Urine tests, hormone tests, and blood tests) have remained the same but instead people don’t go because they choose to go for their own health, but because they are forced to go, this shows the control that the government has. This shows how the doctor’s office and the purpose (ex. On page 73, “The same as before, except that now it’s obligatory” supports the fact the setting is still the same but meaning has changed, the doctor’s office which was a choice to go or not becomes an obligartory affair. The setting thoughout “The Handmaid’s Tale” is the same except the meaning or purpose of the setting changes. Inside it you can see paintings of women in long somber dresses, their hair tightly covered by white caps, and upright men, darkly clothed and unsmiling”. It isn’t used any more, except as a museum. There are no lawyers anymore and the univerisy is closed.”, “I can remember where the building are, inside the Wall, we used to be able to walk freely there, when it was a univeris.”, and “The curch is a small one, one of the first erected here, hundreds of years ago. The setting is realved to the reader through the excerpts “Doctors lived here once, lawyers, university professors. That’s why I set the book in Cambridge”, supported by the fact that Cambridge is the location of Harvard University, it is present but closed, used for other purposes in the novel.

The Puritans banished people who didn’t agree with them, so we would be rather smug to assume that the seeds are not there. Atwood notes “You often hear in North America, “It can’t happen here,” but it happened quite early on. People from this area are often more tolerant and their values and ideals are often far ahead of other American states. Another reason as to why Cambridge is chosen as the setting place includes it being the center of liberalism in the states. “The society in The Handmaid’s Take is a throwback to the early Puritans…The early Purittans ame to America not for religious freedom, as were taught in grade school, but to set up a society that would be theocracy (like Iran) ruled by regious leaders, and monolithic, that is a scoeity that would not tolerate dissent within itself….My book reflets the form and stly of the early Puritan society and addresses the dynamics that bring about such a situation”, as stated by the author the puritan society is paralleled throughout the novel. Massachusetts was the firspt place the pilgrims landed and many were purtitans the puritans were religious and intolerant people who settled in Massachusetts in the seventh century. The republic of Gilead implies theocratic and totaliarn regime which was ruled by religious leaders and the government controls every aspect of the lives of their people.Ĭambridge is chosen for two reasons including an illuision to the pilgrams. Atwood used setting to create a somber, dark and disturbing atmosphere which is consistent with the story. The setting is in 1986 in what used to be Cambridge Massachusetts but is now part of Republic of Gilead. Their presence instill fear and one can notice the lack of children walking on streets, this setting helped create an atmosphere that is somber, dull and lacking in life and joy. On the streets, there are armed guards everywhere monitoring the people.

Just the basic food that a simple household needs, which is consistent with the system’s aim to encourage its citizen to live a healthy and simple life. There is no junk food, or excessive food on display. In the supermarket, you would not see a typical display of items that we are used to. This setting was created to instill fear among the people so that they will remain obedient to the rules. In the wall were bodies of people who violated the rules were hanged and displayed for all to see. The Handmaids take a daily walk to shop and they usually pass through the wall which used to be a university. It reinforces the mood of the story and the pain and despair that Offred experienced being helpless and forced to submit to the system that robs her of her family and her dignity. Their home was drab and dark, it reminds one of the old homes, with muted lights and staircases. The setting used was the homes of the commanders, particularly the home of the Waterfords, where Offred was assigned.

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