Context 2

Question 1

During Atwood’s degree at Harvard University, what did she study?

Answer 1

Puritanism, which later influenced the political and religious undertones of her novel.

Question 2

Where is The Handmaid’s Tale originally set?

Answer 2

Cambridge Massachusetts, a pertinent setting in the notorious Puritan-led Salem witch trials.

Question 3

Atwood depicts the tale to be a…

Answer 3

‘speculative fiction of an American theocracy,’ elucidating it to be a real probable future that examines religious fanticism.

Question 4

What did the moral majority exist to combat?

Answer 4

Secularisation of American society, by wanting America to be fundamentally religious. As a consequence, they were adament against abortion, gay rights, pornography, and the exclusion of Christian prayer in schools.

Question 5

At the time of writing, who was in office?

Answer 5

The Conservative New Right.

Question 6

What was Regan’s tenure characterised by?

Answer 6

Tax cuts, anti-communism, conservatism, pushing back the advancements pertinent to the 60s and 70s.

Question 7

What heavily influenced the rise of feminism?

Answer 7

Second wave feminism.

Question 8

What is second wave feminism?

Answer 8

Advocacy for women’s rights in the workplace, marriage and general society.