Religion

• What role does religion play in The Handmaid’s Tale?

  It plays a huge role in society.
• What type of government replaces the U.S. government in The Handmaid’s Tale?

  A totalitarian patriarchal theocracy.
• How does Gilead distort Christian values?

  It uses them to promote women's oppression.
• What literary devices does Atwood use to criticize religion in the novel?

  Religious symbolism, allusions, and motifs.
• What do people in power use from the Bible in Gilead?

  Certain passages to justify their actions.
• When was The Handmaid’s Tale first published?

  In 1985.
• Who was president when The Handmaid’s Tale was published?

  Ronald Reagan.
• What political group gained power during Reagan's presidency?

  The Christian right.
• What did Reagan advocate for during his presidency?

  A return to traditional values.
• What was the Moral Majority?

  A political organization founded in 1979.
• Who founded the Moral Majority?

  Jerry Falwell.
• What values did the Moral Majority promote?

  Religious fundamentalism and conservative values.
• How did the Moral Majority view modern lifestyles?

  As self-indulgent and sinful.
• What issues did the Moral Majority oppose?

  Abortion, gay rights, and pornography.
• What did the Moral Majority support in public schools?

  Prayer and teaching Christian scripture.
• What was Atwood's personal belief regarding religion?

  She identifies as a strict agnostic.
• What does Atwood believe about the use of religion in politics?

  It should not dictate political policies.
• What does Atwood's novel serve as a response to?

  The emergence of the religious right.
• What does the adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale in 2017 signify?

  Concerns about Atwood's dystopian world today.
• What is Offred's name interpreted to imply?

  She is a religious offering or sacrifice.
• What does Moira's name signify in The Handmaid’s Tale?

  It means "rebellious" and alludes to Mary.
• How does Moira's character challenge Gilead's norms?

  She is a lesbian and feminist activist.
• What is the significance of Luke's name in the novel?

  It parallels the rise of Christianity.
• How does Offred's journey parallel that of Jesus according to the Gospel of Luke?

  Her indoctrination symbolizes death and resurrection.
• What does Aunt Elizabeth's character highlight in the novel?

  The concept of childbirth and fertility.
• How does Aunt Lydia's character distort religious teachings?

  She misquotes the Bible to indoctrinate Handmaids.
• What role do the Marthas play in The Handmaid’s Tale?

  They are domestic servants responsible for housekeeping.
• Who are the Sons of Jacob in the context of Gilead?

  Founders of Gilead, implying divine rule.
• What does the term "Handmaids" refer to in the Bible?

  Women who bear children for others.
• How does Atwood use the term "Angels" in The Handmaid’s Tale?

  Ironically, as protectors of the oppressive regime.
• What is the foundation of Gilead's oppressive society?

  Biblical narratives and interpretations
• Who is Bilhah in the Book of Genesis?

  Rachel's handmaid who bears children
• What does Rachel suggest to Jacob to have children?

  To have sex with her handmaid Bilhah
• How does Atwood use the Bible verse about Rachel and Bilhah in The Handmaid's Tale?

  To justify the oppression of Handmaids
• What does Atwood's repetition of the Bible verse signify in Gilead?

  Its importance to the society's justification
• How are angels typically portrayed in the Bible?

  As protectors and symbols of compassion
• How does Atwood use the term "Angels" in The Handmaid's Tale?

  Ironically, as enforcers of oppression
• What does Gilead represent in the Bible?

  A place where Jacob establishes authority
• What is the significance of the Rachel and Leah Center in the novel?

  It indoctrinates Handmaids before assignment
• How does naming the center after Rachel and Leah affect the Handmaids?

  It erases Handmaids' relevance and power