Handmaid's Tale Pair Questions

1) What parallels do you note between the world of the novel and our world today, and/or historically? Consider contemporary politics and society-at-large. 

2) What is the purpose of the Ceremony? Break down each element of the ritual, beginning with the pre-ritual (in the sitting room) and leading through the ending, and discuss how each element of it contributes to the power structure of Gilead, with the Commander on top, the Wife next in line, and everyone else below. Why do you think those in charge in Gilead have changed the act of procreation to one of duty instead of love? 

3) What relevant similarities do you note between Gilead and Stepford?  

4) What do we know about what happened in Gilead and the world to lead to this point? What are some of the steps that those in power took to ensure their power? How and why were they able to succeed? 

5) How are women’s bodies controlled specifically in the narrative? Why is it important for the men in power to control women through their bodies? 

Bonus/Extra Credit Questions:

What is the role of fear in Gilead? How is fear used to control people and keep them in line?

Why do you think that only the faces of the handmaids must be obscured in the novel? Why don’t the Marthas’ faces have to be obscured?