Analysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale Essay

Psychological criticism has roots as far back as the fourth century BC, when Aristotle â€Å"commented on the effects of tragedy on an audience, saying hat by evoking pity and fear, tragedy creates a cathartic of those emotions† (Dobie 54). More recently, however, psychological criticism has been shaped and influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud. He developed theories concerning â€Å"the workings of the human psyche, its formations, its organization, and its maladies† that, while further refined by other theorists, are still the basis of the modern approach to literary criticism (Dobie 54). Freud’s theory of the tripartite psyche is used to classify and define the conscious and unconscious mind into the id, ego, and superego. When examined using this theory, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian novel about a patriarchal totalitarian government that has replaced the United States of America, is particularly interesting. The story’s protagonist and narrator is a woman referred to as Offred, who lives in the fairly new Republic of Gilead which has taken the place of the United States. She is what is known as a Handmaid; alarmingly low reproductive rates led to young women whom are able to reproduce being assigned to well-off couples who are infertile. Essentially they are sex slaves being used for their uteruses. These women are generally not willing or believers in the new regime or in their new roles in society -- they are given the choice between beingShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaids Tale 1405 Words   |  6 Pageshave witnessed the corruption of governments before even if we didn’t even realize it. From communism to democracy, world wars to civil wars, genocides to religious upraises, government involvement has always been silently exalted. In Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaids Tale’, we see the fear of the Gileadian society caused b y a rà ©gime government who practices its inhumane beliefs through everyday life in Gilead. The uses of military corruption, fear, and oppression are things that describe the everydayRead MoreAnalysis Of The Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1401 Words   |  6 Pagesand psychologists, but surprisingly, a writer - Margaret Atwood has successfully described if not answer the issue of independence and passivity in The Handmaid’s Tale. A dystopian novel set in the post-apocalyptic America now so-called Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian government. With the critically low reproduction rates due to biological warfare, the Handmaids are allocated to give births within the oppressive regime. The story of the Handmaids has clarified the definition of freewill and independenceRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale847 Words   |  4 Pagesincessant restrictions are for their own good. No restrictions are more stringent than those bestowed on the women, and mor e specifically, the handmaids. Although, Gilead claims to be built on a principal set of values, its principles are ignored and challenged to ensure everything runs smoothly in the eyes of Gilead’s patriarchy. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the Republic of Gilead, a corrupt government adamant on supporting a better way of life for females, undermines their very own beliefsRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale1825 Words   |  8 PagesIn Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, we meet Offred, or so they call her, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a futuristic dystopian society. Gilead tarnished traditional values and replaced them with shear corruption after the rebels killed the President as well as most of Congress, took over the government, and decided to throw out the constitution. Instead the society relies on the bible to justify its barbaric rules, limitations and practices. In a totalitarian society of dec reasing birthRead MoreAnalysis Of Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale843 Words   |  4 PagesUnorthodox Characters â€Å"I feel thankful to her. She has died that I may live. I will mourn later† (Atwood 286). Many sacrifices and hard decisions are made by unorthodox people to keep what they believe in alive. There would be no rebellions and no change without these nonconforming people. Offred, the main character and a Handmaiden, would have faced eminent death in her strictly orthodox world had it not been for the rebelliousness of those who died before her wanting change. The Republic ofRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Atwood And Sylvia Plath s The Handmaid s Tale, And Moira Of Margaret Atwood1905 Words   |  8 Pagesis in this despondent frame of mind, the woman of Sylvia Plath’s poem, Edge, and Moira of Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaids Tale, find themselves accepting their condemnation as their destiny. Both Margaret Atwood and Sylvia Plath use their works as emotional outlets to express the hopeless disposition one comes to embrace having reached the point of exhaustion . Together, Moira from The Handmaid’s Tale and the â€Å"perfected woman† from Edge exemplify the quality of life or lack thereof, one isRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale By Margaret Atwood1249 Words   |  5 PagesDystopian Research Essay: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood In the words of Erika Gottlieb With control of the past comes domination of the future. A dystopia reflects and discusses major tendencies in contemporary society. The Handmaid s Tale is a dystopian novel written by Margaret Atwood in 1985. The novel follows its protagonist Offred as she lives in a society focused on physical and spiritual oppression of the female identity. Within The Handmaid s Tale it is evident that through the explorationRead MoreThe Handmaid s Tale, By Margaret Atwood1629 Words   |  7 Pages Atwood s novel, The Handmaid s Tale depicts a not too futuristic society of Gilead, a society that overthrows the U.S. Government and institutes a totalitarian regime that seems to persecute women specifically. Told from the main character s point of view, Offred, explains the Gilead regime and its patriarchal views on some women, known as the handmaids, to a purely procreational function. The story is set the present tense in Gilead but frequently shifts to flashbacks in her time at the RedRead MoreMargaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale931 Words   |  4 Pagesthe concept of gender becoming a multi- layered shifting hypothesis to which society is adapting. Since the 19th-century, philosophers and theorists have continued to scrutinize gender beyond biological and social interpretation. Margaret Atwood s The Handmaid s Tale captures the limitations and social implications forced upon a set gender based on societal expectations. Gender is a social construct that limits the individua l to the restrictions and traditions of a society, or if it’s an individuallyRead MoreThe Reconstruction Of Power By Margaret Atwood943 Words   |  4 PagesHaley Hollimon LTC Bozeman EN 102, L19 3 February 2015 The Reconstruction of Power Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood utilizes various elements of fiction to develop and question the concept of power and control in the patriarchal society of Gilead. Offred, the main Handmaid, is the instrument of which Atwood delivers her message about corruption and power. Offred’s vague diction, unreliable characterization, and erratic tone illustrate the distress of this transitional society (Abcarian

