The Handmaid's Tale, Part 2: Crash Course Literature 404

Summary

In this Crash Course Literature episode, John Green explores Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale,' discussing its narrative perspectives and the debate on gendered storytelling. Green delves into the protagonist Offred's personal rituals and connections, her struggle for autonomy in a misogynistic society, and the academic debate on écriture féminine. He questions whether the novel's structure reflects Offred's story or the male scholars who edited it, highlighting the complexity of narrative beyond gender binaries.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script is a discussion of Margaret Atwood's novel 'The Handmaid’s Tale', highlighting its distinction from the Hulu series adaptation.
• 🎭 It emphasizes the book's superiority over the series in terms of depth and narrative, urging viewers to read the original work.
• 📖 The novel is characterized as speculative fiction, set in a dystopian society where fertile women are forced into reproductive servitude.
• 👥 The protagonist, Offred, maintains her sanity through personal rituals and connections with other women, despite her dire circumstances.
• 🚫 The script explores the complexity of Offred's life, including the loss of her family, the threat of toxic labor, and the manipulative relationships within Gilead.
• 🤔 It questions the existence of a distinctive 'female' or 'male' narrative perspective, beyond the gender of the narrator.
• 📚 The script delves into academic debates on gender's impact on narrative form, mentioning key theorists like Tzvetan Todorov and Hélène Cixous.
• 👩‍🏫 It introduces the concept of 'écriture féminine', suggesting a non-exclusionary approach to writing that is open to all genders.
• 📝 Offred's narrative is presented as an example of 'openness', with her descriptions of bodily experiences and her act of storytelling as a form of survival.
• 🔄 The narrative's structure, as we read it, is influenced by male scholars who edited Offred's tapes, complicating the relationship between gender and narrative structure.
• 🤓 The script critiques traditional plot structures, suggesting that narratives are not dictated by the sex, gender, or sexuality of the author or characters.
• 🏛 The final chapter, 'Historical Notes on The Handmaid’s Tale', provides a meta-commentary on the novel, suggesting a future where Gilead's regime is studied but not entirely condemned.
• 💭 The script concludes with a reflection on the relevance of 'The Handmaid’s Tale' to contemporary society, emphasizing the ongoing fight for equal opportunity and protection under the law.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale'?

The main theme of 'The Handmaid's Tale' is the dystopian society of Gilead, where fertile women are forced into reproductive servitude, and the protagonist, Offred, struggles to maintain her sanity and identity under oppressive conditions.

Why does John Green recommend reading the book 'The Handmaid's Tale' over watching the Hulu series?

John Green recommends reading the book because he believes the novel provides a richer and more nuanced narrative compared to the television adaptation, allowing for a deeper exploration of the characters and themes.

What is the significance of the term 'speculative fiction' in relation to Atwood's novel?

The term 'speculative fiction' signifies that the novel explores possible future scenarios based on current trends, in this case, a society where women's rights and freedoms are severely restricted, serving as a cautionary tale.

How does Offred maintain her sanity in the oppressive environment of Gilead?

Offred maintains her sanity by engaging in personal rituals, connecting with other women, and telling stories, which serves as a form of resistance and a way to assert her existence and humanity.

What is the concept of écriture féminine as introduced by Hélène Cixous?

Écriture féminine, or 'women's writing,' is a concept that encourages women to use their bodies and experiences as a source of inspiration, advocating for an open and non-exclusionary approach to writing that is accessible to all genders.

How does Offred's narrative in 'The Handmaid's Tale' reflect the idea of écriture féminine?

Offred's narrative reflects écriture féminine through her descriptions of her bodily experiences, her openness to external perspectives, and her exploration of desire, which are presented as a form of personal expression and resistance.

What is the role of the final chapter, 'Historical Notes on The Handmaid’s Tale,' in the novel?

The final chapter serves to provide a sense of closure by suggesting that the dystopian regime of Gilead will eventually be overthrown, and it also critiques the future society that studies Gilead, indicating that misogyny and patriarchy have not been completely dismantled.

How does the character of Professor James Darcy Piexoto in the final chapter reflect the ongoing issues of misogyny and patriarchy?

Piexoto's character reflects ongoing issues through his objectification of women, his trivialization of the dystopian society's atrocities, and his critique of Offred's narrative, indicating that even in the future, certain attitudes and power structures persist.

What is the significance of the question 'Are there any questions?' at the end of the novel?

The question 'Are there any questions?' invites readers to reflect on the novel's themes and implications, prompting them to consider the potential for such a dystopian reality in their own society and the importance of vigilance in protecting freedoms.

How does the script discuss the relationship between gender and narrative structure?

The script explores the debate around whether there is a distinctive 'female' or 'male' point of view in narrative, discussing various theories and arguing against the simplification of narratives into gendered categories, emphasizing the complexity of narrative choices.

What is the narrative structure of Offred's story as presented in the novel?

Offred's story follows a classic plot trajectory often associated with a 'male' subject, with elements of arousal, expectation, frustration, and a climactic release. However, the script questions whether this structure is inherent to her story or imposed by the male scholars who edited her tapes.