3.1.2

Epigraph

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Epigraphs in The Handmaid's Tale

Atwood chooses three epigraphs that introduce many themes and ideas.

Genesis 30: 1-3

Genesis 30: 1-3

  • And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said Am I in God's stead who have withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her".
Genesis 30: 1-3 analysed

Genesis 30: 1-3 analysed

  • This quotation clearly inspired the Ceremony that takes place in the novel between the Commander, Offred and Serena Joy.
  • It also shows how a theocracy like Gilead can use scripture to enforce practices like the Ceremony.
  • You could interpret this quotation as objectifying women as just sexual and reproductive figures in society.
Jonathan Swift

Jonathan Swift

  • But as to myself, having been wearied out for many years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length, utterly despairing of success, I fortunately fell upon this proposal… (Jonathon Swift, A Modest Proposal, 1729)
Swift quotation analysed

Swift quotation analysed

  • Swift was an Irish writer and satirist who wrote the essay A Modest Proposal to address the poor living conditions for Irish people.
  • He satirically put forward ideas like:
    • using cannibalism to solve hunger
    • treating children and women like animals.
  • Atwood is suggesting that The Handmaid's Tale has a satirical thread and that the ideas in it point to wider problems in society.
Sufi proverb

Sufi proverb

  • In the desert there is no sign that says, Thou shalt not eat stones.
    • This quotation seems more ambiguous than the other two in terms of its relevance to the novel. There can be many interpretations: one could be that human survival is an instinct that needs no instruction. It could also be read as a satirical comment on the world of Gilead, where rules are strictly enforced, even for aspects of human life like conversation, socialising and sex.
Workman on the Sufi proverb

Workman on the Sufi proverb

  • Critic Nancy Workman interprets this quotation as referencing Sufi mysticism.
    • Offred displays Sufi mystic characteristics by developing an inner sense of spirituality which is at odds with the repressive theocracy of Gilead.
  • The quotation could refer to:
    • Offred exploring the powerful relationship between language and power
    • A regime like Gilead playing upon the interchange between language, power and interpretation.
Jump to other topics
1

Author Background

1.1

Margaret Atwood

1.1.1Margaret Atwood
2

Chapter Summaries

2.1

Chapter 1: Night I

2.1.1Chapter 1
2.2

Chapters 2-6: Shopping II

2.2.1Chapter 22.2.2Chapter 32.2.3Chapter 42.2.4Chapter 52.2.5Chapter 6
2.3

Chapter 7: Night II

2.3.1Chapter 7
2.4

Chapters 8-12: Waiting Room IV

2.4.1Chapter 82.4.2Chapter 92.4.3Chapter 102.4.4Chapter 112.4.5Chapter 12
2.5

Chapter 13: Nap V

2.5.1Chapter 13
2.6

Chapters 14-17: Household VI

2.6.1Chapter 142.6.2Chapter 152.6.3Chapter 162.6.4Chapter 17
2.7

Chapter 18: Night VII

2.7.1Chapter 18
2.8

Chapters 19-23: Birth Day VIII

2.8.1Chapter 192.8.2Chapter 202.8.3Chapter 212.8.4Chapter 222.8.5Chapter 23
2.9

Chapter 24: Night IX

2.9.1Chapter 24
2.10

Chapters 25-29: Soul Scrolls X

2.10.1Chapter 252.10.2Chapter 262.10.3Chapter 272.10.4Chapter 282.10.5Chapter 29
2.11

Chapter 30: Night XI

2.11.1Chapter 30
2.12

Chapters 31-39: Jezebel's XII

2.12.1Chapter 312.12.2Chapter 322.12.3Chapter 332.12.4Chapter 342.12.5Chapter 352.12.6Chapter 362.12.7Chapter 372.12.8Chapter 382.12.9Chapter 39
2.13

Chapter 40: Night XIII

2.13.1Chapter 40
2.14

Chapters 41-45: Salvaging XIV

2.14.1Chapter 412.14.2Chapter 422.14.3Chapter 432.14.4Chapter 442.14.5Chapter 45
2.15

Chapter 46: Night XV

2.15.1Chapter 46
2.16

Historical Notes

2.16.1Historical Notes
3

Dedications & Epigraph

3.1

Dedications & Epigraph

3.1.1Dedications3.1.2Epigraph
4

Context

4.1

Setting

4.1.1Setting
4.2

Literary Context & Genre

4.2.1The Canterbury Tales & The Scarlet Letter4.2.2Links to Dystopian Fiction
4.3

Political Context

4.3.1Berlin & Iran4.3.2The New Right in America
4.4

Historical Context

4.4.1Puritan New England
4.5

Parallels: Read World & Gilead

4.5.1The Underground Femaleroad4.5.2Children of Ham & Soul Scrolls4.5.3Offred's Tattoo, Salvaging & Illegal Abortions4.5.4Unwomen, Colonies & Giving Away Offred's Daughter
4.6

Religious Context

4.6.1Religious Context
5

Narrative Structure & Literary Techniques

5.1

Narrative Structure

5.1.1Narrative Structure
5.2

Literary Techniques

5.2.1Literary Techniques5.2.2Colour Symbolism
6

Themes & Imagery

6.1

Themes

6.1.1Survival & Language6.1.2The Female Body
6.2

Imagery

6.2.1The Garden & Doubles
7

Characters

7.1

Female Characters

7.1.1Offred & Moira7.1.2Offred's Mother, Ofglen & Ofwarren7.1.3Serena Joy & Aunt Lydia
7.2

Male Characters

7.2.1The Commander7.2.2Nick & Luke
8

Readings

8.1

Readings of The Handmaid's Tale

8.1.1Eco-Criticism8.1.2Complacency
9

Recap: Main Quotes

9.1

Quotes by Chapter

9.1.1Chapters 1 & 29.1.2Chapters 3 & 49.1.3Chapters 5 & 69.1.4Chapters 7 & 89.1.5Chapters 9 & 109.1.6Chapters 11 & 129.1.7Chapters 13 & 149.1.8Chapter 15 & 169.1.9Chapters 17 & 189.1.10Chapters 19 & 209.1.11Chapters 21 & 229.1.12Chapters 23 & 249.1.13Chapters 25 & 269.1.14Chapters 27 & 289.1.15Chapters 29 & 309.1.16Chapters 31 & 329.1.17Chapters 33 & 349.1.18Chapters 35 & 369.1.19Chapters 37 & 389.1.20Chapters 39 & 409.1.21Chapters 41 & 429.1.22Chapters 43 & 449.1.23Chapters 45 & 469.1.24Historical Notes & Epigraphs
9.2

Text Structure - Quotes

9.2.1Literary Techniques - Quotes9.2.2Survival & Language -Quotes9.2.3The Female Body - Quotes9.2.4The Garden & Doubles - Quotes9.2.5Eco-Criticism & Complacency - Quotes

Practice questions on Epigraph

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  1. 1
    Which part of Genesis does Atwood use as an epigraph for _The Handmaid's Tale_?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What feature of _The Handmaid's Tale_ does the quotation from Gensis 30 inspire?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which critic interprets the following epigraph as referencing Sufi mysticism in the novel?<br><br><b>In the desert there is no sign that says, Thou shalt not eat stones.</b>Multiple choice
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Dedications

Setting