Essay on Art as a Reflection of Life in Death in Venice

Art as a Reflection of Life in Death in Venice Death in Venice explores the relationship between an artist, namely Gustave von Aschenbach, and the world in which he lives. Aschenbach, destined to be an artist from a young age, represents art, while his surroundings represent life. As the story unfolds, Aschenbach endeavors on a journey in an attempt to relinquish his position in society as an artist. Aschenbach wants to experience life, as opposed to merely reflecting upon it, as he has done for so many years. This attempted change of lifestyle can also be interpreted as a transition from the ways of Apollo to those of Dionysus, an archetype dating back to Nietzsches Birth of Tragedy. Aschenbachs journey throughout Death†¦show more content†¦Aschenbachs resolution to travel is not described by the author as a voluntary act, but instead portrayed his destiny. Mann writes, Aschenbach regarded travel as a necessary evil. (Mann, 6) His life had been filled with order, austerity, and isolation, essentially elements of an Apollonian lifestyle. Due to the regularity and predictability of his previous life, Aschenbachs decision to travel can be interpreted as an act of fate, thereby making the man on the portico a messenger. Upon being summoned by the messeng er, Aschenbachs first destination is Trieste, a word meaning sad in French. Appropriately enough, this concurs with Aschenbachs outlook towards his upcoming travel. The next event of Aschenbachs twist of fate takes place on the small boat ferrying him to Venice. While onboard, Aschenbach takes note of an elderly man not acting his age. Mann writes, But the young-old man was a truly repulsive sight in the condition to which his company with youth had brought him. (Mann, 19) Seeing a drunken old man passing away the time with the youth is not what disgusted Aschenbach. On the contrary, Aschenbach saw himself in the old man, and rejected the direction which his life had taken. The alcohol is symbolic for the Dionysian surroundings in which Aschenbach finds himself, namely the relaxed, happy, and carefree elements of the scene. However, Aschenbach is fated to stand back and reflect on the scene instead of becoming a part of it because heShow MoreRelatedArt: Comparison and Contrast of 19th Century Art Essay1175 Words   |  5 Pages there is a difference between their styles, their point of view, and the scenery. However there are similarities betwe en the two paintings. The paintings that will be compared and contrasted are â€Å"Under the Birches, Evening† and â€Å"The Campo Santo, Venice.† The first painting, â€Å"Under the Birches, Evening†, is done by Pierre Etienne Theodore Rousseau. He was born on April 15, 1812 in Paris, France. His family saw that he had great potential in being an artist and since their business was profitingRead More Henry James The Wings of the Dove Essay4845 Words   |  20 PagesHenry James The Wings of the Dove This paper will present briefly Henry James and his thoughts about the art of fiction that is presented by his same titled essay before thoroughly analyzing his novel: The Wings of the Dove. James’ ideas on his article The Art of Fiction will be applied to The Wings of the Dove and the narrative style that he uses will be indicated by certain quotations taken from the novel. James had read classics of English, American, French, and German literature andRead More Ambiguity, Inconsistency and Uncertainty in Othello Essay example1269 Words   |  6 Pagesand strange. Consider the propriety of the general’s slapping the face of Desdemona in the presence of Lodovico: OTHELLO. Devil! [Strikes her.] DESDEMONA. I have not deserved this. LODOVICO. My lord, this would not be believed in Venice, Though I should swear I saw’t. ‘Tis very much. Make her amends; she weeps. (4.1)   Is this violent action not out of place – and just plain impossible at this point? No crime by the lady would be deserving of public beating, especiallyRead More Irregularities in Othello1716 Words   |  7 PagesIrregularities in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   The Shakespearean tragedy Othello contains various irregularities of time and occurrence which cause the audience to scratch their head in wonder and doubt. Let us analyze some of these shortcomings in this essay.    In the Introduction to The Riverside Shakespeare Frank Kermode explains one of the difficulties in Othello:    Othello murders his wife on the second night in Cyprus. The difficulty, of which Shakespeare was clearly aware, arisesRead MoreEssay on Pure and Foolish Love in Othello1275 Words   |  6 Pagesreasoner and foolish lover. The tragedy of `Othello is largely due to Othellos personality and life experience. Othello believes himself to be loved and respected by everyone around him as most people refer to him as the noble General Othello. Othello, after realizing his tragic mistake of murdering his innocent wife, Desdemona, claims he loved not wisely, but too well, this is an honest reflection of himself as his love was true and pure but also foolish. His lack of wisdom is because ofRead MoreEssay on The Imagery of Othello2452 Words   |  10 PagesImagery of Othello Talks  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In the tragedy Othello the Bard of Avon uses imagery to talk between the lines, to set moods, to create a more dramatic impact on the mind of the audience, and for other reasons. Let’s consider imagery in this essay.    A surprising, zoo-like variety of animal injury occur throughout the play. Kenneth Muir, in the Introduction to William Shakespeare: Othello,   explains the conversion of Othello through his increased use of animal imagery:    ThoseRead MoreThe Role of Prejudice in the Merchant of Venice2395 Words   |  10 PagesThe Role of Prejudice In The Merchant of Venice This paper discusses the subject of prejudice in the William Shakespeare play, The Merchant of Venice. I. Introduction William Shakespeares satirical comedy, The Merchant of Venice, believed to have been written in 1596 was an examination of hatred and greed.The premise deals with the antagonistic relationship between Shylock, a Jewish money-lender and Antonio, the Christian merchant, who is as generous as Shylock is greedy, particularlyRead More Othello’s Diversity of Imagery Essay2781 Words   |  12 Pagesof the populous city of Venice – Iago’s â€Å"world,† as it has been called. . . .(132)    When Iago returns to the Moor, he resorts to violence in his description of the senator, saying that â€Å"nine or ten times / I had thought to have yerkd him here under the ribs.† Othello responds to the antagonist with a whole new set of imagery which is respectable, non-violent, and worthy of imitation; he speaks of his family lineage and the open sea:      Ã‚   I fetch my life and being   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   FromRead MoreJealousy and Race in Othello 1430 Words   |  6 Pagescertainly is a timeless classic work of art. â€Å"The object of tragic imitation is men in action.† As stated by Aristotle in his work, Poetics. Othello consists of men in action, in more than one sense; Othello (titular character protagonist), Iago and Cassio are ‘men of action’ and additionally, throughout the play we are able to observe men and women combating none other than life itself. The play deals with various themes and issues, however, this essay will focus on jealousy and race. OthelloRead MoreEssay on Discrimination Against Women in Othello3067 Words   |  13 Pagesunjustly so. Let’s talk about the obvious sexism throughout the play.    Susan Snyder in â€Å"Othello: A Modern Perspective† expounds on the sexist notions typical of Venice:    The pervasive notion of woman as property, prized indeed but more as object than as person, indicates one aspect of a deep-seated sexual pathology in Venice. [. . .] Fear of women’s sexuality is omnipresent in Othello. Iago fans to flames the coals of socially induced unease in Othello, fantasizes on his own about being

