Feminism in the Handmaid’s Tale Essay

Some would argue that Margaret A 2ods The Hand wet nurses Tale is a book that pulls its ideas and be prevaricationfs ab disclose wo hands and their place in receives of order from the record. But based upon the saucy, the Bible, and some writings by Christian writers, that is sure, save highly skewed. Lets begin by taking a look at how party is setup in The retainers Tale so we arsehole have a clear understanding where the author is coming from. The in all premise is that women have lost all(prenominal) power, freedom, choice, and equality and are kind of deemed either suitable for slave/maid type work or caning children.Girls are taken to Rachel and Leah Re-education center, or the red center, as the girls living there knew it, and indoctrinated or brainwashed into the ideologies of the political science and taught that their only role is to conceive children. They are withal told that the structure of this companionship (Gilead) is better for women, more respectful a nd safe. Offred, the main character in the novel has a very monotonous and strict routine everyday that consists of obtain for the commander, the man of the house, and visiting the doctor frequently to be checked, and then sustain the ceremony.This ceremony is the emotionless, speechless sex that she has with commander in order to bear children because of the sudden drop in reproduction in the past society. forthwith that we have the groundwork laid, lets look at a couple ways they skew the role of women from what it is meant to be jibe to the Bible. The ceremony that they participate in includes reading from the Bible before engaging in sex. The only occupation with that whole idea, is that they only read a small passage of angiotensin converting enzyme book every time, that speaks about a barren women urging her preserve to lie with her servant so they whitethorn have a child.The chore with this is that its taken completely out of context. The backstory to Rachel, the barr en woman, is that Jacob was supposed to be married to her after working for her father for s regular(a) years, but instead Laban, the father, gives his older daughter Leah to lie with Jacob. When he discovers he was tricked he tells Laban he will work another seven years if he can have Rachel as his wife. Because God saw that Rachel was much more love than Leah, he do Rachel barren and blessed Leah with four children.This is why Rachel asked Jacob to lie with a servant girl she was envious of her sister Leah (The Holy Bible ESV, Gen. 29-30). The way it is portrayed in the novel is just as a source of reason. The commander and the government need a way to incite women of society that what they are doing is good and it is what they are designed to do. The Bible also speaks in Genesis how man and woman were created in Gods image and how both are equally valuable. Women in Atwoods The Handmaids Tale are not at all enured equal.Wayne Grudem says it well in his book Bible Doctrine, an d Paul emphasizes, In the Lord, woman is not independent of man nor man of woman for woman was made from man, so now man is born of woman Both men and women are equally important both depend on to each whiz both are worthy of honor (201). This quote really shows how false the society of Gilead has interpreted the Bible and also how poorly they have viewed women. They asseverate the safest way to protect the women is to restrict all their rights and give them the opportunity of one of three positions in society, which of those three, they do not even get to select. on that point are few instances in the novel that represent love, affection, or cathexis and this would be in the previous world and then between Offred and break off and even that is a lot of physical affection more than true love. The Bible clearly states in Ephesians 5, Husbands, love your wives, as Christ love the church and gave himself up for her In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bod ies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hate his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church (Eph. 5). This whole idea is nowhere near represented in The Handmaids Tale.The commander is married to the wife almost as a status. He has total authority over her and because she is barren they do not even sleep together. To bare child, he lies with the Handmaid, and to have pleasure, he visits Jezebels, which is a mooring club. Which brings up another point in which prostitution and pornography were two of the major staples in the States philosophy of keeping women protected, that they still have clubs that the men visit to enjoy themselves. Some may argue that there is scriptural text to sponsor everything that was done, such as Titus 25, which states women are to be submissive to their own husbands (Titus. 2. ).This verse is verbalize amongst many other actions women should portray towards their husbands, but it is originally meant, a ll out of love for their husband and ultimately for their love of Christ. Gilead believes having authority over everyones lives and particularly complete control of women. This just one more pillow slip of the misconstrued biblical reference portrayed how they see fit. This whole concept of masses pulling verses out of context and twisting them to what they want is why so many nation have a hard time believe in the truth. It has been so misinterpreted to what people want to believe or how people want others to believe.Gileads focus is on reproduction, order, control, and power. They have just embed a way to use religion as a slit for their own plans, and in doing so have butchered the entire meaning of the maneuver they are using. One more example of this is through other biblical references in the language. The entire book uses a variety of religious or scriptural language which includes but is not limited to soldiers being called angels, the interior(prenominal) servants ar e called Marthas, the store Milk and Honey, and even vehicles carry religious cost such as behemoth or chariot.These terms are use to help solidify the States justification for their actions. Using Biblical terms allows them to continue to preach that everything they do is to protect and serve according to the Bible. Again the problem is that they pull what they want from context and dont use it according to how the original author intended it for the original audience, or how God meant for us to live. Margaret Atwood wrote a great novel describing what life could be like if suddenly all women were subject to mens rule and forced to live under such rigid conditions due to societys prior downturn.Although the basis of Gilead, and its ideas and beliefs were high misinterpreted passages and references of biblical text. As previously stated, if someone is going to use biblical and historical references to support a cause or form a governing society, they moldiness have the facts straig ht. This means using them in context, and for the original intended purpose. non changing them or falsifying them to fit your ideas and beliefs.