The Handmaid's Tale - Who is to Blame?
In the novel, The Handmaid's Tale, there is a central theme that seems to be carried throughout the novel. The theme that is present in the novel is the responsibilities women have and how they are to blame for anything that happens to them.
We see this theme multiple times when Aunt Lydia's discussions are mentioned. The first time we see it is when she says, "They can't help it...It's up to you to set the boundaries." (45). What is being implied here is that men cannot control themselves because God didn't make them that way, therefore the women are in charge of what happens to them. If something were to happen to a women beyond her control, Aunt Lydia would claim that it was her fault for not behaving the way God had made her.
Another time that we see this theme is when Aunt Lydia is discussing how women used to sunbathe. Aunt Lydia is disgusted with the past practice and says, "The spectacles women used to make of themselves... no wonder those things used to happen." (55). Here she is implying that rape and sexual harassment all occurred because of things that women used to do and thus saying that it is the victims fault for the awful things that happen to them.
What stood out to me about this theme is that as ridiculous as it seems, this is how people in our society think as well. Women are taught how not to be raped or assaulted their whole lives, but males are never just simply told not to rape. This is a scary concept to think about, but I think by incorporating it in her novel, Atwood is drawing attention to the problem, showing why it is wrong to think like this, and sparking conversations that can help to end the shaming and blaming of women everywhere.
We see this theme multiple times when Aunt Lydia's discussions are mentioned. The first time we see it is when she says, "They can't help it...It's up to you to set the boundaries." (45). What is being implied here is that men cannot control themselves because God didn't make them that way, therefore the women are in charge of what happens to them. If something were to happen to a women beyond her control, Aunt Lydia would claim that it was her fault for not behaving the way God had made her.
Another time that we see this theme is when Aunt Lydia is discussing how women used to sunbathe. Aunt Lydia is disgusted with the past practice and says, "The spectacles women used to make of themselves... no wonder those things used to happen." (55). Here she is implying that rape and sexual harassment all occurred because of things that women used to do and thus saying that it is the victims fault for the awful things that happen to them.
What stood out to me about this theme is that as ridiculous as it seems, this is how people in our society think as well. Women are taught how not to be raped or assaulted their whole lives, but males are never just simply told not to rape. This is a scary concept to think about, but I think by incorporating it in her novel, Atwood is drawing attention to the problem, showing why it is wrong to think like this, and sparking conversations that can help to end the shaming and blaming of women everywhere.
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