First of all, let’s talk about the surveillance of these books.
“‘You’re a traitor!” yelled the boy. “You’re a thought-criminal! You’re a Eurasian spy! I’ll shoot you, I’ll vaporize you, and I’ll send you to the salt mines!'” (Orwell 23)”There must have been microphones, they’ve heard us all” (Atwood 169)In the book 1984, there are telescreens and microphones placed everywhere. The kids are taught at a young age to spy on their parents and those parents always have to be cautious. Just like the other story where cameras and microphones are placed everywhere that record every movement. They are being watched by everyone and the fact that they are always being watched restricts them from rebelling. The restriction of knowledge seems to be very good tools to control people. As both of the stories utilized this technique by introducing, or forcing people to speak in “Newspeak” or not allowing women are not to read, not even the Bible. For lack of knowledge is a weapon of obedience.
There are rules about restricting sexual pleasure becoming around these novels too. The Handmaids are only there to produce children and if sex is enjoyed, Handmaid’s are sent to colonies where they’re punished. The Commander’s wife is with the Handmaid in the ceremony so that no pleasure is obtained Having sex for one’s own pleasure is illegal. Once again, similar to 1984, where people have Anti Sex Leagues to prevent people from having sexual pleasure and they only allow to have sex to produce kids.People in 1984 who are caught rebelling are taken to room 101 and are being tortured by the things they fear. They are also imprisoned until they love Big Brother. They make sure know you’ve vanished, and your identity and existence are completely disappeared after being caught.
“How many times he had been beaten, how long the beatings had continued, he could not remember. Sometimes it was fists, sometimes it was truncheons, sometimes it was steel rods, and sometimes it was boots.” (Orwell 240)Likely to the Handmaids, if they disobeying the rule, they will be sent to colonies to be punished. The handmaid is hung on the wall and tortured to death. After the handmaid is sent away, the other day a new one comes with the same name.
