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Religion In The Handmaid's Tale

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Religion is the basics of what people choose to believe in. It ties in with our morality, to keep us on the correct path and help us distinguish right from wrong. It is what gives us human beings part of our identity. It is what we turn to in times of crisis. However, Margaret Atwood 's novel, The Handmaid 's Tale, demonstrates how the regime uses religion to create authoritarian laws to control the people of Gilead and maintain order within the society. Nevertheless, most, if not all, characters have been insubordinate towards the laws of Gilead. Therefore, rigid religious influences in society lead to corruption, as proven through the characterization of both Serena Joy and the Commander and the role that the brothel plays within the …show more content…

Not only did the Commander have an affair with Offred , but he also had plenty affairs with the Jezebels, which took place in a brothel. The Jezebels are biblical allusions, in which they represent corruption and or wickedness. When the Commander shows Offred the “club,” she tells him that it is forbidden. The Commander replies , “Well officially, but everyone’s human after all.” When she asks him what he means by that , he replies, “It means you can’t cheat nature. Nature demands variety, for men. It stands to reason, it’s part of the procreational strategy. It’s nature’s plan” (Atwood 237). Even though their society has forbidden men to be intimately involved with other women that they are not assigned to, they still do it because it is in their nature. The brothels are there for men of high statuses to break free from strict religious influences. There are many different types of people who attend these brothels. The Commander states, “It’s only for officers from all branches; and senior officials. And trade delegations, of course.” (Atwood 237). Not only do few Commanders attend, but also foreign businessmen. They attend their for sexual pleasure from the Jezebels who work under the Gilead regime. Hence, proving that there is corruption within the society that is tied with biblical beliefs. It is the religious influences in Gilead that led them to be in that

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