Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Reconstruction Of Power By Margaret Atwood - 943 Words

Haley Hollimon LTC Bozeman EN 102, L19 3 February 2015 The Reconstruction of Power Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood utilizes various elements of fiction to develop and question the concept of power and control in the patriarchal society of Gilead. Offred, the main Handmaid, is the instrument of which Atwood delivers her message about corruption and power. Offred’s vague diction, unreliable characterization, and erratic tone illustrate the distress of this transitional society (Abcarian 1403-1404). In the beginning of Chapter 23, the role of memory in the novel expands, and the readers test the narrator’s creditability. Offred concludes that all of her memories are â€Å"reconstructions†, and that she will continue this practice even if she escapes Gilead. She continues to relate fluid memories to forgiveness and forgiveness to an unnaturally complacent and obedient population (Atwood 134-135). Identifying a powerful relationship between memories, forgiveness, and power, Offred suggests that the main source of Gileadâ€⠄¢s totalitarian power is the regime’s ability to manipulate its citizens’ will to forgive past transgressions. Reconstruction is the underlying theme of Offred’s speech in the beginning of Chapter 23. The term reconstruction denotes complete destruction of the old to usher in a new. Interestingly, Chapter 23 is in a section labeled â€Å"Birth Day†. The section name further illustrates the theme of reconstruction, for both words symbolize new beginningsShow MoreRelatedThe Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1591 Words   |  7 PagesWritten by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel set in the near future where the United States is overthrown and a military dictatorship forms called the Republic of Gilead. Gilead is a society that reconsolidates power and creates a new hierarchical regime that limits women entirely of their rights. The rulers of this dystopia are centrally concerned with dominating their subjects through the control of their experiences, time, memory, and history. A woman called Offred narratesRead MoreAnalyse and Compare the Significance and Effectiveness of the Ways the Author of the Novels Choose to Open and End their Narratives1934 Words   |  8 PagesIt is a common view that the opening and ending of a novel is considered the most memorable and pertinent. Therefore, both authors, Ishiguro and Atwood, utilise openings and endings in their novels significantly. The opening of a novel plays a major part in establishing the tone of what is to come, with the ending leaving a lasting, final impression on the reader. The security of the first person narration in Never Let Me Go encourages the reader to engage with Kathy H in order to destroy our relationship

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