Women aren't allowed to read in the Gileadian society because it would give them too much freedom and ability to think.
Also, woman are viewed as objects, as a vessel for giving children and nothing else. The men are the breadwinners in this society and the women are the homemakers.
This can be related to the 1800s when the south in America did not want African Americans reading because they are objects and if given the ability to read, then they will become intelligent enough to revolt against the white people.
Margaret Atwood
Handmaids tale Author is Margaret Atwood
'The Handmaid's Tale' is a novel. The government described in the novel is definitely Totalitarian.
Novel by Margaret Atwood, available in paperback.
A mature person. It is a very good novel.
the mass population of the mid-1980's
In "The Handmaid's Tale," handmaids are fertile women assigned to bear children for high-ranking officials in a society where infertility is widespread. They serve as vessels for reproduction, stripped of their rights and identities, solely valued for their ability to conceive and carry a child to term. Their primary role is to produce offspring to sustain the regime's power structure by providing heirs to the ruling class.
One ironic aspect in "The Handmaid's Tale" is how the society is called the Republic of Gilead, yet it operates as a totalitarian regime that suppresses individual freedoms. Another irony is the notion of Gilead being created to protect women, when in reality, it oppresses and controls them through strict gender roles and regulations.
Handmaids in Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" serve the function of bearing children for high-ranking individuals in a dystopian society where fertility rates have drastically declined. They are essentially treated as vessels for reproduction and have little to no agency over their own bodies or lives.
Margaret Atwood wrote "The Handmaid's Tale," a dystopian novel that explores themes of power, control, and oppression in a society called Gilead. Published in 1985, the novel has gained significant acclaim for its powerful storytelling and social commentary.
In "The Handmaid's Tale," the Bible is used as an incendiary device by the oppressive regime of Gilead to justify their actions and control the population through fear and manipulation. By selectively interpreting and distorting biblical teachings to suit their agenda, the regime enforces strict laws and restrictions on society, particularly on women, to maintain power and authority. This misuse of religion serves as a tool for oppression and suppression of individual freedoms.
In Handmaid's Tale the main characters basically ate the same food that we eat today. However, the handmaid's eat a lot more healthy. From reading, the handmaid's do not eat any processed food. They also have access to meat and fruit, but these foods are considered superflous and were a special treat.