The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel written by Canadian author Margaret Atwood in 1985 It takes place in a dystopia, where a totalitarian and fundamentalist Christian state (the Republic of Gilead) has taken over the United States and a caste system has been established in which some women are designated as "handmaids" who are to bear children for the ruling class. The novel follows the life of Offred, one of these handmaids, as she navigates her role in society, constantly striving for freedom and a sense of self in a world where she is powerless and oppressed.
The Handmaid's Tale is a powerful and thought-provoking novel asking important questions about gender roles, power dynamics, and reproductive rights. It is an excellent source of material for an essay, offering a wealth of topics to explore. Here is a list of five of the best examples of The Handmaid's Tale thesis topics:
1. The exploration of gender roles in The Handmaid's Tale: an analysis of how Offred's gender informs her character and her experience of the world.
2. An investigation of the power dynamics between the genders of Gilead: a discussion of how the political, social, and religious systems of the Republic of Gilead reinforce gender inequality.
3. An exploration of the themes of rebellion and resistance in The Handmaid's Tale: a discussion of how Offred and other characters resist Gilead's oppressive systems.
4. An exploration of how the power play between Offred and the Commander changes throughout The Handmaid's Tale: an analysis of how Offred changes her strategy to gain more autonomy as the novel progresses.
5. A discussion of religion, power, and freedom in The Handmaid's Tale: an exploration of how religion is used to enforce control in Gilead, and how Offred and other characters try to gain freedom.