Art & Culture

In “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Margaret Atwood portrays theocracy and religion as tools of oppression in the following ways:

1. Control Over Reproduction:
The theocratic regime of Gilead enforces strict control over women’s bodies and reproduction. Handmaids are assigned to Commanders and are compelled to participate in “Ceremonies,” ritualized rapes justified by the Biblical story of Rachel and Leah. The state uses selective interpretations of religious texts to mandate that women bear children for the elite, thereby stripping them of autonomy and reducing them to reproductive vessels.

2. Manipulation of Religious Language:
Gilead’s regime manipulates religious language to perpetuate its power. Phrases like “Blessed be the fruit” and “Under His Eye” serve as daily reminders of the state’s omnipresence and the divine justification of its laws. This religious rhetoric creates an atmosphere of constant surveillance and moral policing, discouraging dissent.

3. Enforcement of Moral Codes:
Theocracy is also used to enforce a rigid moral code, where deviations are severely punished. Public executions, known as “Salvagings,” and group punishments like “Particicutions” are justified through a distorted religious framework. These acts of violence serve to instil fear and maintain control over the populace, particularly targeting women who are seen as morally inferior and needing strict guidance.

Through these mechanisms, Atwood demonstrates how a theocratic government can exploit religion to oppress and control its citizens, particularly women.