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AS Level English Literature - The Handmaid's Tale

Just needed some help. I have been asked to write an essay, the question is as follows:

Explain the ways in which Atwood explores the ideas of freedom and imprisonment.

I have already started talking about the "freedom to and freedom from" aspect and even did small brainstorms of freedom and imprisonment. I have talked about the restrictive clothing and lack of freedom of speech. I have also discussed the fact that the regime cannot restrict the Handmaid's freedom of thinking and the fact that Offred still thinks about her past shows he refusal to conform to the Gileadean doctrines.

But what else can I write??? I'm absolutely stuck. The essay has to be 500-750 words. Anyone else doing this novel??
I read the novel but haven't ever studied it.

There is so much to talk about, it's crazy.

The best thing I can recommend is to look how language becomes restrictive. For example, everyone has a clearly named role in the society. eg. "Handmaid" or "Angel". The Handmaid's sole purpose is to procreate. The use of language as control was demonstrated even more skillfully by Orwell in 1984 - good cross reference. By naming something so specifically, the society restricts a freer existance. This is taken to extremes with names such as "Offred" ie. Of Fred. Her role is defined so strictly; she has no freedom.

As for imprisonment, there is the complex they are locked up in and the fact that they are not free to speak against the rulers. More interesting is the mental imprisonment.

As for examples of freedom, there is Offred's lesbian friend (is her name Moira?) who works in that club. Is that real freedom? (That's an interesting question). Also Offred often thinks about her boyfriend.

There are countless things to say (I haven't even studied it). Remember to always focus on language. Good luck with the essay! :smile:
englishstudent

There is so much to talk about, it's crazy.

Totally true.
Getting a question on freedom/survival/imprisonment = an absolute godsend } 1/2 of your points will be relevant to all three essays! I did THT last year and from the few things that I remember, I've generated a couple of pointers:

Nolite Tes Bastardes Carborundorum (sp?) - this inscription (left by a 'previous Offred') is important when examining imprisonment, and the fact that it promotes illicit forms of communication amongst the Handmaids. You could link this to Offred's games of Scrabble with the Commander: language is empowering, and Offred manages to circumvent the rules of Gilead by reading novels and magazines.

Sexual politics is another key topic - Gilead seeks to suppress female sexuality and to break down any communication between females (notice the fragmented relations between Aunts, Handmaids, Commander's Wives) etc. Offred uses her sexuality to dissolve some of the barriers to freedom within Gilead. Examples: her relationship with the Commander, the brief scene with the Angels ('I swung my hips a little' etc.)

You could talk about the Colonies and the Unwomen, Moira and Jezebels etc.

Similarly, mention could be made of The Salvagings and the wall with 'hung bodies suspended in the air' - this is a metaphor for the brutal, overbearing power of Gilead.

The black market for cigarettes, alcohol etc. is a physical example of the failure of Gilead to contain the subversive elements within everybody (from Serena Joy, right through to Moira).

You could even give brief mention to moderation versus extremism - in reference to the characters of Offred and Moira, respectively. I seemed to mention this in nearly every essay on THT, regardless of the title, lol!
Reply 3
thanks a bunch! :biggrin: managed to finish my essay - 4 sides of a4 (and it was only supposed to be focused on chapter 1 to 6). I dont think its bad for my first english literature AS level essay either. Thanks again.
Reply 4
Arg, so many books to read, so little time...I think I'll make this my next one. Been meaning to read it for ages. Sorry, just thinking out type...
Reply 5
evilmonkey
Just needed some help. I have been asked to write an essay, the question is as follows:

Explain the ways in which Atwood explores the ideas of freedom and imprisonment.

I have already started talking about the "freedom to and freedom from" aspect and even did small brainstorms of freedom and imprisonment. I have talked about the restrictive clothing and lack of freedom of speech. I have also discussed the fact that the regime cannot restrict the Handmaid's freedom of thinking and the fact that Offred still thinks about her past shows he refusal to conform to the Gileadean doctrines.

But what else can I write??? I'm absolutely stuck. The essay has to be 500-750 words. Anyone else doing this novel??



That was pretty much my AS question! Have you explored the differences and similarities btwn Moira and Offred's ways of survival? Offred is passive; Moira active. This leads off into realms of discussion, but I found it difficult to stay on course; but do!
Reply 6
rachied
That was pretty much my AS question! Have you explored the differences and similarities btwn Moira and Offred's ways of survival? Offred is passive; Moira active. This leads off into realms of discussion, but I found it difficult to stay on course; but do!



We havent finished reading the novel...it was a "so far" question...up until chapter 6. Really interesting novel though.