The Role of Power and Corruption in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)

The Role of Power and Corruption in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)

Expanding the Roles:
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is a dystopian novel that explores a totalitarian society where women are subjugated and controlled by a patriarchal government. The story follows Offred, a woman forced into the role of a handmaid, tasked with bearing children for the ruling class. The novel addresses themes of power, corruption, and gender oppression, making it a crucial text for students studying feminist literature, social justice, and the dangers of unchecked power.

• Power and Gender Oppression:
  The novel critiques the way power structures exploit women, using the handmaids as symbols of oppression. Students can analyze how Atwood uses the concept of power to explore the manipulation of gender roles and the systematic control of women’s bodies and autonomy.

• Corruption and the Abuse of Authority:
  The corruption of power in The Handmaid’s Tale is central to the narrative, illustrating how authoritarian regimes exploit fear and control to maintain their dominance. Literature students can examine how Atwood uses the setting of Gilead to highlight the dangers of absolute power and the consequences of social and political corruption.

What We Learn:
The Handmaid’s Tale provides literature students with a stark warning about the dangers of power and corruption in society. It also serves as a foundational text for analyzing gender oppression and the ways that authoritarian systems can manipulate and control individuals.