Handmaids Tale and 1984 - 2089 Words

How far is language a tool of oppression in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’? Most dystopian novels contain themes of corruption and oppression, therefore in both ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ language is obviously used as a form of the states control, enabling dystopian leaders to remain in power by manipulating language to restrict free thought. Orwell and Atwood have utilized language as a key tool of oppression throughout their novels. The use of language is mostly repressive, language can also be seen as liberating, and used as an act of rebellion, which the state wishes to eliminate. The novel Nineteen Eighty Four contains a world in which language is being systematically corrupted. The†¦show more content†¦The Ministry of peace â€Å"concerned itself with war†, The Ministry of Truth dedicated itself to destroying the truth and The Ministry of Love was described as â€Å"frightening† with â€Å"gorilla faced guards. This brings forth the idea that the state are trying to subtly manipulate society however they are a threat. In addition the face of the party ‘Big Brother’ is extremely ironic as Orwell uses this as a tactic to make you feel reassured. This is because the word Big Brother is an example of a double entendre as a big brother is commonly associated with protection, care and love which is the extreme opposite in this case as the party seeks power...for its own sake conveying the irony further as it is not what it seems at first glance. The constant motif of ‘BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU† exemplifies the ide a they will always try to control you, and they have great power. The fact that Orwell chose these names is a reflection of the Partys of the brainwashing of their society and the desire for control over the people. It is a warning as it emphasises the abusive nature of dictators, as they use psychological manipulation as a means of control. The use of names in Nineteen Eighty-Four presents a false sense of security and desirability to citizens, as it makes the state appear friendly and trust worthy regardless of their demeaning acts. The slogan of theShow MoreRelatedMemories of Life Before Government Control: Orwells 1984, Atwoods The Handmaids Tale, and Huxleys Brave New World1107 Words   |  5 Pagespeople’s opinions of reality which proves to be impossible. Within the novels, 1984 by George Orwell, The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley the Governments have taken societys freedom away and all that remains are the memories of what li fe was like before the changes; the main characters are constantly using the past as a way to survive through the difficult times. Winston in 1984 uses his memories to cope with being watched all the time. In addition, he usesRead MoreIs Today s Society Becoming A Dystopian World?1313 Words   |  6 Pagessociety becoming a dystopian world? Both the novels 1984 by George Orwell and The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood provide warnings of how each author sees certain problems in society leading to dystopian states. Civilizations are forced to live by rules and for certain purposes to ensure the governments own goals and aspirations, but arise for different reasons. Atwood is concerned with political groups and aspects of feminism; The Handmaids Tale illustrates how declining birth rates could leadRead MoreMargaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale Essay1624 Words   |  7 Pagessexuality, Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, her poem A Woman’s Issue, and George Orwell’s 1984 all convey that sexual repression undermines individual identity and autonomy. In The Handmaid’s Tale, Atwood uses her description of the Ceremony to emphasize how Gileadean society controls sex in order to manipulate its citizens and force the women of Gilead into passivity and dissociation from their bodies. During the ritualistic Ceremony, the Handmaids are raped by their Commanders in hopes ofRead MoreComparison between The handmaids Tale and 1894 (language as controlling force, language styles, structure and contexts3493 Words   |  14 Pages Both the novels 1984 and The Handmaids Tale provide warnings of how each author sees certain problems in society leading to dystopian states. Dystopian genres exist in both novels, but arise for different reasons. Resulting from Atwoods concerns about political groups and aspects of feminism; The Handmaids Tale illustrates how declining birth rates could lead to a state where women are forced into bearing children. In contrast, 1984 depicts a terror state where poverty is rife and tyrannicalRead MoreThe Hand maid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1357 Words   |  6 Pageson the ground of the equality of the sexes† (Oxford dictionary). In the novel The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood explores feminism through the themes of women’s bodies as political tools, the dynamics of rape culture and the society of complacency. Margaret Atwood was born in 1939, at the beginning of WWII, growing up in a time of fear. In the autumn of 1984, when she began writing The Handmaid’s Tale, she was living in West Berlin. The Berlin Wall had not yet fallen and in her travels â€Å"behindRead More Atwoods Attention to Words in The Handmaids Tale Essay1180 Words   |  5 PagesAtwoods Attention to Words in The Handmaids Tale The Handmaids Tale illustrates that dictatorship can be established by creating a state of fear once language controls are instituted. As a tradition to dystopian novels, Atwood has drawn much attention to the meaning of words and the significance of names, as well as the prohibition for women to read or write, in order to portray Gilead as a successful totalitarian state. Atwood is trying to make the point that in a dystopian world, languageRead More##rtance Of Language In The Handmaids Tale And Nineteen Eighty-Four1315 Words   |  6 PagesContained within the novels The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a fight for power and control – not of land, or political position – but of language. Language is seen within both of these novels as being central to the telling of one’s own story – without the control of power and language, it is not possible to convey the intricacies, thoughts, feelings and ideas behind these stories. Whether this story is conveyed through a diary, or through cassetteRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1516 Words   |  7 PagesHandmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, explores the idea of physical and mental oppression through hierarchy, patriarchy, manipulation of history, surveillance and finally, community identity; hence the main character’s name â€Å"Offr ed† or ‘Of-Fred’ if you will. 1984, by George Orwell, covers this by including configuration of language; the characters have a new language called â€Å"Newspeak† and are also constantly watched by the government and the â€Å"Thought Police.† The hierarchy in The Handmaid’s Tale, is structuredRead More The Handmaids Tale: Oppression of Women for Male Political Gain 1782 Words   |  8 Pages The Handmaids Tale is a poetic tale of a womans survival as a Handmaid in the male dominated Republic of Gilead. Offred portrayed the struggle living as a Handmaid, essentially becoming a walking womb and a slave to mankind. Women throughout Gilead are oppressed because they are seen as potentially threatening and subversive and therefore require strict control (Callaway 48). The fear of women rebelling and taking control of society is stopped through acts such as the caste system, the ceremonyRead MoreOrwell s 1984 And Huxley s Brave New World1821 Words   |  8 Pagesto their oppression. In the classic dystopian novels, Orwell’s 1984 and Huxley’s Brave New World, the oppressed are mollified and manipulated by propaganda, indoctrination and betrayal in 1984 and by excessive drug use in A Brave New World, and i n both novels the oppressed seem to be complicit in their oppression. This pattern is also compellingly reflected in the tale of persecution presented by Margaret Atwood in The Handmaids Tale and the dystopian society of Gilead. Unlike other dystopian novels