Gendered Violence in "The Handmaid's Tale" Series

Bachelor Thesis in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, Technical University of Braunschweig, language: English, abstract: Although the novel was first published in 1985, the societal issues it addresses have retained their relevance, ultimately leading to a serial adaptation that premiered in 2017. A notable difference between the novel and its serial adaptation can be found in the depiction of violence. While the book focuses on the distinctive ways in which men use their power to perpetrate violent behavior against women, the serial adaptation presents a more complex picture by showing females not only as victims but also as perpetrators. Nevertheless, the portrayal of violence varies based on the gender of the perpetrator, which raises the question of whether this differing representation reinforces or challenges predominant societal gender norms. Additionally, since the women of Gilead are divided into distinct social groups which are structured along a rigid hierarchy, this thesis seeks to investigate the extent to which these structures influence both the motivations behind, and the consequences of, violent actions. Taking into account the serial nature of "The Handmaid's Tale", it will also be examined how certain narrative and other aesthetic techniques, such as setting, cinematography, and sound design, further influence the depiction of violence in regard to the gender of perpetrator and victim. To analyze the different manifestations of violence with regard to gender and its underlying power structures in "The Handmaid's Tale", the concepts of violence, power, and gender first need to be defined, which will be attempted in the course of chapter two. The third chapter will focus on how specific hallmarks of seriality, combined with certain narratological techniques and settings, shape the portrayal of power and violence in relation to gender. A detailed analysis of how power dynamics and violence are depicted, with a particular foc