Approaching the Critical Theory Essay
The most important thing to remember about this assignment is that it is not an essay about
theory. It is a critical analysis of The Handmaid’s Tale from one of the theoretical perspectives
covered in class (Marxist, Feminist, Postcolonial, Psychoanalytic, or Queer). You are not writing
about a specific theory; you are, instead, applying that theory to The Handmaid’s Tale.
Consequently you do not have to explain or summarize the theory you are using any more than
you would summarize the plot of a story you are writing about. You can assume I understand the
theory you are applying.
In this assignment you should use a specific theoretical perspective to examine and analyze a
specific element or aspect of The Handmaid’s Tale, such as one particular character, relationship,
incident or passage. You do not have to use all the variations of a theory in your work. You can
choose one aspect of Marxist Theory, for example, to work from. Use your notes from class to
help you focus your analysis – be sure to ask the right questions for the theory you have chosen.
You might have a question about The Handmaid’s Tale and wish to see if you can work that
question out by looking at the work through a particular theoretical lens.
Or, you can choose from one of these questions to help you begin to focus your essay:
Feminist Theory:
1. “There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom
from. In the days of Anarchy it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from.”
(page 31). Analyze the quality of life for women in light of Aunt Lydia’s statement,
illustrating the methods used to “protect” women.
2. What is the importance of the character Moira in the novel in developing its overall
themes?
3. Each category of women in Gilead is resentful of the others. Explain the reasons for this
resentment and discuss its ultimate effect.
Marxist/Social Class Theory:
1. What structures of class oppression (exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness,
cultural dominance and violence) are in place in Gilead and how do they affect its
citizens?
2. How does the social class of the characters in this novel affect their lives and thoughts?
3. The regime in Gilead turns its people’s anger and frustration away from the regime and
onto some safe target, or scapegoat. Explain this process and discuss its ultimate effect.
Please Turn 
Postcolonial Theory:
*The Handmaid’s Tale is not exactly a postcolonial story, but there are many aspects of colonial
oppression at play in Gilead.
1. What structures of colonial oppression (exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness,
cultural dominance and violence) are in place in Gilead and how do they affect its
citizens?
2. How did the experience of colonization affect the colonized people in this novel? You
could focus your discussion by analyzing one character’s experience.
3. Analyze the forms of resistance against colonial control in the novel.
Psychoanalytic Theory:
1. Offred’s narration is made up of a confusing mix of details from the present tense action
of the novel and details from her various memories of the past. In what ways are her
memories connected to what is happening to her at the Commander’s house? Why has
Atwood chosen a narrative style that so frequently blurs distinctions between present and
past?
2. In The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood presents a first person narrator who
chronicles her experiences under an extremely oppressive, misogynistic regime. Explore
the psychological development of this character during the course of her narrative.
Queer Theory:
1. How are traditional gender roles represented in this novel?
2. What sort of support (if any) is given to characters who question the masculine/feminine
binary? What happens to those characters?
The theory I have chosen is _______________________________________________________
My topic is: ___________________________________________________________________