Although the novel was first published in 1985, the societal issues it addresses have retained their relevance, ultimately leading to a serial adaptation that premiered in 2017. A notable difference between the novel and its serial adaptation can be found in the depiction of violence. While the book focuses on the distinctive ways in which men use their power to perpetrate violent behavior against women, the serial adaptation presents a more complex picture by showing females not only as victims but also as perpetrators. Nevertheless, the portrayal of violence varies based on the gender of the perpetrator, which raises the question of whether this differing representation reinforces or challenges predominant societal gender norms. Additionally, since the women of Gilead are divided into distinct social groups which are structured along a rigid hierarchy, this thesis seeks to investigate the extent to which these structures influence both the motivations behind, and the consequences of, violent actions. Taking into account the serial nature of "The Handmaid’s Tale", it will also be examined how certain narrative and other aesthetic techniques, such as setting, cinematography, and sound design, further influence the depiction of violence in regard to the gender of perpetrator and victim. To analyze the different manifestations of violence with regard to gender and its underlying power structures in "The Handmaid’s Tale", the concepts of violence, power, and gender first need to be defined, which will be attempted in the course of chapter two. The third chapter will focus on how specific hallmarks of seriality, combined with certain narratological techniques and settings, shape the portrayal of power and violence in relation to gender. A detailed analysis of how power dynamics and violence are depicted, with a particular focus on the role of gender, awaits the reader in the fourth chapter. Specific scenes and characters will be examined to demonstrate how violence serves different purposes depending on the perpetrator, and how gender influences both the nature and the consequences of violent actions.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Theoretical Framework
- 2.1. Power
- 2.2. Violence
- 2.3. Gender
- 3. Seriality and Its Techniques in The Handmaid's Tale
- 3.1. Focalization and Narration
- 3.2. Setting
- 4. Analysis of Gendered Power and Violence in The Handmaid's Tale
- 4.1. Power Dynamics
- 4.2. Male versus Female Violence
- 5. Conclusion
- Works Cited
- Image Directory
Objective & Thematic Focuses
This academic work fundamentally explores the intricate relationship between power, violence, and gender within the dystopian setting of Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" series. It critically examines how the series' portrayal of violence, especially in relation to the gender of perpetrators and victims, either reinforces or challenges existing societal gender norms and hierarchies.
- Investigation into the interplay of power, violence, and gender.
- Analysis of "The Handmaid's Tale" as a serial adaptation.
- Examination of Gilead's authoritarian regime and its systematic use of violence.
- Exploration of narrative and aesthetic techniques influencing violence depiction.
- Study of social hierarchies, gender roles, and their impact on violent actions and their consequences.
- Comparison of male versus female perpetration and victimhood in violence.
Excerpt from the Book
Male versus Female Violence
In the beginning of chapter four, five categories were introduced which allow for a quantitative as well as a qualitative analysis of gendered violence in the first season of The Handmaid's Tale. The first part of this chapter will focus on the quantitative analysis, which will be the basis for the subsequent qualitative analysis.
Initially, displayed actions aligning with the established definition of violent acts, as articulated in the second chapter, were identified. In total, 30 cases of personal violent acts are visible throughout the first season of The Handmaid's Tale. Female perpetrators are found in 18 of those cases, while men perpetrated personal violent acts twelve times. These findings indicate that the portrayal of primarily female perpetrators in The Handmaid's Tale contrasts with the representations in other screen media (for instance, movies, series, music videos), in which females are often stereotypically depicted, as the analysis of media representations from 2000 until 2020 by Ward and Grower demonstrates (179). However, as the female inhabitants of Gilead are divided into distinct social groups which are structured along a rigid hierarchy, it is essential to differentiate the violent acts exhibited by each group. Of the 18 depicted personal violent acts, eight can be attributed to the group of Handmaids, five to the Aunts, and five to the Wives. The motives and intentions which lead to these violent acts also vary depending on the social group and will be examined in the further course of this chapter.
The discrepancy between female and male perpetrators can also be observed when considering the gender distribution of the victims: while men are portrayed as victims five times, women are depicted in this role 25 times. In 21 of those incidents, Handmaids are the victims, while Wives are subject to personal violent acts only twice, and Marthas once. A comparison of the number of female perpetrators and female victims reveals that, although women are depicted as perpetrators more frequently than men, they are also disproportionately represented as victims. The reasons for this can be traced to the unequal power dynamics between the genders – as evaluated in chapter 4.1 -, enforced by the totalitarian regime of Gilead, which systematically subjugates women and therefore creates the conditions that make violence against women inevitable.
