when Offred says ?What will Ofwarren give birth to? A baby … or something else, an Unbaby, … We didn?t know exactly what would happen to the babies that didn?t get passed, that were declared Unbabies. But we knew they were put somewhere, quickly, away?(Atwood 106). This is very similar to South Asian countries. Many babies are killed every day either because of imperfections or because they are just not wanted. In India, female babies are killed, because family?s are so poor they do not want to pay for the girl?s dowry, and wants a boy to get a Dowry, reportedly 16