1984, written by George Orwell, and The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, are two novels that explore the theme of totalitarianism. Although the two books are set in different time periods and cultures, they share many similarities in terms of their government control and oppression of individuals.
Both 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale feature governments that are all-powerful and use fear to control their citizens. In 1984, the government controls everything from the media to history itself, manipulating information to suit their own purposes. In The Handmaid’s Tale, the government controls women’s bodies and reproductive rights, using them as a tool to maintain power. In both books, these oppressive regimes strip away the individuality and freedom of their citizens, leaving them with little hope for a better future.
Despite their differences, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale offer a warning about the dangers of giving too much power to government. They show how easily people can be controlled when they are afraid, and how quickly those in power can abuse their authority. These novels serve as a reminder that we must be vigilant in our fight for freedom and liberty, or else we risk losing both.
In both The Handmaid’s Tale and 1984, there is a “subversion of authority” motif. Characters in both works regularly rebel against their States even if the results of their actions are catastrophic. Offred subverts the power of the State in The Handmaid’s Tale by having an affair with Luke before her wedding. Serena Joy also rebels against the State in The Handmaid’s Tale by purchasing unlawful goods, such as cigarettes, and smoking them in front of Offred and the rest of her household.
1984’s Winston also rebels against the State by conducting a secret affair with Julia. Furthermore, he also writes rebellious thoughts in his diary, which is a direct challenge to the authority of the Party.
Lastly, all three characters participate in some form of physical rebellion; Winston gets beaten up by Parsons for not participating in the Two Minutes Hate, Offred hits Ofglen with her shopping bags when she finds out that she has been executed, and Julia throws a rock at a telescreen. Consequently, because all three characters rebel against the authority of their States, they are similar to one another. 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale are also similar in their use of surveillance as a means of control.
In 1984, the government uses telescreens to watch over the citizens and make sure that they are not engaging in any rebellious behavior. The Party also uses the Thought Police to monitor people’s thoughts and arrest them if they are found to be thinking about anything that challenges the authority of the State. In The Handmaid’s Tale, the government also uses surveillance as a means of control.
The Eyes are always watching the Handmaids to make sure that they are not engaging in any rebel behavior. Furthermore, Aunt Lydia is always monitoring the Handmaids’ thoughts and punishing them if they think about anything that could be construed as rebellious. Consequently, because 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale both use surveillance as a means of control, they are similar to one another. Lastly, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale are similar in their use of language as a means of control.
In 1984, the Party controls the language by eliminating words from the dictionary that could challenge its authority. Furthermore, it replaces words with new ones that better reflect its values. For example, the Party replaces the word “democracy” with “Ingsoc.” In The Handmaid’s Tale, the government also controls the language by eliminating words that could challenge its authority.
In 1984, Winston Smith defies the state’s authority by recording in his diary that he obtained it from a black market. In opposition to the State, Julia and Winston rebel later by having sex in the country. All of these people understood what the potential punishments for rebelling against their states might be, but they nevertheless decided to do so because they believed their states had wronged them and felt compelled to express themselves.
In The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred also rebels against the state in her own way. She does not try to overthrow the government or have sex with anyone she is not supposed to, but she does defy them by keeping her memories and thoughts to herself. Both 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale explore what happens when people are forced to give up their rights and freedom in the name of security.
Both stories are cautionary tales that show what could happen if we let our governments get too powerful. 1984 is a reminder that we need to be careful about giving up our freedom, while The Handmaid’s Tale is a reminder that we need to be careful about how much power we give our governments. They are both essential reads in today’s society.
In both Atwood’s and Orwell’s works, the authors encourage their readers to be aware of State power over them and to constantly question information given by government authorities. Both writers argue that there are a variety of methods to do this, but the most efficient is my reading and interrogating the state’s power. Offred sleeping with Luke before she “solidified” her marriage with him exemplifies the “subversion of authority” theme in The Handmaid’s Tale.
This act of defiance not only shows the reader that she is capable of thinking for herself and making her own decisions, but also serves as a way to remind us that even in the most oppressive societies, there will always be those who choose to resist. 1984 presents a number of examples where Winston subverts the authority of the Party.
One such instance is when he bought an illicit journal from Mr. Charrington, which was against the Party’s rules. Another example is when he develops a relationship with Julia, something that is strictly forbidden. By engaging in these activities, Winston is sending a message to the Party that he is his own person and will not be controlled by them.
Even though the punishments for these acts are severe, Winston is willing to risk them because he knows that it is important to stand up for what you believe in. 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale are both cautionary tales that remind us of the importance of freedom of thought and expression. They also serve as a reminder that we should never take our freedoms for granted, and that it is always important to be vigilant in order to protect them.