Recently, and especially in 2017, when Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States, Women’s Marches occurred all over the United States. In many of these marches, women used symbols from Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, such as red cloaks and white bonnets (Hauser). ‘Nolite te bastardes carborundorum’ perhaps the most quoted phrase of The Handmaid’s Tale meaning ‘Don’t let the bastards grind you down’ became a feminist rallying cry during those women’s marches. The Handmaid’s Tale, which was written in 1985, regained popularity and relevance due to a rising political power of Christian fundamentalists, which led to attacks on women’s rights, particularly women’s reproductive rights (Armstrong).
The Handmaid’s Tale made way for similar feminist novels exploring dystopian futures, such as Christina Dalcher’s Vox (LaMonica). Vox and The Handmaid’s Tale are both set in a dystopian future in which the U.S. has become a theocratic state. The women in Vox suffer by being limited to speak only one hundred words a day, while women in The Handmaid’s Tale are forced into circumscribed roles, for example the role of the Handmaid. These women are subject to ritualized rape. The society in The Handmaid’s Tale is reminiscent of societies in former human history, notably the Puritan society (Atwood Age of Trump) whereas the society in Vox is more futuristic and influenced by modern technologies, as this work will show.
In this thesis, the patriarchal power structures of the dystopian societies in Vox and The Handmaid’s Tale will be analyzed by examining the sexual politics of patriarchal societies and state power as well as the use of language and punishment. I argue that both novels explore overt and subtle patriarchal structures, which have different impacts on the protagonists’ identities. The protagonists differ in their strategies of resistance and process their struggles differently. While Jean in Vox angrily holds on to her dominant and bold personality and is actively involved in the resistance against the Pure state, Offred is in pain and even numb and passively retreats to her memories and thoughts. Offred’s resistance is less politically motivated but rather anchored in her feelings on a personal level.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The sexual politics of patriarchal societies
- 2.1. Sexual politics by Millet
- 2.2. Sexual politics of the patriarchal societies in The Handmaid's Tale and Vox
- 3. Discipline and Punish
- 3.1. Discipline and Punish by Foucault
- 3.2. Discipline and Punishment in The Handmaid's Tale and Vox
- 4. Power and Resistance
- 4.1. Power/Knowledge by Foucault
- 4.2. Resistance in The Handmaid's Tale and Vox
- 5. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This thesis analyzes the patriarchal power structures in the dystopian societies depicted in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Christina Dalcher's Vox. It examines how these structures manifest through sexual politics, state power, language, and punishment, comparing and contrasting the protagonists' responses and strategies of resistance. The analysis draws upon the theoretical frameworks of Kate Millet and Michel Foucault to provide a nuanced understanding of the novels' exploration of power dynamics.
- Patriarchal power structures in dystopian societies
- The role of sexual politics in maintaining patriarchal control
- The use of discipline, punishment, and surveillance to enforce power
- Protagonists' strategies of resistance and their psychological impact
- Comparison and contrast between The Handmaid's Tale and Vox
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context for the thesis by referencing the resurgence of interest in The Handmaid's Tale following the 2017 Women's Marches and the rise of Christian fundamentalist political power. It introduces both The Handmaid's Tale and Vox as dystopian novels exploring the oppression of women in theocratic states, highlighting the differing forms of control and the protagonists' contrasting responses. The chapter outlines the thesis's argument: that both novels depict overt and subtle patriarchal structures impacting the protagonists' identities and resistance strategies, with Offred exhibiting passive, emotionally-driven resistance while Jean in Vox maintains active, politically-motivated defiance.
2. The sexual politics of patriarchal societies: This chapter delves into the patriarchal social structures present in both Vox and The Handmaid's Tale, utilizing Kate Millet's framework of class, religious, biological, and sociological ideologies, along with education and economic factors. It explores how governmental power is exercised through the socialization of children, analyzing the resulting destructive psychological effects on citizens, particularly the protagonists. Millet's theory, with its focus on the ways patriarchy shapes temperament, sex roles, and status, provides a crucial lens for understanding the characters' identities and the perpetuation of patriarchal power.
