Bible Context Misapplication

Document Type:Research Paper

Subject Area:Literature

Document 1

She is a handmaid in Commander's homestead where she gets into love with Nick, the Commander's driver. As events unveil from the novel, Offred gets into a sexual relationship with the Commander to cover Serena's infertility. At the centre of the novel, Offred comes to know a lot from the Commander. She meets many old friends in different places while others die as they are mercilessly hang by the government. At the climax, the Commander's wife conflicts her and she finds an escape from a van of people she guessed they're members of a secret resistance group (Atwood, N. The sources of information I have employed include the primary sources such as; the Journal of Gender-Based Violence written by Williamson, the Journal of Jacob as a Father, Husband, and Nephew by Robert Oden and Journal of the Study of the New Testament by Robert Wall.

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Secondary sources include; the summary (Lit Charts) of the fiction edited by Margaret Atwood, The Calculus Of Love And Nightmare authored by Lous Feur, Offred's Complicity And Dystopian Tradition by Weiss Allan, Identity, Complicity and Resistance by Stillman and Anne, and From Jezebel to Esther by Helena Zlotnick. The sources have attested that the society in fiction has misapplied the Bible context as discussed in the proceeding paragraphs. The Concept of ‘Sons of Jacob' As per the fiction, a fundamentalist movement called itself the ‘Sons of Jacob' and their main idea was to ensure that the laws outlined in the Bible are enforced in the society. The laws anticipated in the Old Testament books of the Bible majorly gave authority of men over women. p). The title describes the whole matter in the text that Gilead is a society denominated by men, women have no share in power (Feuer, 83-95).

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Handmaids The concept of using handmaids is derived from the Biblical story of Jacobs's wives, Rachel and Leah (Lemche, 127-153). In the fiction, Margaret uses Offred as a handmaid to Commander's wife who is infertile (Feuer, 83-95). Normally, the work of a handmaid is to attend to the commander's wife but in the fiction, the relationship exceeds to a point of the maid carrying on adultery in order to cover infertility of the commander's wife (Serena Joy). p; Weiss, N. p). In addition, oppressive treatment of handmaids is a reflection of the disunity existing amongst the Gilead women. Instead of those who are in the ruling class to fight for the rights of women in collaboration with the rest of women, they enjoy being served by handmaids who work in severe conditions.

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The Title ‘Martha' The impressive description of ‘Martha' from Margaret's fiction is a compliant woman with high skills and probable experience in house chores. A weakness that has hidden them from fighting for their rights and shouting in one accord. The Title ‘Jezebels' The highest degree of mistreatment in the fiction is portrayed in the prostitutes and entertainers. They are women who were sterilized and forcibly introduced into prostitution and entertainment to the Commanders and other rulers from the government. According to Offred who once tried to escape from the oppressive society, the Jezebels have a common place called Brothels (Atwood, N. p). Understanding the meaning and use of the title aids the reader to get the concept of misuse of power in the society. Those who are in power have covered their illness behavior by creating policies for their own interest.

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In addition, they use names which will blind the society members, as a technique of hiding their true color (Stillman, 70-86). This is the secret behind the title Jezebel. Conclusion From all the names and titles discussed above, it is evident that the Gilead society has widely misapplied the context of the Bible. Feuer, Lois. The Calculus of Love and Nightmare: The Handmaid's Tale and the Dystopian Tradition. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction 38. Lemche, Niels Peter. Rachel and lea. Wall, Robert W. Martha and Mary (Luke 10. in the Context of a Christian Deuteronomy. Journal for the Study of the New Testament 11. Weiss, Allan.

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