The Handmaid's Tale - Religion and Theocratic Governments

Finish the quote:

“We can be read to from it,…

by him, but we cannot read”

Finish the quote:

“The skirt is ankle-length, full, gathered to a flat yoke that extends over the breasts,…

the sleeves are full. The white wings too are prescribed issue; they are to keep us from seeing but also from being seen”

Finish the quote:

“Under His…

Eye”

Finish the quote:

“FAITH. It’s the…

only thing they’ve given me to read”

Finish the quote:

“There is no such thing as a sterile man anymore,…

not officially. There are only women who are fruitful and women who are barren, that’s the law”

Finish critic Stokwisz’s statement about religion and theocratic governments:

“The Handmaid’s Tale depicts an extreme version of the social norm and appears to…

predict or warn of the dangers of totalitarianism and theocratic dictatorship”

Finish critic Malak’s statement about religion and theocratic governments:

“One of the novel’s successful aspcects concerns the skilful portrayal of a state that in theory claims to be founded on Christian principles…

Yet miserably lacks spirituality and benevolence. The state in Gilead prescribes a pattern of life, based on frugality, conformity, censorship, corruption fear and terror, and in short the usual terms of existence enforced by totalitarian states”

Finish Atwood’s statement about religion and theocratic governments:

“The book is not anti-religion…

It is against the use of religion as a front for tyranny”

What context can be used to support this?

1980s American conservativism.

How can 1980s American Conservativism be linked to religion and theocratic governments?

At the time of writing, Ronald Reagan was President of the USA. He was a Republican and served from 1981-1989. Reagan was popular with Christian America as during his time in office, he emphasised conservatism and his belief in ‘family values’, alluding to the traditional, heterosexual, nuclear family, appealing to the white, working class Americans who felt racist resentment against the advances that Black people had made during the civil rights movement. He appealed to groups like the Moral Majority, a group founded by members of the Christian right and the Republic Party in 1979 in response to what they saw as the decay of moral values in American society. They believed America to be a fundamentally religious nation, so fought against abortion, gay rights, pornography and more.

What can The Handmaid’s Tale be said to be?

Direct speculation on what could have happened if the Moral Majority had achieved ultimate power.

What does Reagan and the Moral Majority link to in modern day?

Trump.