In my opinion, the historical notes included at the end of The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood, provide an interesting and thought-provoking conclusion to the novel. Loosely speaking, these notes, which are written in the format of a college lecture and take place in the year 2195, act as an epilogue to Offred’s story. Margaret Atwood provides the reader with a vague description of how Offred’s story ended, and some details as to who the Commander was. However, Atwood did not choose to include these notes merely to provide details otherwise not mentioned. Instead, Margaret Atwood uses this section to comment on the continuous nature of humans to criticize previous societies existing before them.
Each part of the historical notes contribute to Atwood’s point; the analytical speech of the professors, the titles of the organizations (i.e. the Gileadean Research Association), the laughter scattered through out, and even the name of the college, as in, the University of Denay, Nunavit (kind of ironic, huh?). Each of these provides the historical notes with a satirical tone. The lecture opens with recreational announcements, letting the reader know that this lecture, in a sense, is also just for recreational purposes. The professors crack jokes about missing lunch, and the audience laughs, even groans, at points when descriptions of the society are given. This laughter gives the people attending the lecture an air of arrogance. It shows that they look down upon the society of Gilead, and that they feel their current society is far more superior. These people could care less about the hardships that women like Offred lived through in Gilead, whereas, we as readers, feel as though we developed a personal connection to her, and become slightly offended at the analytical approach that this lecture takes towards Offred’s story.
The historical notes also contribute a great deal of irony, which assists in further highlighting the main concept that Atwood conveys. Through out The Handmaid’s Tale, the ruling officials in Gilead believed that their society was exact, and they endlessly deemed ideas from the previous society to be wrong. However, here in the historical notes, the same thing is being done to Gilead. By demonstrating this, Margaret Atwood shows that society moves in never-ending loop; one society gives way to another, which thinks itself to be superior, and then that society gives way to another and the loop continues. While successfully conveying this concept, the historical notes in The Handmaid’s Tale, also show how easily a personal story like Offred’s can be forgotten in this chaotic loop, allowing a greater appreciation for the novel.
Now… Are there any questions?
I really liked this analysis of the historical notes. The book, The Handmaid's Tale is a satirical work and the historical notes adds to this. Throughout the novel, different groups are criticized, such as feminists, extreme religious groups, conservatives, etc... The lecture harshly judges this society and looks down on it and raises itself and this modern society up onto a pedestal that in turn will be torn down by the next society. The never-ending cycle of changing regimes shows the failure of humans and how they are so quick to condemn others and ignore the folly of their own ways.
ReplyDeleteOffred was forgotten to an extend in the Historical Notes, she was mentioned and her existence was picked apart for every trace of evidence, but her characteristics and qualities was lost in the analysis of her life. The Handmaid's Tale is told through her eyes, the reader experiences what she did and knows how it affects her, but this audience of the lecture has no idea what she went through. They know the facts only. She was simplified into an object for further study.
I agree with this previous statement. The ending of the novel may be one of the most interesting conclusions to discuss during a conversation identifying irony and providing insight to an apparently perfect passage which is so thorough, it is implied no questions (if any at all) remain important enough to contradict the speaker with. I also agree when this blogger states that this, “shows . . . they look down upon the society of Gilead, and . . . that their current society is far more superior” (Delaney). Still, this is not the primary focus here, I observe. As pointed out, all advanced futuristic societies see themselves as possessing ultimate power and knowledge. However, the main theme associated with this fragment of the novel exposes the lack of sensitivity, human morale, respect, and seriousness towards a story the reader knows for a fact to be heartbreaking and unfortunate. This behavior is derived from this futuristic group’s arrogant and naïve attitude. If anything, the people of this new world might care for Offred’s hardships in the sense that they wish to learn them. Otherwise, her progression through this time period is irrelevant any longer. This new society is so advanced, nothing like the Republic of Gilead can ever be established again. Offred’s existence is therefore not necessarily insignificant, but unimportant to the group. Ironic comparison is confirmed with the old gesture that history will continue to repeat itself. No matter how seemingly perfect, a society always contains flaws among different people.
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