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Period: 4000 BCE to 1 CE
The Old Testament
The Old Testament story of Rachel and her sister Leah, both of whom married Jacob. While Leah had no trouble conceiving children, Rachel was unable to get pregnant. Frustrated, Rachel offered up her handmaid, Bilhah, to Jacob as a "vessel" through which she could have children. Bilhah gave birth to two sons, both of whom were named by Rachel.
The story serves as an inspiration for the role of the Handmaids as "breeders'. The group that established Gilead in the novel is named Sons of Jacob. -
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The Persecution of Witches 17th in century New England
Atwood has made no secret that "The Handmaid's Tale" takes inspiration from the Salem witch trials and the demonizing, threatening, and even killing of innocent women that took place during that time. -
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Public birth. Common practice of the royalty 17th - 18th
Royals of the 1600s and 1700s followed a similar custom. Women gave birth in front of crowds of people to prevent any suspicion of switching the royal baby for another. Handmaids must give birth in front of dozens of others, including fellow Handmaids and Aunts. -
American Plan 1920's
The program was launched around WWI as a means of protecting American soldiers from sexually transmitted infections and prostitution. Under the plan, thousands of women suspected of carrying STIs or general promiscuity were detained and locked up in jails and work hours — all under the justification of ensuring national security. The concept of incarcerating women deemed as immoral is similar to the concept of send Unwomen to the colonies. -
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Hitler and the Aryan race
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Forced adoptions
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Nicolas Ceaușescu and Romania
He passed laws that said women had to have four babies. They had to have pregnancy tests every month and if they weren’t pregnant they had to explain why. As in Gilead, he want to increase the birth rate. -
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Argentina (1976) military dictatorship
In this dark episode in Argentine history, where the Military Junta controlled the entire country. Some pregnant opposition members were disappeared by the military after the birth of their children, generally those children were sent to other military families with a high position. Also people who disappeared and left their young children alone were taken by the military and gave the baby to somebody in their command system. This is similar -
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Ronald Reagan presidency
Reagan became the first president to propose a constitutional amendment seeking to restore organized prayer in schools. For Atwood the country's embrace of Christian conservatism was an influence for the book.