Sophie Bennett
Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel set in a totalitarian state that has overthrown the US government. The novel is centred around the handmaid Offred, whose name derives from the possessive form of Fred, as handmaids are forbidden to use their birth names. Offred is expected to produce viable, fertile eggs, and she is fed chicken eggs every morning for breakfast. The motif of chicken in the novel symbolises the role of women in Gilead, who are valued only for their ovaries and uterus, and whose fertility is closely monitored. The handmaids are dressed in red, symbolising fertility and blood, and are forced into state-sanctioned adultery each month. The wives, meanwhile, are powerless, relying on the handmaids to provide them with children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Motif | Chicken/Eggs |
| Symbolism | Fertility, life, violence, menstruation, childbirth, passion, sin |
| The Handmaid's Role | Providing "fertile eggs" (children) |
| Contradiction | Handmaids are fed dead, unfertilized eggs |
| Wives' Role | Influencers, relaying information to maintain control |
| Gilead | A Christian theocracy, using religion selectively to maintain power |
| Feminist Critique | Atwood critiques reactionary attitudes toward women in Gilead |
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What You'll Learn
Eggs as a symbol of fertility and human eggs
In Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel, The Handmaid's Tale, the protagonist Offred is fed eggs every morning, presumably as a source of protein. Offred's name derives from the possessive form "of Fred", indicating that she is the handmaid of a man named Fred and that her sole purpose is to produce children for him. The eggs Offred eats can be seen as a symbol of fertility, representing the viable, fertile eggs she is expected to produce. This interpretation is supported by the fact that in many cultures, eggs have been used in fertility rituals and are considered a symbol of female fertility.
The egg as a symbol of fertility and life is also significant in Christianity, especially during Easter celebrations. In Christian symbolism, the egg represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the new life associated with this event. The hard eggshell protects the potential for new life within, just as a tomb preserves life. This interpretation is echoed in The Handmaid's Tale, where the handmaids, dressed in red, symbolise fertility and the blood that brings life. However, the colour red also represents violence, menstruation, and childbirth, reflecting the handmaids' complex role in Gilead's society.
In art and literature, the egg is sometimes used as a symbol of harmony and balance between opposing forces. This interpretation can be applied to The Handmaid's Tale, where the handmaids strive to balance their role as symbols of fertility and life with their desire for individualism and independence in a patriarchal society. The eggs Offred eats can be seen as a source of nourishment and strength, empowering her to challenge the oppressive regime that values women only for their reproductive abilities.
The motif of eggs in The Handmaid's Tale highlights the objectification of women in Gilead, where they are stratified and valued solely for their ability to bear children. The handmaids are forced into state-sanctioned adultery and are resented by non-handmaid women, reflecting the complex dynamics of power and control in a society grappling with a fertility crisis. The eggs Offred consumes become a reminder of her role as a vessel for new life, and her inner thoughts and feelings reflect the tension between her expected function and her individual desires.
Overall, the motif of eggs in The Handmaid's Tale serves as a powerful symbol of fertility, life, and the objectification of women in a dystopian society. The eggs represent both the potential for new life and the oppressive forces that seek to control and exploit female reproductive power. Through Offred's consumption of eggs and her inner reflections, Atwood explores the complex dynamics of power, fertility, and the struggle for individualism in a totalitarian regime.
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Offred's philosophical musings on eggs
In The Handmaid's Tale, Offred's philosophical musings on eggs serve as a powerful metaphor for her existence in the oppressive Republic of Gilead. Offred, whose name derives from "of Fred", indicating her role as a handmaid to her master, Fred, faces a daily routine of consuming eggs for breakfast. This routine act becomes a catalyst for her to reflect on the parallels between chicken eggs and her role as a handmaid, expected to produce viable, fertile human eggs.
Offred's contemplations on the egg's smooth, blank surface reveal her innermost thoughts and feelings. She draws connections between the physical characteristics of the egg and her own life. The shell, providing structure and protection, can be likened to the societal constraints imposed on handmaids, dictating their behaviour and limiting their freedom. Just as the shell encapsulates the egg, Offred and her fellow handmaids are confined within a restrictive system that governs their every move.
