Detailed essay plan - not finished

Detailed essay plan

Introduction: explain what status is, how it differs between men and women in the society of Gilead and in The Wife of Bath. Briefly explain how the society affects both men and women. Outline the hierarchy; briefly outline who’s at the top and who’s at the bottom and also all in between. Generally talk about both societies - pros and cons. Why status is needed.

Status in the Handmaid’s tale

- Different statuses amongst women

- Status between women and men

- Why the society is run based on statuses, how does this fit into the regime of a place like Gilead?

- Why is status needed?

- What does it mean to have some people at the top and some at the bottom

Status in The Wife of Bath

- Status between women and men

- Dominance of men over women in the fourteenth century, how does this view and the image of society contradict the actions and mentality of The Wife of Bath?

- How is The Wife of Bath different in the patriarchal society?

- How does she gain dominance over men?

- The Wife of Bath is controlling through maistrie, makes her powerful

Religion in The Wife of Bath

- High belief in God in the fourteenth century

- People going on pilgrimages, Wife of Bath only goes to gain attention

- Only attends church to get noticed

- How does the Wife of Bath use religion to her advantage?

- What kind of biblical illusions does she transmit in her prologue to justify her actions?

- Can her manner be justified? How much is she going by the rules of Christianity?

Religion in The Handmaid’s Tale

- The society has been based on theocracy

- How do the hidden occurrences in the society of Gilead contradict the religious system that has been set up?

- Is Gilead really based on theocracy? Is it not innovated by the rulers to suit their needs?

- How do the people take advantage of the religion and apply it to their selfish wants?

Uniforms and coding in The Handmaid’s Tale:

- Different colours for all different people in the society

- How does this convey status?

- What do colours mean? How are they successful in portraying the role of a person?

- No freedom to wear what they want

- People are divided and segregated – forms conflicts and a huge status gap

- Easier to tell people/ groups/communities apart

Clothing in The Wife of Bath:

- Her clothes are mostly bright, in seek of attention

- Wants to get noticed so is always in her best garments

- Freedom to wear what she wants, wears red which connotes sexual appeal, lust, passion etc

- Her choice of clothing illustrate her active sex life

- Vibrant clothing – exciting love life

Subjugation of women in The Handmaid’s Tale:

- Women are subjugated to various different roles

- Their wanted not needed

- Handmaids to bear children

- Commanders wives to fill in the elite wealthy section

- Econowives to fulfil all the other jobs of wives such as cleaning and cooking

- Marthas to cook in the Commander’s homes

- Aunts to teach other women that the society of Gilead is fair and reasonable

- All women are there for a purpose to serve the system, they are not living for themselves

Same in the The Wife of Bath?

- Primary role is to be a wife

- Women in the fourteenth century were expected to be submissive wives, but The Wife of Bath is going against all these norms of the society

- She has made up her own set of rules and regulations and justifies them by using some biblical references

- The Wife of Bath on the other hand uses men, for her needs, she does not get used for anything

- She is all about her sexuality and only serves herself not the society

- Her norms and values oppose the society

- She has been a wife but a wife to many, how would this be seen in the patriarchal society of the fourteenth century?