;The Handmaid's Tale" shares with
             many futuristic dystopias, certainly '1984', an interesting mode
             whereby our time in retrospect is heavy with nostalgia" Bernard
             "The Handmaid's Tale" belongs to this genre of anti-utopian
             (dystopian) science fiction. It is set in the late twentieth century
             when democratic institutions have been violently overthrown and
             replaced by the new fundamentalist Republic of Gilead. In the novel
             the majority are suppressed using a "Bible-based" religion as an
             In Gilead, members of the society are labelled by their age and
             economic status. The deep red cloaks, the blue embroidered dresses,
             and the pinstripe garments are all uniforms to define a person's role
             in society. In particular, the handmaid's cloaks also say a lot more
             about their position. The fact that they are like a nun's gown, and
             are also called 'habits', signifies chastity and dedication to God.
             The colour red indicates that they are fertile and menstrual. However,
             red is also the colour of blood, death and violence, which is
             therefore closely associated with women in this male-dominated
             One aspect that Atwood explores in her critique is religion. Not
             religion itself, or followers of religion, but the way that people
             twist religion to abuse their power and create tyranny. Not to believe
             in the new puritan religion is certain death, "we were careful to
             exchange nothing more than the ordinary greetings. Nobody wanted to be
             reported, for disloyalty." This comment made by Offred shows the
             cohesive fear felt by society when the Gilead regime was in its first
             stages of practice. This story is not the first to create a
             civilisation in which the only two important beliefs in a society are
             the ability to procreate and a strict belief in God. It is seen
             several times in the Old Testament, of the Bible. The Biblical
             society is no...