Dedications
English Lit: Edexcel A Level The Handmaid's Tale, topic 3.1.1
Dedications in The Handmaid's Tale
Atwood dedicated The Handmaid's Tale to two important people: her ancestor, Mary Webster and Professor Perry Miller.
Mary Webster
- Mary Webster was Atwood's ancestor from a North American Puritan background.
- She was accused of being a witch in 1693 in Connecticut. Webster was hanged but miraculously survived and was allowed to walk free.
- There are clear parallels between Webster and Offred, who are both women who opposed and survived (we hope for Offred!) the laws placed upon them.
Perry Miller
- Atwood also dedicates her novel to Perry Miller, who was a Professor and Director of American Studies at Harvard University, where Atwood studied.
- He was an expert of the History of Puritan American, which is what inspired the writing and setting of The Handmaid's Tale.
Test yourself on Dedications
What was Perry Miller an expert on?