The Handmaid's Tale Flashcards
(15 cards)
Themes (7)
- Manipulation of language
- Religion
- Patriarchy/oppresion
- Fertility
- Societal control
- Female friendship
- Violence
Symbols - colours
Colours=uniformity
- Red = fertility
- Blue = purity, wisdom
- Green = Domesticity, service
- Black = authority
- Brown = control, discipline
Symbol - the eye
- Surveillance
- Control
- “Under his eye”
Symbol - wings
- Isolation
symbol - the bible
- Religious hypocrisy
- Manipulation
symbol - flowers
- Serena Joy’s garden
- Femininity
symbol - the wall
- Fear
- Punishment
- Censorship
Period of literature
Post-modernism
Plot (Handmaids tale)
- Gilead, where fertile women are forced to bear children
- Offred serves the Commander and Serena Joy
- Dates Nick
- Offglen dies -> rebellion
- Moire -> Jezebels
- Mom -> colonies
- Offred’s fate is ambiguous
The Ceremony
Monthly ritual sex meant to result in pregnancy
Birth ceremony
A ritual surrounding childbirth where the Wife pretends to give birth alongside the Handmaid
Salvaging
Public executions by hanging, usually of women accused of rebellion or crimes
Particicution
A man us accused of rape or treason and the Handmaids are allowed (encouraged) to beat him to death
Prayvaganza
Large public religious event, often a mass wedding for young girls or a prayer rally
Testifying
A practice session where women recount experiences and are shamed into blaming themselves
