After reading through the first hundred pages of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, I am not afraid to admit that this school book is quite enjoyable to read. The text, and style of writing is easy on the eyes, and pretty easy to understand. However there are some parts in the book that I am uncertain of. I do not comprehend why, and how their society came to be, and also, why some women in the Republic of Gilead cannot bear children, and if they do they are considered more valuable than those who can't. I think that it is rare in their society to find a women who can become pregnant is because of the radioactive affects on people.... but that is just a guess.
Recently, in my American Democracy class we've been studying the way of the Taliban, and how they treat women. I couldn't help but notice a small correlation between the women living under Taliban rule, and the handmaids in this society. They must clothed a certain way, such that their faces cannot be fully seen by other people, and they are not allowed to speak. The Taliban have very little respect for women, and do not really count them as human beings thus, they tend to punish women for speaking over them. In the book the handmaids have this in common. For example, when buying groceries they must point to a picture of the item they want instead of saying their desired grocery.
Wow, Ashley, great connection! Do you think Atwood drew on Muslim culture while writing this book?
ReplyDeleteComparing the harsh situation of the handmaids to the treatment of women in Islam reminds me of a point my favorite teacher in high school brought up once, that it's unfair for us in the West to put absolute judgments on non-Western cultures. I remember discussing this in English particularly about genital mutilation in Africa. One one hand, I see that point, that we shouldn't put Western ideas at the top of the hierarchy of "righteousness" (especially because we do so much wrong ourselves), but on the other hand, certain things just seem unethical irrespective of cultural lines. What do you think about this if Atwood is indeed referencing Muslim culture - do you think she is right to do so?