Essay about Jezebels from The Handmaids Tale - 1412 Words

Margaret Atwood – The Handmaids Tale – Jezebel’s In this essay, I will discuss how the section of â€Å"jezebel’s† (chapter 31-39) contributes to the development of the novel of â€Å"The Handmaid’s Tale† (Margaret Atwood). The term â€Å"jezebel† derives from the Bible, as Jezebel was a woman who conveyed wickedness upon the kingdom of king Ahab. Also, the term jezebel is often used to describe a dissenting woman. The section of â€Å"jezebels† is significant in the novel of the handmaids tale, as it provides different views as to the importance of women, they roles etc, compared to the rest of the novel. This is one point amidst many which I will discuss in this essay. One of the most important issues that the â€Å"jezebels† sequence offers†¦show more content†¦This enables women not to become rebellious of the system, as you can only become rebellious with the power of language. The handmaids in Gilead are also deprived of their identity, as they are the possessions of the commanders, and so are named after they commanders e.g. â€Å"Offred† and â€Å"Offglen†. However, the jezebel sequence approaches the roles of women in a different manner. The club of jezebels demonstrates that men in Gilead approve of casual sex. The men are able to choose whom to have sex with, and the women are capable of having sex with numerous men, all of which are condemned by the society in the preceding chapters. The main reason why Gilead came about was because of sexual freedom and because of pornography and prostitution. The Commander says in chapter 32 that in the previous society sex was â€Å"too easy† and this made sex lose its true meaning creating what the commander says an â€Å"inhibiting feeling† or in other words no real feeling. However, this is exactly what is happening with the club of jezebel’s in which sex is easy to have. Again in jezebels, Atwood shows that in Gilead women are possessions of men. This is highlighted when The Commander takes Offred to the club of Jezebels. The Commander is â€Å"showing off† Offred in front of the other men showing that Offred is of his ownership. In the jezebel sequence The Commander is presented differently from theShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Dystopia in Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale1098 Words   |  5 PagesThe Dystopia in Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale Offred is a Handmaid in what used to be the United States, now the theocratic Republic of Gilead. In order to create Gileads idea of a more perfect society, they have reverted to taking the Book of Genesis at its word. Women no longer have any privileges; they cannot work, have their own bank accounts, or own anything. The also are not allowed to read or even chose who they want to marry. 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