How does Atwood and Shelley present the role of gender in the misuse of science? You must
relate your essay to contextual factors?
PLAN
Atwood: Gender is primarily central to the plot which explores the brutal dehumanisation of the
female gender by the powerful male gender, equating women’s existence to that of ovaries whose
purpose is to be ‘fruitful and multiply’. In relation to the misuse of science, the patriarchal society
of Gilead offers control and domination to the male gender, leading them to create a world where
the Puritanical Christian ideology of ‘conceiving babies’ is put to the forefront, at the dismay of
women. Reproduction becomes rigid and ritualistic, failing to incorporate the pervious elements
of purity and oneness, that was once associated with childbirth.
Thus, Atwood’s presentation of the male and female gender as the antithesis of the other is
integral for the novel- men embody the dictatorial bodies crafting a world that benefits them
solely, whilst women are forced to remain in their subservient roles, pleasing both men and the
society that the men have crafted for themselves. This allows the reader to understand the
interlink between science and gender- The powerful gender use their control to misuse it (Gilead’s
use of childbirth) and the subservient gender submit to effects of the misused science caused by
the men.
- Gender as a powerful source to manipulate and rule: The Gileadeans rule over everyone
else, in the aim to control and restrict the lives of women. Yet the power that the male
gender has grants them the power to carry out their barbaric actions causing
consequences for the women. Atwood depicts how women are made to suffer and
sacrifice their selves for the men. This is evident in the Gileadean men allowing the mass
reproduction of babies to populate their society, yet the ostracization of babies deemed
as ‘shredders’ portrays the misuse of birth. Women are forced to carry out their natural
ability yet the power that the men have ensures that what is deemed as unworthy is
discarded and society remains ordered- for example, disabled babies sent to the colonies.
Also evident in the brutal separation of the birth mothers and their babies- the bond that
is meant to form between the mother and child is destroyed; once again, women suffer at
the hands of men’s choices.
- Quotes: “They took her baby away.”: Janine’s child is taken away from her, ‘Two-legged
wombs’, ‘We are containers’, ‘The ceremony is a duty’, ‘We are for breeding purposes’
- Context: Society valued patriarchy whereby the domination of men was standard, and
submission of women was regular- This is especially due to the theocratic patriarchy of
Gilead- women have no autonomy.
- Justification of Gilead as a well-ordered society- rooted in the biblical belief of God
commanding reproduction for all women.
- Male control is disguised as a failure of women biology- the fact that the barren women are
sent to the colonies and their biology is blamed depicts the hypocrisy of the Gileadean
leaders- The environment is to blame for women’s barrenness, yet this fault is once again
placed on women.
Similarly, Shelley presents the male gender as dominant, causing ruination to the lives of the
innocent women. The power and strength that Frankenstein has causes dismay to those that attain
a subservient role in society. His creation of the creature despite his inability to do so, without
relate your essay to contextual factors?
PLAN
Atwood: Gender is primarily central to the plot which explores the brutal dehumanisation of the
female gender by the powerful male gender, equating women’s existence to that of ovaries whose
purpose is to be ‘fruitful and multiply’. In relation to the misuse of science, the patriarchal society
of Gilead offers control and domination to the male gender, leading them to create a world where
the Puritanical Christian ideology of ‘conceiving babies’ is put to the forefront, at the dismay of
women. Reproduction becomes rigid and ritualistic, failing to incorporate the pervious elements
of purity and oneness, that was once associated with childbirth.
Thus, Atwood’s presentation of the male and female gender as the antithesis of the other is
integral for the novel- men embody the dictatorial bodies crafting a world that benefits them
solely, whilst women are forced to remain in their subservient roles, pleasing both men and the
society that the men have crafted for themselves. This allows the reader to understand the
interlink between science and gender- The powerful gender use their control to misuse it (Gilead’s
use of childbirth) and the subservient gender submit to effects of the misused science caused by
the men.
- Gender as a powerful source to manipulate and rule: The Gileadeans rule over everyone
else, in the aim to control and restrict the lives of women. Yet the power that the male
gender has grants them the power to carry out their barbaric actions causing
consequences for the women. Atwood depicts how women are made to suffer and
sacrifice their selves for the men. This is evident in the Gileadean men allowing the mass
reproduction of babies to populate their society, yet the ostracization of babies deemed
as ‘shredders’ portrays the misuse of birth. Women are forced to carry out their natural
ability yet the power that the men have ensures that what is deemed as unworthy is
discarded and society remains ordered- for example, disabled babies sent to the colonies.
Also evident in the brutal separation of the birth mothers and their babies- the bond that
is meant to form between the mother and child is destroyed; once again, women suffer at
the hands of men’s choices.
- Quotes: “They took her baby away.”: Janine’s child is taken away from her, ‘Two-legged
wombs’, ‘We are containers’, ‘The ceremony is a duty’, ‘We are for breeding purposes’
- Context: Society valued patriarchy whereby the domination of men was standard, and
submission of women was regular- This is especially due to the theocratic patriarchy of
Gilead- women have no autonomy.
- Justification of Gilead as a well-ordered society- rooted in the biblical belief of God
commanding reproduction for all women.
- Male control is disguised as a failure of women biology- the fact that the barren women are
sent to the colonies and their biology is blamed depicts the hypocrisy of the Gileadean
leaders- The environment is to blame for women’s barrenness, yet this fault is once again
placed on women.
Similarly, Shelley presents the male gender as dominant, causing ruination to the lives of the
innocent women. The power and strength that Frankenstein has causes dismay to those that attain
a subservient role in society. His creation of the creature despite his inability to do so, without
