Theme And Motifs In 'The Handmaid's Tale'
Focused Class Discussion
The Handmaid’s Tale
Melina Taquis
Theme & Motif
23-4-12
1) Can ’Sex exclusively for reproduction and not for pleasure’’ be considered one of the main themes of this novel?
‘’Sex exclusively for reproduction and not for pleasure’’ can be easily considered one of the main themes in this dystopian novel. Yet, it can be contradicted when the doctor makes sexual reference to our protagonist wanting to have sex with her so she could be pregnant and be a little bit ‘’pampered’’ by their society. Clearly the doctor, as any man, wanted to have sex with her so he could be pleased. It was a win-win situation, he would get sex and she would get pregnant.
2) How can ‘’blood’’ be considered an essential motif in this novel? …show more content…
In this society, bloody red is what every woman wears on her daily life. Blood is also essential for women. Not only because blood keeps them alive but also because blood is what women have when they have their period so that means that blood means productivity. Its like a machine with oil, a machine does not work without it neither do women when they want to get pregnant
3) To what extent are women viewed as machines in this society?
In this dystopian novel women are depicted as elements that only have one exclusive function and that is to have babies. If women are infertile, they are not accepted and are depicted as unwomen. Just like machines, if the do not work, they are thrown away, and if they do then everything is all right. Women should only follow their routine everyday and follow rules in order for everything to be perfect. Just as machines, they follow a cycle in order to work properly.
4) Being emotionless is one of the main traits found in our main character; to what extent is she hiding her
The Handmaid’s Tale
Melina Taquis
Theme & Motif
23-4-12
1) Can ’Sex exclusively for reproduction and not for pleasure’’ be considered one of the main themes of this novel?
‘’Sex exclusively for reproduction and not for pleasure’’ can be easily considered one of the main themes in this dystopian novel. Yet, it can be contradicted when the doctor makes sexual reference to our protagonist wanting to have sex with her so she could be pregnant and be a little bit ‘’pampered’’ by their society. Clearly the doctor, as any man, wanted to have sex with her so he could be pleased. It was a win-win situation, he would get sex and she would get pregnant.
2) How can ‘’blood’’ be considered an essential motif in this novel? …show more content…
In this society, bloody red is what every woman wears on her daily life. Blood is also essential for women. Not only because blood keeps them alive but also because blood is what women have when they have their period so that means that blood means productivity. Its like a machine with oil, a machine does not work without it neither do women when they want to get pregnant
3) To what extent are women viewed as machines in this society?
In this dystopian novel women are depicted as elements that only have one exclusive function and that is to have babies. If women are infertile, they are not accepted and are depicted as unwomen. Just like machines, if the do not work, they are thrown away, and if they do then everything is all right. Women should only follow their routine everyday and follow rules in order for everything to be perfect. Just as machines, they follow a cycle in order to work properly.
4) Being emotionless is one of the main traits found in our main character; to what extent is she hiding her