Syntax and use of language

Hi Guys! Somethings which are very imporant in ''The Handmaid's Tale'' are the syntax and the use of language. The syntax Atwood uses and the use of language influence the reader as well, and therefore we'll discuss it in this post!

First of all, the syntax. The syntax varies throughout the novel. Most of the time Atwood uses a long sentence structure  which indicates a flow of thoughts. However, Atwood uses shorter sentences as well which shows how Offred thinks, reflects, etc. The sentences become shorter as Offred becomes stressed, and by the use of short sentences this feeling is clear to the reader as well. By the use of this differences in syntax, Atwood succeeds in writing a novel which resembles the thoughts of the mind very well.

Atwood didn’t only think about the syntax, the language she uses is well-chosen as well. For instance, she exploits various literary devices such as imagery. The use of imagery derives from the fact that Atwood is a poetic too, which explains the poetic tone which is often apparent. Another aspect which is typical for the novel is the descriptive tone Atwood uses which again, indicate Offred’s flow of thoughts. Word-choice is a prominent aspect in the novel as well. It begins already when Atwood decides to name the society Gilead. Furthermore, she decides to give the men real names and ranks which indicate one of the points she makes in the novel: women are inferior to men and are only there to produce offspring.
Moreover, Atwood choses to use Latin and French phrases such as ‘’Nolite te bastardes carborundorum’’ and ‘’M’aidez’’ as well, probably to make the reader think. The fact that the reader is forced to think for himself is especially evident in The Handmaid’s Tale. Since not all people are able to understand Latin, the readers of the novel wish to read more of the novel to understand the Latin phrases. The use of imagery forces the reader to think as well, since the imagery keeps coming back and if one understands the deeper message, the novel becomes certainly interesting.

To conclude, the syntax and use of language are well-chosen and very well thought trough. Therefore if one reads the novel twice, or maybe for a third time, he/she might be surprised about which devices, etc. are present.