The Unwoman as der Untermensch: A Comparative Analysis of the Totalitarian Rhetorics of The Handmaid's Tale and Nazi Germany

Abstract

current political climate due to its supposed realistic character. This thesis explores this realistic character with regard to the novel’s depiction of totalitarian rhetorics to provide insight in how rhetorics function as a mechanism by which regimes convey and manifest their ideology. It analyses the extent to which the rhetorics of Gilead’s regime are exemplary for real totalitarian rhetorics by comparing it to the rhetorics of Nazi Germany. With regard to Nazi Germany, the notion of Edward Said’s “Other,” repetition and euphemism are discussed as primary aspects of the regime’s rhetorics to analyse their totalitarian character. Five key themes of Gilead’s rhetorics are discussed, namely biblical metaphors, military language, labels, unsubstantial language and pragmatic metaphors. These categories are used to show the extent to which Gilead’s rhetorics are representative for totalitarian language. Furthermore, a thorough appendix on these rhetorics is provided. In a comparative analysis, the way the totalitarian rhetorics of Nazi Germany and Gilead establish and feed their grand narratives in similar manners is explored. The thesis thereby sheds light on the role language plays in the implementation of ideologies, and hence on the importance of alertness regarding totalitarian rhetorics.