- How is power distributed in Gilead?
The idea of surveillance in a totalitarian regime is parallel to the religious concept of an “all-seeing”,”all-controlling” and “all-judging” God. Jeremy Bentham, a prison designer developed the idea of a “Panopticon”, where one can police hundreds of prisoners by using only one central tower. The prison cells are individualized and circulate the central tower. This allows the prison guard to see all the prisoners at any point in time [constant monitoring]. There would be a time when there would be no need for a prison guard to do the watching as the prisoners have internalized the values and behaviors of the idealogy that has trapped them. Every totalitarian regime has controlled its population via the “Panopticon” design. If there is enough surveillance, the population themselves will police their own behavior.
Ways to exert totalitarianism’s power:
- Visible punishment for dissidents. Hanging of dissidents called Men’s Salvaging.
- Doctors were punished for crimes that were legal during their time [ abortion]
- A priest that is most likely of a different religious denomination. [ it is central that there is only Gilead’s interpretation of the Catholic Bible.
- Gender Traitors- people discovered to be doing same-sex activities.
- The Wall: gates with sentries, floodlights mounted the metal posts, barbed wire, and broken glass set in concrete along the top. Hooks for public display of persecuted bodies. Are displaced for days for everyone to see the consequence of disobedience. [the unforgiving God in the Old Testament].
- Network of spies and informants.- People are not free to express themselves in fear of being reported. The “Eyes” of the governments are a constant reminder that the Republic of Gilead is always watching you, it is within you [ internalization of values].
- Wings of the handmaids, where it limits their vision. When you cannot see the full picture [ current events], you do not have power [ freedom of thought].
The power of the gaze is a spirit of dissidence, the very core of the Mayday movement [rebellion].
Good selection of details, with clear interpretation and explanation, Jeslyn. I would have referred to the system of controlling language as well, and the psychological control of the people. The regime’s interpretation of the Bible isn’t Catholic, per se – theirs is a reading of the Old Testament.