3. Discipline and Punish: This chapter examines how Foucault's concept of discipline and punish is manifested in the lives of the protagonists and employed by the dystopian states to control their citizens. It analyzes the significance of surveillance and technology in both novels, demonstrating how these tools are used to enforce conformity and suppress dissent. The chapter connects the forms of control to the broader themes of patriarchal power and the oppression of women.
4. Power and Resistance: This chapter explores the relationship between power and knowledge, as articulated by Foucault, and its influence on the resistance strategies of the protagonists in Vox and The Handmaid's Tale. It focuses on Foucault's challenge to the notion of power as solely coercive, emphasizing the role of compliance and discourse. The analysis considers the inevitability of resistance and its diverse forms, highlighting the differences in the protagonists' approaches to challenging the oppressive systems.
Keywords
Patriarchy, dystopian fiction, The Handmaid's Tale, Vox, sexual politics, Kate Millet, Michel Foucault, power, resistance, discipline, punishment, surveillance, gender, identity, oppression, theocracy.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Patriarchal Power Structures in "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Vox"
What is the main focus of this academic text?
This thesis analyzes the patriarchal power structures in the dystopian societies depicted in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Christina Dalcher's Vox. It examines how these structures manifest through sexual politics, state power, language, and punishment, comparing and contrasting the protagonists' responses and strategies of resistance. The analysis uses the theoretical frameworks of Kate Millet and Michel Foucault.
Which theoretical frameworks are used in the analysis?
The analysis draws upon the theoretical frameworks of Kate Millet (sexual politics) and Michel Foucault (discipline, punish, power/knowledge). Millet's work helps understand how patriarchy shapes temperament, sex roles, and status, while Foucault's theories illuminate the mechanisms of power, control, and resistance.
What are the key themes explored in the text?
Key themes include patriarchal power structures in dystopian societies; the role of sexual politics in maintaining patriarchal control; the use of discipline, punishment, and surveillance to enforce power; protagonists' strategies of resistance and their psychological impact; and a comparison and contrast between The Handmaid's Tale and Vox.
How are the novels, "The Handmaid's Tale" and "Vox," compared and contrasted?
The text compares and contrasts the differing forms of control and the protagonists' contrasting responses in both novels. Offred (from The Handmaid's Tale) exhibits passive, emotionally-driven resistance, while Jean (from Vox) demonstrates active, politically-motivated defiance. The analysis highlights how overt and subtle patriarchal structures impact the protagonists' identities and resistance strategies.
What is covered in each chapter of the text?
Chapter 1 (Introduction): Sets the context, introduces the novels, and outlines the thesis argument. Chapter 2 (Sexual Politics): Examines patriarchal structures using Millet's framework, focusing on socialization and its psychological effects. Chapter 3 (Discipline and Punish): Analyzes Foucault's concept of discipline and punishment in the novels, focusing on surveillance and technology. Chapter 4 (Power and Resistance): Explores Foucault's power/knowledge dynamic and the protagonists' resistance strategies. Chapter 5 (Conclusion): Summarizes findings.
What are some of the key terms used in the text?
Key terms include patriarchy, dystopian fiction, The Handmaid's Tale, Vox, sexual politics, Kate Millet, Michel Foucault, power, resistance, discipline, punishment, surveillance, gender, identity, oppression, and theocracy.
What is the significance of the resurgence of interest in "The Handmaid's Tale"?
The introduction references the renewed interest in The Handmaid's Tale following the 2017 Women's Marches and the rise of Christian fundamentalist political power, highlighting the novel's continued relevance in discussions about women's oppression and theocratic states.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2019, Nolite te Bastardes Carborundorum. Reading Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" and Christina Dalcher's "Vox" in Dialogue, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/593978