The second category is concerned with the explicitness of personal violent acts, and is further divided into three subcategories. Out of the 30 violent acts, 18 fall into the category 'very explicit', with both perpetrator and victim being visible in the scene, an explicit execution of the violent act, and the immediate display of the consequences resulting from the act (for instance, blood, pain, or death). ‘Explicit' portrayals of violent acts can be found in nine scenes, predominantly depicting only the victim while the specific violent act may only be party visible. Only two displays of violence are considered 'implicit', with neither perpetrator, nor victim, nor the violent act itself being portrayed. In regard to the gender distribution within this category, it can be observed that the explicitness of a violent act correlates with the gender of the perpetrator: in 13 out of 18 scenes depicting very explicit violence, the perpetrator is female. Of the nine explicit violent scenes, four are attributed to men and five to women, whereas implicit violence is exclusively committed by women. Thus, women are not only more frequently portrayed as the actors of personal violence, but their violent acts are also characterized by the highest level of explicitness.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This chapter establishes the pervasive nature of power and violence in human societies, introducing Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" as a critical lens to explore gendered violence within a dystopian context and outlining the central research questions for the thesis.
2. Theoretical Framework: This section defines core concepts of power (political, social, dominative, affiliative, positional), violence (direct, structural, physical, psychological, sexual), and gender, detailing how these interconnected concepts will be used to analyze their manifestations in Gilead.
3. Seriality and Its Techniques in The Handmaid's Tale: This chapter analyzes how the serial nature of "The Handmaid's Tale," its dystopian setting, and specific narrative and aesthetic techniques like focalization, narration, and setting, contribute to and shape the depiction of power, violence, and gender.
4. Analysis of Gendered Power and Violence in The Handmaid's Tale: This chapter provides a detailed examination of gendered power dynamics and violence in the first season, examining how various factors like perpetrator/victim gender, explicitness, nature, intentions, and consequences of violent acts are portrayed and influenced by the dystopian setting and narrative techniques.
5. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the thesis's findings, highlighting how Gilead's oppressive structures are reinforced by gendered power and violence, and discusses how "The Handmaid's Tale" simultaneously reflects and challenges traditional gender norms through its complex portrayal of female agency and subjugation.
Keywords
Gendered Violence, The Handmaid's Tale, Dystopian Literature, Power Dynamics, Feminist Theory, Gender Roles, Serial Narrative, Violence Depiction, Gilead, Social Hierarchy, Gender Performativity, Focalization, Patriarchy, Subjugation, Resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this work fundamentally about?
This work fundamentally analyzes the complex interplay of gender, power, and violence as depicted in "The Handmaid's Tale" series, focusing on how these elements shape and reinforce the dystopian society of Gilead.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central thematic fields include the nature and manifestations of power, the diverse forms and impacts of violence, and the social construction and performativity of gender, all within the context of a totalitarian, patriarchal regime.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The primary goal is to investigate how specific social structures, narrative techniques, and aesthetic choices in "The Handmaid's Tale" influence the depiction of gendered violence, and whether this portrayal reinforces or challenges predominant societal gender norms regarding perpetrators and victims.
Which scientific method is used?
The work employs a qualitative and quantitative content analysis approach, applying a detailed theoretical framework of power, violence, and gender to specific scenes and instances within "The Handmaid's Tale" series.
What is covered in the main part?
The main part provides a detailed examination of gendered power and violence in the first season of "The Handmaid's Tale," examining how various factors like perpetrator/victim gender, explicitness, nature, intentions, and consequences of violent acts are portrayed and influenced by the dystopian setting and narrative techniques.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms characterizing the work are Gendered Violence, The Handmaid's Tale, Dystopian Literature, Power Dynamics, Feminist Theory, Gender Roles, Serial Narrative, Violence Depiction, Gilead, Social Hierarchy, Gender Performativity, Focalization, Patriarchy, Subjugation, and Resistance.
How does "The Handmaid's Tale" serial adaptation differ from the novel in depicting violence?
While the novel primarily focuses on men as perpetrators of violence against women, the serial adaptation presents a more complex picture, showing females not only as victims but also as perpetrators themselves, though the portrayal of violence varies based on gender.
How do narrative techniques like focalization and setting influence the audience's perception of violence in Gilead?
Narrative techniques such as June's internal focalization allow the audience to experience Gilead from her perspective, fostering empathy. The setting, characterized by architectural elements and public displays of violence, visually reinforces Gilead's omnipresent power and control, contributing to a deeper understanding of the regime's oppressive nature.
What specific roles do different female social groups (Handmaids, Aunts, Wives) play in perpetrating violence within Gilead?
Within Gilead's rigid hierarchy, Aunts and Wives exert personal violence to maintain control and assert their limited power over lower-status women like Handmaids, often out of self-preservation or envy. Handmaids also commit violence, frequently motivated by self-defense, liberation, or revenge, reflecting their constrained position and struggle for agency within the patriarchal system.
How does the Ceremony exemplify institutionalized sexual violence and power dynamics in Gilead?
The Ceremony is depicted as a ritualized act of sexual violence, justified by distorted sacred scripture, emphasizing the Commander's power and control over women's reproductive capabilities. Cinematic techniques like close-ups and June's internal monologue highlight her dissociation and the profound psychological impact of this institutionalized act, revealing the deep-seated power imbalances.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym,, Gendered Violence in "The Handmaid’s Tale" Series, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1561446
