Similarities Between 1984 And The Handmaid's Tale

Through many dystopias, the argument shown is the theme of power, fear, religion, and education. Books like 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale show a strong government figure or idea by showing an appeal to fear. Both have a problem with propaganda through corrupted education. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, has a strong focus on religion and using it to justify rape. The main character in The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred, is a handmaid for the Republic of Gilead. She is not allowed to leave the house unless she is alongside another handmaid which meets her outside the Commander’s house. When she walks through the market she is required to buy different items that Rita, a cook for the house placed there by the government, needs to cook. When

She is then laid down and restrained by the arms by the Commander's Wife. The Commander finishes his duty and both the handmaid and the commander pray that the handmaid becomes pregnant. Everyone hopes for the handmaid to become pregnant since during this society there is a large number of sterile women. Over time she becomes aware of the wrongdoings of the government. In response to this, she starts to rebel in small ways and remembers her past which has been brainwashed out of her. She is additional brainwashed through the education she received from the handmaid's teachers which they call the Aunts. They use propaganda through a bible that has been rewritten to satisfy the wants of the government or society. This allows the aunts to use manipulation through religion. Power is shown through all of these methods and warns the reader of similar affairs that could happen soon. Margaret Atwood’s superfluous attention to power through symbolistic religion helps cation the reader about issues with religion, government, and education. Today’s society struggles with the separation, regulation, and balance of all

There is a very fine line between power throughout the church, state, and schools. Power is mostly held by the government or what society sees as power. In the US power comes from the government and the rich. Stereotypically the richest and most powerful are white men. Power can be attained through many different mediums. For example, political power is some of the most powerful in the US. In political situations whoever has most power can control an even larger amount of power owned by other politicians. When politics and religion inner mix the problem only intensifies. In many cases, the supreme court has ruled out any religion in schools, but in Catholic schools religion is forced. If a child is sent to Catholic school, even though they do not have a belief in Catholicism, pressures from parents are forced onto the child. In cases like this sometimes there is little religious freedom. If nominee for president argues about any subject along the lines of religion, more than likely the white male will lose his votes. Overall in the entire world power is owned by those who have an education, but some educations are not true educations. Countries outside the US, like ISIS, give militants corrupted education to allow for rape and other unlawful actions. “He told me that according to Islam he is allowed to rape an unbeliever. He said that by raping me, he is drawing closer to God” (“ISIS Enshrines a Theology of Rape”). This