Language in The Handmaid
The nature of language as a means of expression and exchange of thoughts means it is never purely objective and functional - it will necessarily reflect the attitudes and values of the society which has created it. Even the word 'ideology' is derived from the Latin word 'logos' which means word or discourse. Therefore, as language is not created in a vacuum, examination of the words and their derivations, meanings and usage can reveal the underlying philosophy of a culture. Often language is manipulated by those who are in power to further enforce their own tenets and beliefs, and to strengthen the divisions of power in the community. This is exemplified in Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale where a restrictive, fascist regime has overtaken the United States of America and transformed it into the Republic of Gilead. The ideologies of this regime, specifically the value of reproduction and procreation for survival above all else, the limit of sensorial experiences and desire, particularly of a sexual nature, and restrictions on meaningful emotional bonds between members of the society are represented in the language use it promotes. As a religious fundamentalist regime, the orchestrators of Gilead use the Bible s
" The meanings and connotations of names are very important within the structure of language, as they are the means of defining any entity. Restricting education and literacy is a trait of oppressive regimes in today's world to maintain control through mass-ignorance. Offred's resistance is not "actual" in that it effects real change, but she opposes the regime inside her own mind by refusing to be brainwashed. These names have been clearly devised by once advertising agents to influence and control those in the system. Offred guards her name to remember her own identity and the possibility of her life returning to normalcy in the future, saying, "I keep the knowledge of this name like something hidden, some treasure I'll come back to dig up, one day. This is well illustrated in Margaret Atwood's critically acclaimed novel, The Handmaid's Tale, which by the use of the main character's monologue is centred on language and word play. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Similarly the naming of the "Wives" reflects the perceived worthlessness of women without their husband. By not having a means for expressing the concept of sisterhood and female unity, it removes the acknowledgement of it by the public and hence it's existence. The clothing stores' name, "Lilies of the Field" is a reference to Matthew 6:28 - "And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin", which reflects the Gileadan regime's objection to cosmetics and vanity, particularly by women, favouring the generic costume of their role. It is ironic that when the Commander asks Offred to a secret rendezvous in his study that instead of the expected sordid sexual meeting they play scrabble, a common word game from the time before Gilead. The regime also has several prescribed phrases such as "praise be" and "blessed be the fruit" which not only reflect its values (the fruit refers to the reproductive capacity of the women, which to them is their only real worth) but attempt to homogenize the Handmaids and other members of society and remove their multiplicity of thought, making them easier to control. The naming of deformed babies as "Shredders" is deplorable, aimed to depersonalise the experience of motherhood so the Handmaid does not become to attached to her child.
Common topics in this essay:
Historical Notes,
Honey Bible,
Aunts Eyes,
Gilead Bouson,
Prayvaganzas Salvagings,
George Orwell's,
Commanders Eyes,
,
Handmaid's Tale,
Lilies Field,
historical notes,
gileadan regime,
linguistic power,
lilies field,
milk honey,
historical notes section,
novel handmaid's,
values society,
real change,
religious fundamentalist,
structure society,
novel handmaid's tale,
|
Acceptance Essays
