POST-COLONIAL
Definition: Post-colonial criticism involves the relationship between colonising nations and their former colonies. Post-colonial also analyzes the effects of cultural imperialism through works of literature.
Post-colonial criticism in The Handmaid's Tale:
Post-colonial criticism is displayed in The Handmaid's Tale by the point of view that the undermined minority (women) is equal, if not more valid than the dominant group (men). The colonized Gilead has separated women into groups labeled as Handmaids, Marthas, Wives, and Aunts. The book in its entirety serves to prove that men and women should be equal and that perhaps the oppressed women in the book have a more valid point than the men. Figuratively, women have been "colonized" by men. The effect of this is the major oppression of all women by men in the book. The relationship with the former colony (pre-Gilead era) is displayed in the flashbacks provided by Offred. She gives the reader glimpses into what her life was like before Gilead and before the colonization. Another example of post-colonial criticism is the role of Canada. Canada serves as a place to escape from Gilead. Canada, unlike Gilead, has not been colonized and welcomes the refugees. The purpose of including Canada in the book is to contrast a colonized country with a non-colonized country. This allows the reader to understand that colonization can be the downfall of a country. People escape to non-colonized Canada because they will not be oppressed and can find a way to get to other countries like this. Basically, post-colonial criticism defines what will happen when power becomes oppressive. The more power, the higher the chance of oppression. Post-colonial criticism in The Handmaid's Tale is the way Margaret Atwood views power-hungry governments and how she believes they could end up.