The Handmaid’s Tale Context

Question 1

1975 Iran revolution

Answer 1

Women lost a lot of rights, laws protecting women were repealed, new dress laws were enforced along with a separate education system.

Question 2

Communist Romania

Answer 2

Abortion restrictions, banning of contraception under Decree 77. 170000 children put into orphanages. Family policy was heavily influenced by socialist ideology and the desire to increase the population.

Question 3

Cambodia

Answer 3

Late 70’s, forced pregnancies under surveillance with he threat of excecution. Mass weddings and the aim to increase the population.

Question 4

Ronald Raegan

Answer 4

Cpnservative government which Atwood watched from the liberal country of Canada. Raegan supported the moral majority and he regained Christian right political power and advocated for the return of ‘traditional families’.

Question 5

The moral majority

Answer 5

A political organization that promoted religious fundamentalism, which insisted on a strict interpretation of the Christian bible.

Question 6

Phylis Schafly

Answer 6

A catholic woman who fought against the equality act

Question 7

Mary Webster

Answer 7

A distant relative of Atwood in the Salem witch executions carried out by the puritans

Question 8

Biblical allusions of Gilead and RED centre

Answer 8

Gilead is a place in the Bible where Jacob makes a new society.
Rachel and Leah centre is in the book of Genesis where Jacob’s wives are in competition to have the most children

Question 9

Biblical names of offered and sons of Jacob

Answer 9

Offred means religious offering or sacrifice
Sons of Jacob is in the book of Genesis, where God promises Jacob that his descendants will spread around the world and rule it.