The Handmaid's Tale - Key concepts/Themes

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Sexism
Throughout the novel, Sexism is a reoccurring theme. It is the primary focus of the novel. Women are no longer humans, they are baby making machines and have been dehumanized to the extent of objects.
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Lack of human touch/ intimacy
Offred and The Handmaid's are forbidden any skin to skin contact and are fully clothed from head to foot, including the wings that shield their faces. Offred often longs to be touched again by her previous husband, Luke. (Whom we never actually meet.
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Control/power
Gilead's society is very controlled, to the extent that, language and thought is controlled. Reading is forbidden to the Handmaid's in fear of them developing their own opinions. Linking in with the theme of sexism.
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Fear
Fear is a power tool used to keep The Handmaid's and society in line. At the wall, they frequently hang traitors and leave them as a warning. Fear helps them control any rebellious outbreaks, like many dystopian societies.
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God
Gilead is a theocracy - the government and God are one. The city is religious based and everything that happens is related to God in some way or form. The idea of Handmaid's come form a bible story and the soldiers are named Angels.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Offred and The Handmaid's are forbidden any skin to skin contact and are fully clothed from head to foot, including the wings that shield their faces. Offred often longs to be touched again by her previous husband, Luke. (Whom we never actually meet.

Back

Lack of human touch/ intimacy

Card 3

Front

Gilead's society is very controlled, to the extent that, language and thought is controlled. Reading is forbidden to the Handmaid's in fear of them developing their own opinions. Linking in with the theme of sexism.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Fear is a power tool used to keep The Handmaid's and society in line. At the wall, they frequently hang traitors and leave them as a warning. Fear helps them control any rebellious outbreaks, like many dystopian societies.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Gilead is a theocracy - the government and God are one. The city is religious based and everything that happens is related to God in some way or form. The idea of Handmaid's come form a bible story and the soldiers are named Angels.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5

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