The egg white, or albumen, represents the natural world and its principles of behaviour. It nourishes the yolk, much like how the physical world sustains and influences human existence. In the context of Gilead, the egg white can symbolise the oppressive environment that surrounds and shapes the handmaids' lives. The handmaids are constantly monitored and judged, their movements and actions dictated by the theocratic regime. Their role as childbearers is valued over their individual identities, and they are reduced to their biological functions.
The yolk, at the centre of the egg, signifies ethics and moral principles. In Aristotelian philosophy, ethics are central to achieving human flourishing and happiness, known as eudaimonia. Offred's existence in Gilead, far from flourishing, is marked by subjugation and a constant struggle for individualism and independence. The yolk, then, becomes a reminder of the ethical dilemmas faced by Offred and her fellow handmaids as they navigate a society that objectifies and dehumanises them.
Furthermore, the act of consuming eggs, which are unfertilised, can be seen as a reflection of the handmaids' unfulfilled potential. Despite being fed a diet intended to enhance their fertility, Offred and the other handmaids are not allowed to realise their own reproductive choices. Their role is solely to produce children for the Wives, highlighting the contradiction between their biological capabilities and the limitations imposed by Gilead's patriarchal society.
Through her philosophical musings on eggs, Offred indirectly expresses her thoughts on the nature of her existence, the constraints she faces, and the ethical implications of a society that values fertility and procreation above individual freedom and autonomy.
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The chicken as a metaphor for women's oppression
The Handmaid's Tale, a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, presents a world where women are subjugated in a patriarchal society and stripped of their autonomy and individuality. The motif of chicken in the novel serves as a powerful metaphor for women's oppression, reflecting their reduced agency and objectification within the totalitarian regime of Gilead.
In the novel, Offred, a handmaid, is expected to produce viable, fertile eggs, much like the chickens kept for their reproductive capabilities. This parallels the role of handmaids, who are valued solely for their fertility and ability to bear children for the Wives in Gilead's stratified society. The handmaids are stripped of their identities, forbidden to use their birth names, and dressed in red, symbolizing fertility and blood—a constant reminder of their role in bringing life into the world.
The eggs that Offred eats for breakfast can be seen as a reflection of the dead, unfertilized eggs she is expected to produce. This routine provides a canvas for her to project her thoughts and feelings, recognizing the parallel between her own reproductive function and that of the chickens. The chicken motif highlights the dehumanization of women in Gilead, where they are treated as mere vessels for reproduction, stripped of their personhood, and reduced to their biological functions.
The Wives, such as Serena Joy, are also oppressed within this system. While they may have some semblance of power, they are ultimately reliant on the handmaids to bear children. The flowers they tend to are a metaphor for their own fertility and beauty, which fade with time. The Wives' unhappiness and resentment grow, even as the flowers in their gardens flourish, symbolizing the oppression that exists beneath the surface of their seemingly idyllic lives.
The chicken motif extends beyond the handmaids and Wives, reflecting the broader oppression of women in Gilead. Women are stratified into categories, such as Marthas (housemaids) and Aunts (who train and control the handmaids). They are controlled and manipulated through religion, with Gilead's architects using selective interpretations of religion to maintain order through fear and guilt. Women's mobility and resources are severely restricted, and they are subjected to constant surveillance by the secret police, known as "the Eyes."
The Handmaid's Tale utilizes the chicken motif to highlight the dehumanizing treatment of women, their objectification, and the oppressive nature of a society that reduces them to their reproductive capabilities. The motif serves as a stark reminder of the loss of agency and individuality faced by women in Gilead's patriarchal and totalitarian regime.
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![Dystopia [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81UZ2qEEFgL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The role of wives as influencers
In Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, wives are portrayed as both victims and perpetrators of the oppressive regime. While they are confined to their homes and have limited agency, they also benefit from the exploitation of handmaids and perpetuate the objectification of women. The wives' role as influencers is complex and multifaceted.
The wives in The Handmaid's Tale are primarily influencers within the domestic sphere. They are responsible for running households and managing the Marthas, who serve as housemaids. The wives are skilled in activities such as gardening, needlepoint, and knitting, which are considered leisure pursuits rather than work. In the novel, Serena Joy is described as tending to her flourishing garden while grappling with resentment and unhappiness. This contrast highlights the wives' complex existence, where they find solace in their hobbies while being restricted from pursuing their aspirations.
