In Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” theocracy and religion are used as tools of oppression through the establishment of a totalitarian regime that manipulates religious doctrine to control and subjugate women. In the dystopian society of Gilead, the government uses a distorted interpretation of the Bible to justify its authoritarian rule and the severe restrictions placed on women.

1. Religious Justification for Oppression: The regime of Gilead uses Biblical texts to legitimize its policies, such as the subjugation of women and the strict control over reproductive rights. For example, the story of Rachel and Leah from the Old Testament is twisted to create the role of Handmaids, whose primary purpose is to bear children for the ruling class.

2. Control Through Rituals and Symbols: The state enforces strict rituals and symbols derived from religious practices to reinforce its control. For example, the Handmaids wear red uniforms and white bonnets that symbolize their loss of individuality and autonomy.

3. Suppression of Dissent: Gilead’s theocratic government suppresses any form of dissent or resistance by framing it as blasphemy or moral corruption. Women are stripped of their rights and subjected to surveillance and punishment under the guise of maintaining religious and moral order.

4. Manipulation of Gender Roles: Religion in Gilead is used to enforce rigid gender roles and to maintain a patriarchal hierarchy. Women are categorized into roles like Wives, Marthas, and Aunts, each with prescribed duties that serve to reinforce their subservience and limit their freedom.

Overall, Atwood’s portrayal of theocracy in “The Handmaid’s Tale” highlights how religious ideology can be perverted to justify and perpetuate systemic oppression, showing the dangers of combining religious authority with political power.