The Handmaid's Tale

The traditions of the utopian genre are constantly evolving for it to remain relevant to society’s present concerns. Thomas Moore’s novel “Utopia” written in 1516 was employed to mock the values of the Absolute Monarchy of England. Moore protests against the notion of failed idealisms within his society, presenting an alternative solution of an equal island, Utopia, which in actual fact translates to ‘no place’. From the suggestion of a complementary world where things run smoother, has seen the appearance of a rebellion against the traditional genre, composers now expressing their concerns as a forewarning. Aspects of Utopia have been subverted to create a Dystopian environment. An example of this is the late twentieth century film, American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes. Outlooks on the American Dream ridiculed, and is questioned the limits that the suburban lifestyle places on you. This is demonstrated through the resisting character of Lester Burnham. Alma De Groen’s Australian play reflects the dystopian genre to suggest the impossibility of achieving equality for all genders. The twentieth century novel The Handmaid’s Tale written by Margaret Attwood confronts the features of a totalitarian society, as she is concerned with the objectifications placed upon women, and was written in conjunction with the 1980s
The novel was written to liberate the objectification put on women during the time. The society of Gilead is constructed where women are defined solely by their gender roles as Wives, Handmaid’s or Marthas, they have been stripped of individual names, but instead are recognised by the name of their commander. Gilead is able to remain in control over the women’s bodies by maintaining control over their bodies and what they wear. The protagonist; Offred, is placed in a situation that restricts her extensively compared to the freedom her former life gave