- Why are the women in Gilead forbidden to read (down to the signs on the stores being replaced with images)? Why is literacy a threat to Gilead?
In a society like Gilead where women are so heavily discriminated against almost to the point where they are not treated like humans – they are simply used as the means to reproduce. This reflects on this society’s opinion on the capability of women and their role in society. I think women in Gilead are subsequently forbidden to read because an education would be their form of escape. Being able to read and write would give these women the same amount of prerequisites as the men that they are practically enslaved by. This would almost decrease the power imbalance because the men use this to their advantage, and if women were equals – the entire ethos of Gilead would be invalidated. I think it also speaks to how these men are actually afraid that women are more capable than them and cannot handle the pressure to compete with them. They would rather forbid it – so they do not need to have these extra stresses.
- What was your reaction when you read that the Commander wanted to play Scrabble with Offred? Why is playing Scrabble such an illicit activity?
Scrabble being such an illicit activity once again conforms to this threat of education. It exhibits how men feel this fundamental power over women which stems from the fact that they can work and earn money. This ability boils down to the opportunity of education they got, which they forbid women from getting. Whilst this may be an extreme example, I think this is a representation and symbol of the power of education and women. It holds a mirror up to society where women are still used in this manner in certain parts of the world – but somehow since we do not see it, we seem to forget this issue still exists. This brought me to think and reflect on my privilege – I am so lucky to be a coloured women who has the opportunity to get such a great education, but it is almost worthless if I can’t use this to somehow benefit the world around me where people just like me don’t get this opportunity. Therefore, I think A Handmaid’s Tale displays this extreme dystopian world to us, but is actually a symbol of certain communities where foreign concepts to us like women being a denied an education. I see the greatest irony in the fact that this book is written by a woman whilst she writes about a world where women are forbidden to read and write.
