Feminism in the Handmaids Tale Essay Example for Free

Feminism in the retainers Tale EssaySome would fence in that Marg art Atwoods The Handmaids Tale is a book that pulls its ideas and beliefs about women and their place in nightclub from the Bible. But based upon the impudent, the Bible, and some writings by Christian writers, that is true, but highly skewed. Lets begin by taking a look at how society is setup in The Handmaids Tale so we can consider a clear understanding where the author is approach path from. The full premise is that women have lost every power, freedom, choice, and equality and argon instead deemed either able for slave/maid type work or bearing children. Girls be taken to Rachel and Leah Re-education center, or the vehement center, as the girls living there knew it, and indoctrinated or brainwashed into the ideologies of the government and taught that their only role is to conceive children. They are besides told that the structure of this society (Gilead) is better for women, more respectful and sa fe. Offred, the main character in the novel has a very monotonous and strict routine everyday that consists of shopping for the commander, the man of the house, and visiting the recreate frequently to be checked, and then undergo the rite.This ceremony is the emotionless, speechless sex that she has with commander in determine to bear children because of the sudden drop in reproduction in the past society. Now that we have the footing laid, lets look at a couple tracks they skew the role of women from what it is meant to be according to the Bible. The ceremony that they participate in includes reading from the Bible before engaging in sex. The only chore with that whole idea, is that they only read a small passage of mavin book every judgment of conviction, that speaks about a barren women urging her husband to lie with her servant so they may have a child.The line of work with this is that its taken completely out of context of use. The backstory to Rachel, the barren cl eaning woman, is that Jacob was supposed to be married to her after operative for her father for seven 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 roll in the hayd than Leah, he made 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 lack a way to convince women of society that what they are doing is good and it is what they are designed to do. The Bible overly 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 treated equal.Wayne Grudem says it well in his boo k Bible Doctrine, and Paul emphasizes, In the Lord, woman is not main(a) 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 each both are worthy of honor (201). This quote really shows how incorrect the society of Gilead has interpreted the Bible and also how poorly they have viewed women. They claim 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.There are few instances in the novel that represent love, affection, or care and this would be in the previous world and then amid Offred and Nick and even that is a lot of physical affection more than true love. The Bible clear states in Ephesians 5, Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her In the same way husbands should love their wives as their profess bodies. He who l oves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church (Eph. 5). This whole idea is nowhere near stand for 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 strip club. Which brings up another point in which prostitution and smut fungus were two of the major staples in the States philosophy of keeping women protected, yet they still have clubs that the men visit to enjoy themselves. Some may argue that there is biblical text to hurt everything that was done, such(prenominal) as Titus 25, which states women are to be submissive to their own husbands (Titus. 2. ).This verse is said amongst many other actions women should portray towards their husbands, but it is originally meant, all out of love fo r 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 slip of the misconstrued biblical reference portrayed how they see fit. This whole concept of people pulling verses out of context and twisting them to what they want is why so many people have a hard time believing 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 found a way to use religion as a tool for their own plans, and in doing so have butchered the entire meaning of the device 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 Biblical language which includes but is not limited to soldiers being called angels, the municipal servants are called Marthas, the store Milk and Honey , and even vehicles carry religious terms such as ogre or chariot.These terms are used to help solidify the States justification for their actions. utilize 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 think it for the original audience, or how God meant for us to live. Margaret Atwood wrote a great novel describing what life could be deal 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 must have the facts straight. This means using them in context, and for t he original mean purpose. Not changing them or falsifying them to fit your ideas and beliefs.