Perversion of Religion in The Handmaids Tale Essay

The Handmaids Tale

Throughout years of history, perversion of religion has existed in every society and every religion. Take 9/11 for example, many lives were taken and who was blamed for it? The Islamic fanatics. Terrorism has been portrayed as a belief in Islam, when it has been proven not to be true. The Holy Bible in the same manner can be misinterpreted in many ways as well. The deceptive views of the Holy Bible can lead to oppression so that women may think and use religion as being just a source. The novel The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood discusses the misuse of religion as a supreme source of oppression and superiority. Allusion in this novel has been shown to make connections between Gilead and the Bible itself, and symbolism is portrayed through different actions, beliefs and objects are emphasized greatly whereas something as simple as human rights are neglected. The misuse of religion has become a global issue in todays society

In this so called era of liberation and advancement, women are still viewed as tools for reproduction or sex symbols. A place where there is absolute belief in religion and reproduction and where women are forced to cover themselves but at the same time are committing sinful sexual acts such as adultery sounds like a society which is inexplicable. The Handmaids Tale portrays a Biblical society named Gilead. The element allusion is used in the Handmaids Tale to show how higher officials can pervert the religion to their own benefit. Also the ceremony that takes place between the Commander, Offred and Serena Joy has another Biblical allusion. A part during the ceremony is where the commander sheepishly only reads parts of the Bible, and those parts only emphasize reproduction and childbearing It the usual story the usual stories. God to Adam, God to Noah. Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Then comes the mouldy old Rachel and Leah stuff we had drummed into us at the centre. Give me children, or else I die. Am I in Gods stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? Behold my maid Bilhah. She shall put bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her. (Atwood, pg. 110) This quote shows how in the novel there are many wrongful deeds that occur and they easily get justified by higher authorities with quotes taken from the Bible. The allusion that is prevalent in this quote is that some quotes from the Bible are misinterpreted and then told to the Handmaids. The Handmaids hear only those parts of the Bible and they feel that they are doing something which is written in the Bible and is true. This quote shows that the Bible can be misleading and become a source of oppression and superiority towards women. The Commander only reads a certain portion of the Bible to make the Offred believe that the sinful acts she performs is right. Also the Bible is only read and interpreted by the individuals with a higher status in society, this portrays superiority. In this case Serena Joy who substitutes for being Rachel who was unable to reproduce and asked Leach (represented by Offred) to reproduce with her husband for her instead. Handmaids are seen just as a tool, one whose life has one purpose, without that purpose they are nothing. The higher authorities of Gilead explain and justify their unlawful acts with a Biblical reference and get away with it. Another part that had allusion was when reference to God as being a resource is made - God is a national resource (267). This quote portrays allusion because there is reference made to the Bible but in a negative way. This quote shows how religion can be used as a source of oppression and superiority. The women are oppressed by other authoritative figures of Gilead, by being told quotes taken from the Bible and then interpreting them in way that is taught to them by other authority figures in the society. This quote in the novel shows how the government of Gilead have brainwashed the people to think about God the way they want. No other person should tell another how to interpret God, especially if it is in the wrong way. The government in Gilead have done that, they have manipulated the citizens of Gilead and made them think that their wrongful actions are actually just a way of life told to them by God. If one were to have no knowledge of the Bible and its Biblical events that took place then one would misinterpret the Bible in such a way which would be catastrophic and build a society like Gilead which manipulates individuals in their own community. In order to solve a political problem the officials of Gilead target fertile women who have the ability to reproduce like the Handmaids, and then they are deliberately forced to have intercourse with different men. Christianity is being violated, and the ability of reproduction by women is being ridiculed and used as a power tool.

Various scenes in the novel and things described by Offred (the narrator of the novel) lets the reader understand a bit more about the society of Gilead and how religion has been used as an element of oppression in various ways. This quote shows how religion is being misinterpreted - The red gloves are lying on the bed. I picked them up; pull them onto my hands, finger by finger. Everything except the wings around my face is red: the colour of blood which defines us. (Atwood, pg. 9) The color red defines the Handmaids in this novel. In Gilead most things which are given to the Handmaids are the color red. Color is the way the Handmaids are sometimes differentiated between others in the society. A sense of superiority and oppression is present in this quote because the Handmaids are assigned a separate color without being free to have the color of their choice. Also the Handmaids are put down and oppressed by being differentiated and defined by one color. Biblical justification is given by the government for the wrongful deeds that individuals make in the Gilead society. Living a life of a whore or hooker but given a good Biblical name and having a Biblical justification of ones own actions, does not necessarily change how one might feel about themselves. The Bible is there to be read by everyone with no biases what so ever. Others should not force their ideology of the Bible upon others. The use of the Biblical context in this novel shows the mistreatment of women. This quote taken from the novel shows symbolism as a source of oppression and superiority - He crosses to the large leather chair reserved for him, takes the key out of his pocket, fumbles with the ornate brassbound leather-covered box that stands on the table beside the chair. He inserts the key, opens the box, and lifts out the Bible, an ordinary copy, with a black cover and gold-edged pages. The Bible is kept locked up, the way people once kept tea locked up, so the servants wouldnt steal it. (Atwood, pg.108) This quote taken from the novel shows how women in Gilead do not have any basic rights such as reading and writing. Religion as a source of oppression and superiority is shown in this quote as well. Handmaids are oppressed by authorities of Gilead. They are not permitted to read the Bible which is kept away from their reach. They are being oppressed because they have no power or control over their own actions. Handmaids are told what to do and how to do it with a Biblical reference so they do not know right from wrong. This quote also shows superiority because only the officials are permitted to have access to the Bible and teach it to the Handmaids in a negative way. This can be compared to the older years when women were just seen to stay at home and cook, reproduce and take care of the house. Symbolism is also used in the name Handmaid itself. The word Handmaid symbolizes a women of Gilead who can reproduce to define their unlawful, sinful acts and their basic rights are taken away from them. The Bible states many facts that are neglected and ignored by the authorities of Gilead for their own benefit. The Holy Bible stresses for people to attain knowledge and education, but these facts are ignored by the authorities. Atwood refers to religion being used as a way of oppression and putting women down is shown through the use of color and the Bible if it is not interpreted properly. Atwood shows how symbolism can exploit others and manipulate them and make them fear the mysterious unknown.

This novel by Margaret Atwood has many Biblical allusions and is has symbolism showing perversion of religion. The people of Gilead do not know about religion and what religion really is. All they have is faith which they blindly follow from the teachings of others. The government uses this to their advantage and manipulates others to believe that they are living the right way, the way which is written in the Bible. The society of Gilead has been set to be a very authoritarian government. The ways of the government have been characterized as being acts of ones life laid out by the Bible. Handmaids are given a Biblical label, yet forced to commit sinful acts, they are told to wear modest clothes and cover up yet forbidden from reading anything even the book of God. This undoubtedly reflects religious bias and impious ways of a population boost adapted by Gilead. Religion still is being used as a source of oppression against women in many places across the world. This may be occurring for many political or non-political reasons. Many parts of the world are defining ways of the government as being religious ways written in the Holy Books of God such as the novel The Handmaids Tale.