The wives' influence also extends to the ritualized rape ceremony, where they are present during the act, inviting the Handmaid to share her power. This ritual is intended to result in conception, with the Handmaids bearing children for the Wives. The Wives' presence during the ceremony underscores their complicity in the oppressive regime and their influence in maintaining it.
Additionally, the wives are guilty of objectifying handmaids. They view them as whores and symbols of their husbands' power. Serena Joy, for example, gains from Offred's oppression and would benefit from any potential pregnancy. The wives' influence contributes to the overall dehumanization and commodification of handmaids in Gilead's society.
While the wives may not have the same level of freedom as handmaids to move about in public, they exert their influence within the confines of their homes and social circles. Their social status is defined by their husbands' positions, and they use this status to their advantage. The wives navigate their restricted lives by finding pleasure in their hobbies and exerting their limited power over those below them in the social hierarchy, such as the Marthas and handmaids.
In conclusion, the wives in The Handmaid's Tale are complex characters who influence the oppressive society of Gilead in various ways. They are confined to their homes and have limited agency, but they also benefit from the exploitation of handmaids and contribute to the objectification of women. Their influence is a double-edged sword, reflecting both their victimhood and complicity in the oppressive regime.
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The contradiction of women's empowerment in Gilead
In Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, the women of Gilead are subjected to a totalitarian government and a patriarchal society, experiencing oppression and inequality. The novel explores the contradiction of women's empowerment in Gilead, where women are simultaneously valued for their fertility and subjugated, stripped of their freedom and autonomy.
The handmaids in Gilead are reduced to their reproductive capabilities, as evidenced by their red garments, symbolising fertility and blood. They are forced into state-sanctioned adultery and are resented by non-handmaid women, reflecting the contradiction of being praised for bringing life into the world while being treated as objects. Offred, the protagonist, is forbidden from using her birth name and is identified by the man she serves, further emphasising the loss of identity and empowerment.
The motif of chicken in the novel adds another layer to this contradiction. Offred regularly consumes eggs for breakfast, a reminder of her role as a vessel for producing children. The unfertilised eggs she eats parallel her own potential for fertility, which is controlled and exploited by the Gilead regime. This motif underscores the dehumanisation of women in Gilead, where their empowerment is non-existent.
The regime in Gilead maintains control through fear, torture, and guilt, with religion playing a significant role in justifying oppression. Women are oppressed not only by the government but also by other women, specifically the "Aunts," who enforce Gilead's restrictive social constraints. The novel draws parallels between Gilead and Puritan New England, highlighting the regression to a society that suppresses women's empowerment and independence.
Despite the oppressive setting, The Handmaid's Tale showcases the resistance and attempts of women to regain their power. Offred's decision to narrate her life story is an act of transgression, challenging the patriarchal society that seeks to silence her. Through storytelling, Offred empowers herself, reclaiming her identity and resisting subjugation.
In conclusion, The Handmaid's Tale presents a stark contradiction of women's empowerment in Gilead. While the society values fertility, it simultaneously strips women of their freedom, autonomy, and identity. The novel highlights the oppressive nature of a patriarchal society and the resilience of women in their pursuit of empowerment and resistance against subjugation.
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Frequently asked questions
Offred, the protagonist of the novel, eats eggs for breakfast every morning. The eggs are presumably a source of protein for her, as she is expected to produce viable, fertile eggs (children) as a handmaid. The eggs also serve as a canvas for Offred's thoughts and feelings, as she often pauses to observe and philosophize before eating them.
The eggs that Offred eats represent the expectation that she, like other handmaids, will produce children for the Wives in Gilead's patriarchal society. The handmaids are stripped of their birth names and identities, becoming vessels for bearing children for powerful men and their wives. The eggs symbolize the loss of autonomy and freedom that women experience in Gilead.
Wives such as Serena Joy are at the top of the social hierarchy in Gilead. They are influencers and relay crucial messaging to control the lower classes, including Marthas and handmaids. While they appear powerful, Wives are ultimately dependent on handmaids to bear children and fulfill their own fertility. The Wives' power is limited to small acts of nastiness and maintaining control through messaging.
The Handmaid's Tale is set in a near-future New England, in a totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government. This setting, coupled with the egg motif, emphasizes the loss of freedom and individualism for women in Gilead. The handmaids are reduced to their reproductive capabilities, providing the "eggs" while husbands provide the "sperm", further dehumanizing them and highlighting the novel's critique of reactionary attitudes toward women.
