Similarities and Differences between The Giver and The Handmaid's Tale

Hi bloggers! Well, I'm posting after a very long time... I actually wanted to relate to you the connections between The Giver and The Handmaid's Tale.

Firstly, The Handmaid's Tale is about a film adaptation of the Margaret Atwood novel of the same name. The setting is a dystopian setting with a state of theocracy, where the god/deity is considered to be the state's supreme civil ruler. The society's main goal was to produce more babies so as to increase the population of the country. It explores the themes of women subjugation and the various means by which they gain agency. The main characters involved are Offred (real name is Kate),the protagonist, The Commander, Serena Joy, the Commander's wife, and other minor characters.

As you already know, the Handmaid's Tale is set in a dystopian society. Having enacted a theocratic fascist state, the novel chronicles the ways in which the state was effective only in doing injury, not in transforming individuals to higher-minded ideals. It is a society where there are caste/class differences, gender inequality and even complex sumptuary law.

Though the first part of The Giver is set in an Utopian society, we are able to identify the dystopian features that begin to emerge from the Utopian features. For example, though there was peace and order, and no class differences (except the opinion Jonas' mother gives about Birthmothers), there is no colour, music or even deep emotions (like love) in the novel. Thus, we can evaluate that colour, music, individuality and freedom is sacrificed for peace and prosperity in this novel. The lack of colour, music and emotions acts a dystopian aspects of this "Utopian" society. This is similar to The Handmaid's Tale too. When there was this human impulse to create a Utopian society (perfect world; blissful life...), there always tends to be this power which creates a dystopian society in reality, instead. As I mentioned earlier, having enacted a theocratic fascist state, the novel chronicles the ways in which the state was effective only in doing injury, not in transforming individuals to higher-minded ideals. When they tried to increase the population of the country by holding concubines (handmaids) for reproductive purposes, they actually are against the women's (concubine) rights. When the Commander sexually penetrates the handmaid (Offred/Jane), he is actually acting against the morals and values of her. Though she wanted to have a baby, I don't think that she wanted to be sexually penetrated by a stranger every month. Thus, in order to increase the population of the country and to decrease the load of the workforce (make the society Utopian; in other words perfect), dystopian elements such as the actions against the handmaid's morals and values are undertaken. This turns the setting into a rather dystopian society than Utopian.

 One of the differences between The Giver and The Handmaid's Tale is that there are no gender differences in The Giver whereas there is a lot of gender differences in The Handmaid's Tale. For example, in The Giver, everyone is treated equally with no class differences. Both genders (of course-male and female) are allowed to be educated and be assigned or selected for certain Assignments. There are no Occupations where only a certain gender is allowed to work in (except for Birthmothers). In fact, Jonas' mother "held a prominent position at the Department of Justice" [Page 8] and "[Jonas' father's] friend Yoshiko was surprised by her selection as Doctor" [Page16]. Since Doctor and Judges are quite high-class positions, we can conclude that there are no gender rights in the society. Men or women (it doesn't matter) is assigned to do whatever occupation they show most interest in, as long as they have the talent. On the other hand, in The Handmaid's Tale, it's a different story. In that society, there is an obvious gender difference among men and women. Only the men hold the higher positions in the society. The women are always regarded low and are not educated or allowed to read (except for the Aunts). In this society, women are considered intellectually and emotionally inferior. Hence, the men have the most respectable positions (Commander, Eyes...) in the society and the women are not as respected as them. They are given minor jobs such as Commander's Wives, Handmaids (Boo...agh... :!) etc. Thus, we can conclude that there are gender differences in the society portrayed in The Handmaid's Tale. 

 What do you think bloggers? Do you think you want to read The Handmaid's Tale or watch the movie (Well, I would actually discourage you to watch the movie because it has some disgusting scenes which may leave you mentally disturbed-Believe me... I've got experience)?! Wait up for my next post but signing off for now... Subi.                 HAVE A FABULOUS FANTASY FIESTA!!! :)