Religion and Hypocrisy

The Handmaid's Tale

The use of religion to justify Gilead's oppressive policies, and the hypocrisy of its leaders.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Biblical Justification Biblical Justification from "The Handmaid's Tale". Biblical Justification The Ceremony The Commander reads from the Bible: "Give me children, or else I die." The story of Rachel and Leah is used to justify the…

Biblical Justification from "The Handmaid's Tale". Biblical Justification The Ceremony The Commander reads from the Bible: "Give me children, or else I die." The story of Rachel and Leah is used to justify the…

Biblical Justification The Ceremony The Commander reads from the Bible: "Give me children, or else I die." The story of Rachel and Leah is used to justify the Handmaid system. The Prayvaganza At the Prayvaganza, the Commander quotes: "Let the woman learn in silence." Religion is used to enforce submission. The Hypocrisy The leaders do not follow their own rules. The Commander has a secret study with forbidden books. Serena Joy smoked and drank before Gilead.

The State Religion The State Religion from "The Handmaid's Tale". The State Religion The Soul Scrolls Prayers are printed by machines. They are a business. Faith is commodified. God is a national resource.

The State Religion from "The Handmaid's Tale". The State Religion The Soul Scrolls Prayers are printed by machines. They are a business. Faith is commodified. God is a national resource.

The State Religion The Soul Scrolls Prayers are printed by machines. They are a business. Faith is commodified. God is a national resource. The Salvaging Aunt Lydia uses religious language. The executions are framed as moral cleansing. Religion is a tool of control. Offred's Prayer Offred prays to a God she is not sure exists. She uses the Latin joke as a prayer. Her faith is personal, not institutional.

throughout the narrative