Macbeth15 Essay Example For Students

Macbeth15 Essay The character of Macbeth is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. There are many factors which contribute to the degeneration of Macbeth of which three will be discussed. The three points which contribute greatly to Macbeths degeneration are the prophecy which was told to him by the witches, how Lady Macbeth influenced and manipulated Macbeths judgment, and finally Macbeths long time ambition which drove his desire to be king. Macbeths growing character degenerates from a noble man to violent individual. The prophecies which were told by the witches were one of the factors which contributed to the degeneration of his character. If it had not been for the witches telling him that he was to be Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis, and King of Scotland, Macbeth would still be his ordinary self. As a result of the prophecies, this aroused Macbeths curiosity of how he could be King of Scotland. As the play progresses, Macbeth slowly relies on the witches prophecies. Shakespeare uses the witches as a remedy for Macbeths curiosity which corrupts his character. The influence of Macbeths wife, Lady Macbeth also contributed to his degeneration of character. Lady Macbeths character in the beginning reveals that she is a lovable person. When Lady Macbeth was ready to kill King Duncan herself, it showed that Lady Macbeth could not murder King Duncan because he reminded her of her father. This proves that Lady Macbeth has a heart deep inside her. Lady Macbeth plays an important role in this play because she provided a scheme which caused Macbeth to assassinate King Duncan. After Macbeth had killed King Duncan, he later regrets on his wrong doing. At the point of this play the audience can note the change in Macbeths character. Macbeths first murder was a trying experience for him, however after the first murder, killing seemed to be the only solution to maintain his reign of the people of Scotland. Therefore, it was Lady Macbeth who introduced the concept of murder to Macbeth. Macbeths ambition also influenced his declining character. However, Macbeths ambition had not been strong enough to carry the motive to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeths influence also comes in to play because if not for Lady Macbeth, his ambition would not have been intensified enough to drive him to obtain and maintain his title of King of Scotland no matter what it took, even if it meant murdering. Macbeths ambition influenced the cause of his new character. This new character of Macbeth contained greed, violence, and power hunger. Macbeth shows this when he kills King Duncan. In conclusion, the prophecies given to him by the witches, Lady Macbeths influence and plan, and his intensified ambition, all contributed greatly to his degeneration of character which resulted to his downfalldeath. Therefore Macbeth character displays strong signs of a tragic hero, making him the ideal classic example. Bibliography: