The Handmaid's Tale #2

In The Handmaid's tale, another important issue that is presented throughout the novel is the idea of persecuting people due to their religion. In her book, Atwood states, "Five members of the heretical sect of Quakers have been arrested..." The way Atwood integrates that statement into the book shows that the persecution of other religions is common in this dystopian world. This article, from the Huffington Post outlines the religious persecution of Christians by the military in Myanmar. Unfortunately religious persecution still happens in today's society, and has happened many times in the past. Perhaps the most famous example is the Nazi persecution of European Jews during World War II(1939-1945).  The Handmaid's Tale does a very good job playing off religious persecution as en everyday occurrence, when in reality it is a serious and wide-spread problem. This really helps the reader realize the extent to which this extremist religious government is ethically wrong. It is perhaps ironic that something many people see as a sense of peace, and righteousness, the church, can become so twisted and controlling when given complete power over an entire population. In conclusion, Atwood's commentary on religious persecution through her novel is extremely relevant in today's society, and is something that should not be taken lightly.