HT (Context)
What were the main events in history that inspired Atwood?
Crimininalisation of homosexuality, Waves of feminism, puritan New England, "Make a baby for Canada", Salem Witch Trials, Donald Trump and brett Kavanaugh
Puritan New England key points?
They sought to purify the religion of england (lead by John Winthrop), They set sail for America in 1620 where they diversified colonies, a calm facade but were violent and toxic
How do puritans link to HT?
The complete control of gilead, they are separated from the outside world of utopia by The Wall Chp 27 and Chp 6
Right wing fundamentalist 'People of Praise' key points?
Amy Coney Barrett is a member of a small catholic group in the modern day who use women as slaves for their child-bearing purposes
How do the 'People of Praise' like to HT?
There is a clear mirrorring as the women as treated in the same way as the Handmaids, causing Atwood to become inspired by this
The Salem Witch Trials key points?
-The Witchcraft Act of 1604 deemed it to be a felony, Mary Webster was a victim of these trials and an ancestor of Atwood, this is still evident in the Massachusets legislation in the early 2000s
How do the Salem Witch Trials link to HT?
The victimisation of women can link to the Salvaging of Chapter 42 when women were hung to create fear
Brett Kavanaugh and Donald Trump key points?
A Supreme Court Hearing to remove womens 'basic rights' making him a theocratic dictator, there was a protest against it by women by clothing themselves like a Handmaid
Waves of Feminism key points?
1st wave- for voting rights for women
2nd wave- equal pay, abortion rights, marital rape and domestic violence awareness
3rd wave- define feminism, 'burning bras' stigma
4th wave- movemnt of intersectional feminism, awareness of FGM and sexual slavery
1960's WOMEN LIBERATION-pro abortion legalised in 1973
How does 'waves of feminism' link to HT?
Moira's rebellion in Chp 22, Chp 15 and Chp 7 are removed by Chp 37 in the Jezebels, no real succession at all happening
Margaret Atwood life
-Lived in West Berlin, where the wall was an 'Anti-Fascist Protective Wall' diving up the city
-Inspiration from the Wall in the novel was the Berlin Wall being referred to as 'The Wall Of Shame'
-the AIDS virus was surfacing
-She was writing her novel as Unfeminist Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was in power and believd that women had enough rights
Jerry Falwell?
-Christian leader and Jerry Falwell in 1970's America resurfaced the christian church, praying and removed abortion right making them no longer legalised
-This occured during the left and right wing conflict
Speculative fiction, the fanatsy genre?
SPECULATIVE- She believes that such events could occur in at some point in the future
FANTASY- Atwood write outside the realms of normality and reality, but combine it with historical elements to make her plot believable