A* NOTES OF HISTORICAL PARALLELS IN THE HANDMAIDS TALE - This document contains descriptions of the historical parallels in 'The Handmaids Tale' and these ideas can be incorporated into an A-Level English Literature essay in order to include context and obtain A03 marks. Margaret Atwood herself has...
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EDEXCEL ENGLISH LITERATURE- An essay on the presentation of setting in The Handmaid's Tale and Frankenstein
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HISTORICAL PARALLELS IN THE HANDMAIDS TALE
The Handmaids uniform: Public execution:
• The Burkas that women wore in Afghanistan were a • In the Kite Runner we saw the Taliban hold public
lot like the dresses in the novel. Both are designed to executions; stonings. These were punishment for
not tempt men by hiding their face and their skin. the breaking of laws such as committing adultery.
• Before Islam, the veiling of the face was practiced • We can also link this to explorations across literary
by many cultures. The adoption of this practice was texts.
by Muslims.
Religious wars:
• The Crusades: a series of religious wars in the medieval period.
• The war in Bosnia-Herzegovina: was among three faith groups, (Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Serbian
Orthodox).
• ‘Wars of Religion’: following the protestant reformation, wars in Europe generally took on a religious
nature; with the Catholics opposing Protestantism (also known as the (counter-reformation). In 16th
Century France, there was a succession of wars between the Roman Catholics and Protestants, which
were known as the wars of religion.
• Israel and Palestine wars: the ongoing war between Israel (the Jews) and Palestine (Islam), is essentially
a religious war, even though land has some in uence.
Propaganda and Censorship:
• Propaganda and censorship has been used by many dictators in history. From the Kings of Ancient Greece, the
Pharohs of Ancient Egypt, to Hitler, Mussolini and Pol Pot. It has been used to turn a leader, or leaders into idols
that are to be admired, respected, and often feared.
• Tzar’s Russia: the orthodox church taught that the Russian Tzar was the ‘little father’. The closest man to God
on Earth.
• Britain: a similar idea to the Russian’s was adopted in the Anglican church with the British King or Queen being
preached to be chosen by God (the Divine Right of Kings).
• Germany: in Nazi Germany, all reporters and journalists had to register with the Ministry of Public Enlightenment
and Propaganda. This was to ensure that nobody produced negative press about Hitler. The face of this ministry
was Josef Goebells.
• Stalin’s Russia: the height of the use of propaganda to control society was used in the Communistic
dictatorships of the twentieth century, especially in Stalin's Russia. During Stalin's tenure-ship as the General
Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, a ‘personality cult’ was developed to ensure that the
populace thought of Stalin in the way he wished, as a hero, a leader and the personi cation of good. This
‘personality cult’ attained the fervour of a religious cult due to the antithetic tendencies of Marxism-Leninism.
Resistance movements:
• The White Rose Resistance Organisation in Nazi Germany: was a non-violent resistance group in Nazi
Germany; consisting of a number of students from the university of Munich and their philosophy professor.
• The group became known for an anonymous lea et campaign which lasted from June 1942 to February 1943.
• It called for active opposition to the German dictator: Adolf Hilters regime and Jewish resistance to the Nazis
during the Holocaust.
Re-partition:
An underground railroad:
• Canada took power to amend the constitution from the
• When slavery was legal in the United States, there British parliament; so Canada took partition.
was an underground railway that enabled runaway • In ‘the Handmaids Tale,’ we experience the partition of
slaves to gain their freedom by leaving the country. the US government to the Gileadean overthrow.
Re-education:
• Re-education in China: the communist party of China uses re education or brain washing. Brainwashing (also
known as thought reform or reeducation)in order to change ones beliefs and attitudes where they are usually going
against their former beliefs.
• Re-education in Africa: in some parts of Africa brainwashing/re-education is used on young boys to turn them
into soldiers and kill other people; who are often from their own village or family members. They are also made to
dig for diamonds, especially blood diamonds.
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